VERTEBRAL HEART SCORE
PDA L-R Vertebral heart score ( VHS) is commonly used in thoracic radiography to determine whether cardiomegaly is present. However, remember, there is a great breed-related variability.
In this table you can find a table with breed-associated values.
Vertebral Heart Score (VHS): Breed variations
| Breed | Left lateral | Right lateral | Dorsoventral | Reference |
| General | 9.7 ± 0.5 | = | 10.2 ± 1.5 | Buchanan JW and Bucheler J, 1995. Buchanan JW, 2000 |
| Puppies (months) | 3m: 10.0 ± 0.5 | * | 10.3 ± 0.6 | Sleeper M and Buchanan JW 2001 |
| 6m: 9.8 ± 0.4 | * | 9.7 ± 0.5 | ||
| 12m: 9.9 ± 0.6 | * | 9.8 ± 0.6 | ||
| 36m: 10.3 ± 0.6 | * | 10 ± 0.7 | ||
| American Pit Bull | * | 10.9 ± 0.4 | * | Lahm MJ et al, 2011 |
| Australian Cattle Dog | 10.3± 0.5 | 10.5 ± 0.5 | 10.5± 0.6 | Luciani et al, 2019 |
| Beagle | 10.2 ± 0.4 | 10.5 ± 0.4 | * | Kraetschmer S et al, 2008 |
| Boxer | * | 11.6 ± 0.8 | * | Lamb C et al, 2001. |
| Boston terrier | * | 11.7 ± 1.4 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Bulldog (English/French) | * | 12.7 ± 1.7 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Chihuahua | 9.9 ± 0.3 | 10 ± 0.6 | 10.4± 0.5 | Pucellinni et al 2021 |
| CKCS | * | 10.6 ± 0.5 | * | Lamb C et al, 2001 |
| Dachshound | * | 9.7 ± 0.5 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Doberman | * | 10.0 ± 0.6 | * | Lamb C et al, 2001 |
| German Shepherd | * | 9.7 ± 0.6 | * | Lamb C et al, 2001 |
| Greyhound | 10.5 ± 0.1 | = | * | Marin LM et al, 2007 |
| Spitz | 10.03± 0.11 | 10.21± 0.23 | Bodh et al | |
| Labrador | 10.22± 0.2 | 10.39± 0.19 | Bodh et al | |
| Labrador | * | 10.8 ± 0.6 | * | Lamb C et al, 2001 |
| Lhasa Apso | * | 9.6 ± 0.8 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Norwich Terrier | 10.6 ± 0.6 | Taylor et al, 2021 | ||
| Pug | * | 10.7 ± 0.9 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Pomerania | * | 10.5 ± 0.9 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Rottwailer | 9.8 ± 0.1 | = | * | Marin LM et al, 2007 |
| Shih-Tzu | * | 9.5 ± 0.6 | * | Jepsen-Grant et al, 2013 |
| Teckel | 9.4 ± 0.5 | = | * | Zardo KM and Provasi A, 2010 |
| Whippet | 11.0 ± 0.5 | 11.3 ± 0.5 | 10.5 ± 0.6 | Bavegems V et al, 2005 |
| Yorkshire Terrie | * | 9.9 ± 0.6a,b | 10.0± 0.6b | aJepsen-Grant et al, 2013 bCastro MG et al, 2011 |
| * | 9.7 ± 0.5 | * | Lamb C et al, 2001 |
By Patricia Sebastián & Domingo Casamián
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