Figure 32.2 Postmortem specimen in left lateral recumbency with ribs resected, showing the orientation of the thoracic organs. The cardiac notch of the right lung is labeled (A).

Figure 32.3 The last rib in this photograph is designated as the solid white line. The approximate line of diaphragmatic reflection is the dashed white line. The auscultable lung field is the shaded area.

The heart is situated in the cranial thorax, draped by the cardiac notch of the left and right lungs. (See Figure 32.2.) The normal heart rate is between 60 and 90 beats per minute with sinus arrhythmia common. A plethora of cardiac diseases from toxic to neoplastic to congenital are described in camelids from adults to neonates. Careful auscultation is warranted during all routine physical examinations.

RECOMMENDED READING

Adolf JE, Dykes NL, Semevolos S, et al. 2001. The diagnosis and treatment of a thoracic abscess in an alpaca. Aust Vet J; 79(10):675–679.

Firshman AM, Wünschmann A, Cebra CK, et al. 2008. Thrombotic endocarditis in 10 alpacas. J Vet Intern Med; 22(2):456-461.

Fowler ME. 1998. Chapter 4: Clinical diagnosis and examination. In: Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, Second Edition. Fowler ME, Ed., Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA:p. 72.

Fowler ME. 1998. Chapter 12: Respiratory system. In: Medicine and Surgery of South American Camelids, Second Edition. Fowler ME, Ed., Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA:295–303.

Gall DA, Zekas LJ, Van Metre D, et al. 2006. Imaging diagnosis-Pulmonary metastases in new world camelids. Vet Rad Ultrasound; 47(6):571–573.

McLane MJ, Schlipf JW, Margiocco ML, et al. 2008. Listeria associated mural and valvular endocarditis in an alpaca. J Vet Cardiol; 10(2):141–145.

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