Vertebral Heart Size

This is a diagram of a lateral thoracic radiograph from a dog illustrating the vertebral heart size measurement method.  The Long Axis (L) and Short Axis (S) heart dimensions are transposed onto the vertebral column and recorded as the number of vertebrae beginning with the cranial edge of T4.  The values are then added to obtain the vertebral heart size.  Normal values are 9.7 +/- 1.0V for dogs, and <8V for cats.

L= 5.8V     S=4.5V      VHS= 10.4V

*T=Trachea

Radiographic View:

L= 5.2     S=5.0      VHS=10.2