Ukrainian Journal of Veterinary Sciences

Echocardiographic characteristics of the morphofunctional parameters of the heart in clinically healthy rabbits

Yuliia Paramonova, Oleksandr Onyshchenko, Mykola Maliuk, Taras Savchuk, Yuriy Zhak
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Abstract

Rabbits are prone to developing cardiovascular system pathologies and require modern methods of diagnosis and treatment. One of the most informative and safe tools for assessing the condition of the heart is echocardiography. In this regard, the aim of the study was to determine the reference values for echocardiographic measurements in one-dimensional and two-dimensional modes in clinically healthy rabbits without the use of sedation. To diagnose the condition of the cardiovascular system in rabbits, echocardiography was used – a method that allowed for a comprehensive assessment of the morphology, size and contractile function of the heart structures using parasternal access. The study was focused on obtaining quantitative and qualitative parameters of the morphofunctional state of the main structures of the heart using echocardiography, in particular the left and right ventricles, interventricular septum, left atrium and valve apparatus. During the study, key parameters of left ventricular contractility in clinically healthy rabbits were determined. Age dynamics of the studied parameters were revealed: at 4.5 months of age, the end-diastolic size was up to 14.71 ± 1.51 mm, and the end-systolic size was up to 8.88 ± 1.64 mm. At the same time, the fractional shortening (39 ± 11%) and ejection fraction (79 ± 22%) remained relatively stable, indicating physiological adaptation of the heart to increasing body weight. In particular, a correlation was established between an increase in the total body weight of animals and an increase in the structural dimensions of the heart. Thus, it has been proven that echocardiography is a highly informative, safe and valuable tool for assessing the condition of the heart in rabbits. As a result, the scientific information presented in the article is of practical value for veterinary cardiologists and general practitioners, providing a basis for the timely diagnosis and effective treatment of heart disease in rabbits

Keywords

transthoracic echocardiography; ultrasound diagnostics; cardiology; laboratory animals; contractility indices; haemodynamics; reference values

Suggested citation
Paramonova, Yu., Onyshchenko, O., Maliuk, M., Savchuk, T., & Zhak, Yu. (2026). Echocardiographic characteristics of the morphofunctional parameters of the heart in clinically healthy rabbits. Ukrainian Journal of Veterinary Sciences, 17(1), 31-46. https://doi.org/10.31548/veterinary1.2026.31
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