Impact of Hypoxia on Cardiopulmonary Adaptation in Canines: A Comprehensive Review

Year : 2026 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 01 | Page : 13 24
    By

    Sagar M,

  1. MVSC Veterinary physiology, Department of Veterinary Physiology, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Hypoxia triggers a series of cardiopulmonary responses that play an important role in oxygen delivery and the continuation of physiological activity in mammals. Canines are also a useful translational model of study to examine these adaptive responses because of their anatomical, physiological, and cardiopulmonary differences with humans. This review summarizes the experimental data of acute, subacute and chronic hypoxia in dogs with particular focus on the variations in cardiac functioning, pulmonary vascular remodelling, respiratory drive, haematological adaptation and molecular pathways. In hypoxic stress, dog species show compensatory tachycardia, cardiac output changes, increased sympathetic response, and myocardial oxygen consumption. Long-term effects of prolonged exposure in pulmonary responses are hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy and progressive pulmonary hypertension. The respiratory adjustments are in form of enhanced ventilation, changes in blood-gas parameters and sensitization of chemoreceptors. Haematologically, hypoxia initiates erythropoiesis, increases haemoglobin level, and red cell mass alteration to achieve the maximum oxygen delivery. The pathways of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) are involved in the regulation of angiogenesis, energy metabolism, and gene expression that are essential to the survival in low oxygen environments at the molecular level. The review outlines the significant experimental models, methodological and translational inferences of veterinary critical care, altitude physiology, and cardiopulmonary therapeutic studies. Nevertheless, there are still gaps in the knowledge of the long-term effects of hypoxia on cardiac remodelling, breed-specific differences and molecular interplay between hypoxia and inflammatory mediators. To enhance clinical practices of hypoxia related disorders in canines, future research that incorporates genomics, high resolution imaging, and sophisticated cardiopulmonary monitoring should be undertaken to bolster the evidence.

Keywords: Hypoxia, Cardiopulmonary adaptation, Canine physiology, Acute hypoxia, Chronic hypoxia, Pulmonary hypertension

[This article belongs to Research and Reviews : Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology ]

How to cite this article:
Sagar M. Impact of Hypoxia on Cardiopulmonary Adaptation in Canines: A Comprehensive Review. Research and Reviews : Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology. 2025; 15(01):13-24.
How to cite this URL:
Sagar M. Impact of Hypoxia on Cardiopulmonary Adaptation in Canines: A Comprehensive Review. Research and Reviews : Journal of Veterinary Science and Technology. 2025; 15(01):13-24. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/rrjovst/article=2025/view=239476


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 15
Issue 01
Received 27/11/2025
Accepted 01/12/2025
Published 02/12/2025
Publication Time 5 Days
50

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