In conclusion, weak femoral artery pulses in dogs with MMVD seem to be associated with regional/local reductions in blood flow and not arteriosclerosis or platelet count. A weak femoral artery pulse reflected reduced artery diameter and/or distension rather than occlusion. Weak femoral artery pulses were not related to clinical signs or to decreased pulse pressure or stroke volume.
![femoral pulse femoral pulse](https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/figure/file/208371/article_river_4c0a9d909f7b11eba783f90fe6281e83-Figure-1-boyutlu.png)
Mitral valve prolapse severity, degree of obesity, heart rate and age all influenced femoral artery pulse strength negatively. In 26% of the dogs, a pulse ⩽50% of normal strength was detected six dogs (2.0%) had an absent pulse unilaterally or bilaterally. Another common site to assess the femoral pulse is in the groin. What pulse is found on the inner thigh Femoral pulse: located in the inner thigh, at the mid-inguinal point, halfway between the pubic symphysis and anterior superior iliac spine (femoral artery). If an aneurysm is present, the pulse may be easily found and felt as throbbing. Pulses are located in temporal part of the head,carotid,femoral,brachial,radial,ulnar, dorsalis pedis and popliteal pulse.
![femoral pulse femoral pulse](https://media.springernature.com/lw785/springer-static/image/art:10.1186%2F1752-1947-3-86/MediaObjects/13256_2009_Article_902_Fig2_HTML.jpg)
In addition, in 109 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (of which 61 were included in the three substudies mentioned above), the relation between femoral artery pulse strength and presence of thrombocytopenia was investigated. One of the major signs of a possible femoral aneurysm is the ability to easily find and feel the pulse at the back of the knee, called the popliteal pulse. In three substudies encompassing 247 dogs from two breeds predisposed to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), femoral artery pulse strength was palpated and related to potential explanatory factors, including quantitative echocardiographic measures of MMVD, aortic and femoral artery diameter and wall thickness and blood pressure.