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Dilated cardiomyopathy in dog breeds
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy is generally progressive and fatal and is has brought a lot of grief to many dog owners. I hope that this information will help current and future dog owners to make better decisions while selecting their family companions because many dog breeds have an inherited predisposition to dilated cardiomyopathy that may cause congestive heart failure and sudden death.
In English Cocker adult onset congestive heart failure with dilation of all cardiac chambers and marked alteration in stroke volume in aortic outflow. Males affected at earlier age and develop more severe signs. This condition may be similar to taurine responsive disease in American Cocker speniel. In Saint Bernards there is congestive heart failure, hypertrophy and degenerative changes to heart. Portuguese Water Dogs the condition presents as ventricular arrhythmias of suspected right ventricular (RV) origin, syncope, and heart failure; cardiomyopathy with fatty degeneration. High breed prevalence, many other abnormalities of myocardium (heart muscle) present (low carnitine, LDH, ATP, CK) Early onset at 2 to 30 weeks of age, rapid progression, males and females affected. Associated with abnormal taurine metabolism and low plasma taurine before clinical symptoms appear.
Newfoundland breed is considered a breed at increased risk on for developing dilated cardiomyopathy and data suggests that the condition runs in certain families. Adult onset congestive heart failure with dilation of all cardiac chambers. Males are affected at earlier age and may have more severe signs. There is very limited evidence of relationship to taurine deficiency.
Adult Irish Wolfhounds, Great Dane, and German Shepherds usually have dilation of all cardiac chambers which is often accompanied by atrial fibrillation. Males are affected at earlier age and may have more severe signs. In one survey, cardiovascular anomalies were present in 40% of dogs examined and heart disease in about half this number. German shepherds may present with left ventricular concentric hypertrophy.
Doberman Pinschers seem to be particularly predisposed to dilated cardiomyopathy that leads to sudden death or congestive heart failure. There is high breed prevalence with many secondary abnormalities of heart muscle (myocardium). Dogs can be affected as early in life as 2 to 30 weeks of age. The disease progresses rapidly and both males and females are affected. In doberman Pinschers dilated cardiomyopathy is thought to be inherited as autosomal dominant disorder.
Boxers dilated cardiomyopathy occurs with low myocardial carnitine concentration. It is of fatty infiltrative degenerative type that can progress over months to years. It is also described as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Clinical events include sudden death, ventricular arrhythmias of suspected right ventricular (RV) origin, syncope (fainting), and heart failure.
(This post was written based on the information from University of Cambridge Veterinary school).
Posted by valley_lily456 on Friday, April 11, 2008
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