Vol. 10, Special Issue 11 (2021)

Author(s):
Apoorva Mishra, Apra Shahi, Babita Das, Pravesh Kumar Dwivedi, Shobha Jawre and Randhir Singh

Abstract:
Congenital heart diseases are more prevalent in purebred dogs. The prevalence rate of congenital cardiac diseases have been reported to about 2.8 percent. The three most common congenital heart defects in canine patients are aortic stenosis (AS), pulmonary stenosis (PS) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Congenital aortic stenosis can be of supravalvular, valvular or subvalvular type. Out of the three, subvalvular form is most common accounting for more than 95 percent of identified cases of aortic stenosis. In dogs this defect occurs mainly in Newfoundlands, Boxers, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Samoyeds and Dogue de Bordeaux breeds. The prevalence of congenital heart disease in boxers is very high i.e. 17.8% with subaortic stenosis being the most frequent finding with an incidence of 89.9% of all congenital defects. For diagnosis, evaluation of heart is performed via assessment of heart sounds and murmurs, arterial pulses, degree of jugular vein distention, strength and location of apex beat. Initial non-invasive testing usually includes thoracic radiographs, an electrocardiogram (ECG), cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP, BNP, ANP, troponin I) and echocardiographic studies. Medicinal therapy with a β-blocker is advocated in patients with moderate to severe subaortic stenosis. Several palliative surgical techniques have been used in dogs with severe subaortic stenosis. Cardiopulmonary bypass and open-heart surgery are necessary to reach the lesion directly. The prognosis in dogs with mild or moderate stenosis is fair while that of severe stenosis is guarded.