THE APBT HEALTH CENTER
Cardiac Issues
By Karen
With additions by Lindsay Dugan
The issue of cardiac health in this breed is one we as owners, breeders, fanciers need to take stock of. For years there has been hidden whispers behind closed doors about this one's line or that one's line. This does no one any good. It is time to come out of the shadows and into the light of knowledge.
Heart problems whether congenital or a fluke of nature need to be talked about and researched IN REGARDS TO THIS BREED. Other breeds have studies going on the scary things that affect their dogs and one has to ask, why not us? For every breeder of APBTs that screens their dogs there are 10 more that don't. The reasons for not testing are as varied as the people spouting them. Well people there is no VALID reason to breed dogs and not check their hearts. While some of the diseases on this page MIGHT nt have been found in our breed, doesn't really mean they aren't there. Best to be safe than sorry. After all heart is what made the APBT dog above all isn't it?
An article on Cardiac Examination: Cardiac Auscultation
Valvular Disease
The heart contains four valves:
- mitral valve (left AV)- the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle - tricuspid valve (right AV)- the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle - aortic or left semilunar valve-the valve between the left ventricle and aortic valve - pulmonic or right semilunar valve-the valve between right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
Valve dysfunction occurs by either congenital or acquired heart disease. The clinical finding of valvular disease is a cardiac murmur.
Valve dysfunction occurs by either congenital or acquired heart disease. The clinical finding of valvular disease is a cardiac murmur.
Valvular Heart Disease in Dogs
Congenital Heart Diseases: Part I
Congenital Heart Diseases: Part II
Cardiac Emergencies
Types of Valvular Disease
Endocarditis
The Pennsylvania State University, Veterinary Science Extension
115 W.L. Henning Building, University Park, PA 16802, TEL: (814) 863-2160 / FAX: (814) 863-6140
This article was printed in the July 2002 edition of Veterinary News
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Infective Endocarditis in Dogs
Michelle Wall, DVM, Clay A. Calvert, DVM, DACVIM, Craig E. Greene, DMV, MS, DACVIM, University of Georgia
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Infective endocarditis (IE) most often affects young to middle-aged, large-breed dogs with no history of heart disease. Coagulase-positive staphylococci and streptococci are the most commonly associated bacteria. Clinical findings indicative of IE include fever, an inflammatory leukogram, a heart murmur of recent onset, and lameness; but these findings are not consistently present. Echocardiography and blood cultures are important aspects of the diagnostic database. The aortic or mitral valve is involved in almost 100% of cases; involvement of the aortic valve is most common. The echocardiographic appearance of aortic valve IE is pathognomonic. A diastolic murmer of aortic regurgitation is common and highly suggestive of IE. The femoral pulses associated with advanced aortic valve IE are bounding and quick. Long-term (6 to 8 weeks or longer), high-dose bactericidal antibiotic therapy is required to treat IE. Intravenous therapy should be maintained as long as possible (at least 2 weeks) and followed by subcutaneous administration. Combination therapy using clindamycin plus enrofloxacin is recommended. IE may be difficult to recognize, often imitates immune-mediated or rickettsial diseases, and is usually lethal. Congestive heart failure is the usual out-come, especially with aortic valve IE.
Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian, August 2002:Vol 24(8)
Infective Endocarditis Vegetative Bacterial Endocarditis Bacterial endocarditis
Endocarditis in a dog Bartonella henselae and Bartonella elizabethae as Potential Canine Pathogens Aortic Valve Endocarditis in a Dog Due to Bartonella clarridgeiae
Congenital Aortic Stenosis
This is becoming alarming in our breed. The ultimate test for this is Doppler. Please, if you are breeding spend the money to get it done. Do you want to be responsible for breaking families' hearts when their dogs drop dead at 2 and 3 years old?
Pam Perdue's Heart of the Matter
SUBAORTIC STENOSIS UPEI Article Aortic Stenosis
Rott Club of Canada article
Boxer Underground SAS report
EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW
ABOUT AORTIC STENOSIS
Sub-Aortic Stenosis AORTIC STENOSIS
Aortic Stenosis Dr. John Bonagura
General info on SAS
Drs. Foster & Smith article on SAS
CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY CONCEPTS
The genetics and pathology of discrete SAS in the Newfoundland dog Bouvier SAS study. We need a similar study
Newfoundland Health Information - SAS Stud
SAS Research One Year Progress Report SAS Two Year Progress report
SAS - What it is, and Why Breeder Should be Concerned by Denise Mankin DVM
Subaortic Stenosis by Anita R. Weidinger, D.V.M.
SAS TESTING: Auscultation versus Doppler Congenital Cardiac Disease OFA database
Doppler Echocardiography Listen to a Heart Murmur
Congenital Pulmonic Valve Stenosis
Valvular Pulmonic Stenosis Pulmonic stenosis PULMONIC STENOSIS
Heart Conditions MaryDee Sist, DVM
Pulmonic (Pulmonary) Stenosis The Small Animal Veterinary Nerdbook
Canine Dialated Cardiomyopathy
This is a flaccidity of the heart muscle similar to cats. The heart cannot pump properly causing congestive heart failure. There is a suspicion that this may be a genetic disease. We see a breed predilection in the Doberman pincher, boxer, giant breeds i.e. Irish wolf hound, Scottish deer hound, great dane. We also see a taurine related dilated cardiomyopathy in cocker spaniels. This has also been found in APBTs with alarming frequency.
Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy-Recognition & Clinical Management Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Sexual and Breed-Related Differences Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated Cardiomyopathy:a daunting disease of the heart By D Caroline Coile, Ph D
DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN A FAMILY OF GREAT DANES: EFFICACY OF ORAL L-CARNITINE CANINE DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY AND HEART FAILURE
Growth Hormone Treatment for DCM in Dobermans
Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Summary Of Studies Using L-carnitine As A Nutritional Aid In The Management of Cardiac Disease
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Dietary Taurine Deficiency and
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs dilated cardiomypathy
DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY
Progress Report On: The Search for the Doberman Pinscher
CARDIOMYOPATHY GENE DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY
Pericardal Disease
The pericardium is a sac that surrounds the heart and serves to protect the heart and major vessels. When diseased it can cause life-threatening restriction of the ventricles. Clinical signs may be absent and only detected by auscultation . Your veterinarian may hear muffled or displaced heart sounds. Other signs include vomiting and difficulty in breathing. So please if your dog is just a tad off and you think he's lagging a bit get him checked by a vet!
Pericardial Diseases Pericardial Disease: Diagnosis and Management Heart Conditions
MaryDee Sist, DVM
Diseases of the Pericardium Human but
similar to canines
PERICARDIAL EFFUSION CONGENITAL DISORDERS OF THE PERICARDIUM
Inherited, Congenital, Acquired
What it means and why you should care by Karen Leshkivich, DVM Pericardium
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm is a parasite that destroys the heart. It is preventable and curable. Prevention is so much easier on the animal than curing it. Did you know that cats and ferrets can also get heartworm?
Heartworm is mosquito borne and in a lot of places in the US year round preventative is a must. Even in the North it is sometimes a good idea to keep the dogs on through the winter.
Canine Heartworm Disease Heartworm disease in dogs and cats: Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Heartworm Disease An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Heartworm Disease
Information about Mosquitoes and Dog Heartworm Disease CANINE HEARTWORM DISEASE Heartworm Disease and Travel
American Heartworm Society
Congestive Heart Failure
Chronic Valvular Heart Disease in Dogs Drug Therapy of Heart Failure: The Big Picture Nutritional Therapy of Heart Disease
Is this Animal in Heart Failure? Why is Heart Failure a Progressive Disease? Advances in Treatment of Heart Failure
DIETARY MANAGEMENT OF RENAL AND CARDIAC DISEASE
Valcular Dysplasia
Tricupsid Valvular Dysplasia and Congestive Heart Failure Atrioventricular Valvular Abnormalities Wake Up and Smell the Coffee by Joy Ritter
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia What is Mitral Valve Dysplasia?
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia in the Labrador Retriever
What is Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia?
Tricuspid Dysplasia: A Cardiologist's PerspectiveBy Lori Siemens, DVM, DACVIM
Patent Ductus Arteriosis
Patent Ductus Arteriosis
CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Patent Ductus Arteriosus
Arrhythmias
Chronic Management of Tachyarrhythmias in the Dog Swelling-Activated Chloride Current Is Persistently Activated in Ventricular Myocytes From Dogs With Tachycardia-Induced Congestive Heart Failure Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death by Dietary Pure -3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Dogs
Hypercalcemia Grant No. 2303: Molecular Analysis of Familial Ventricular Arrythmias in the Boxer Dog
Kathryn M. Meurs, DVM,PhD; Ohio State University
