Below is a collection of research articles, brochures and web links on various cardiac diseases. The information below is not an exhaustive list but focuses on more recent findings. More information will be added over time.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Download: Population and Survival Characteristics of Cats with HCM: 260 cases
Consensus Statements
Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Chronic Degenerative Valvular Disease
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
Boxer ARVC is an adult onset heart muscle disease that can lead to sudden death or the development of congestive heart failure where the dog starts to cough or becomes short of breath.
This is an inherited disease, but it is adult onset. The average age where the clinical signs may be observed or a Holter monitor becomes abnormal is 6 years of age. However, this is widely variant. Some dogs will show it younger and some, not until they are much older!
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Radiographic Heart Size & Rate Increase as test for CHF in Cavaliers (Lord et all 2011)
Understand CHF
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle which causes the heart to weaken and enlarge. DCM usually affects both the left and right sides of the heart. Typically, both the ventricles and the atria are enlarged and often the muscular walls of the heart are much thinner than normal.
Efficacy of Benazepril in delaying the progression of DCM in Dobermans
Cardiac Troponin 1 in Dobermans with Cardiomyopathy
Ventricular Arrhythmias in Dobermans
Efficacy of Pimobendan in the Prevention of CHF or Sudden Death in Dobermans with preclinical DCM
Prospective Evaluation of NT-proBNP to detect occult DCM & Predict Survival in Dobermans
Plasma Big Endothelin-1, Atrial Natriuretic Peptide, Aldosterone
Understanding DCM
Use of Echocardiogram in Diagnosis of DCM in Wolfhounds
Prevalence of DCM in Wolfhounds
Irish Wolfhounds: Reference Values
Long Term Outcome of Wolfhounds with Pre-clinical DCM, Atrial Fib, or both with medications
Use of Simpson’s Method to Detect Early Echo Changes in Doberman’s with DCM
Prevalence of DCM in Dobermans
Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
EIC is an inherited disease found in Labs and other breeds such as Curly-Coated and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels and Pembroke Welsh Corgis and more. Affected dogs typically become weak in the hind limbs and collapse after 5-20 minutes of high intensity exercise, such as in field trials or upland game hunting, and in some cases simple fetch and retrieves.
University of Minnesota’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory website has extensive information on EIC, DNA testing and a video of the collapse.
Exercise Induced Collapse
Breeds Tested
EIC Genetic Testing Brochure
Implications of EIC mutation for Breeding
Mitral Valve Disease
Association of BNP with Mitral Valve Regurgitation Severity & Outcome in Dogs with Asymptomatic Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease
Radial and Longitudinal Strain and Strain Rate as Assessed by Speckle-Tracking Echo in Dogs with MMVD
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Understanding PDA’s
Sub Aortic Stenosis (SAS)
Natural Clinic History (Kienle et al 1994)
Progression of SAS (Nakayama et al 1996)
Understanding SAS