Disorder - Cardiomyopathy

Organ Systems Involved
Cardiovascular

Alternative Names
Ventricular Hypertrophy
Heart Disease, Hypertrophic in the dog
Canine Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Brief Description

Affected animals show a dilation of all the chambers of the heart with some increase in the heart muscle mass (hypertrophy) and a reduction in the contracting abilities of the ventricles.

Presenting Signs

The degree of weakening of the heart wall has been found to relate directly to the severity of symptoms; weaker walls result in a reduced volume of blood being pumped around the body. Hence, symptoms would be likely to vary depending on the severity of the weakening. Some affected dogs show no clinical signs and have no history of physical problems. Other cases, however, may show clinical signs such as fatigue and possibly collapse, coughing, shortness of breath, heart murmur, heart failure or sudden death, most commonly during or immediately following exertion. Additional clinical signs depend on whether it is right sided or left sided heart failure but may include abdominal distension, anorexia and weight loss.

Dogs at Risk

Male dogs Larger dogs

Groups Affected
Gundog
Hound
Non Sporting
Utility
Working dog


Breeds Affected
American cocker spaniel
Boxer
Dobermann
German shepherd dog
Great Dane
Irish wolfhound
Newfoundland
Old English sheepdog
Portuguese water dog
St Bernard
Sussex spaniel


Treatment

Medical

PubMed References
Cardiomyopathy

Further Reference Material [OMIA Number]
515
516


Contributor
Michelle Sutherland