Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

Breed Predispositions for Congenital Heart Defects
Atrial septal defects Samoyed
Ventricular septal defects Bulldog
Aortic and subaortic stenosis Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, German
Shepherd, Rottweiler, Boxer, German Shorthaired
Pointer, Samoyed
Tricuspid dysplasia Labrador Retriever, Great Dane, Weimaraner,
German Shepherd Dog
Mitral dysplasia Great Dane, German Shepherd Dog, Bull Terrier
Patent ductus arteriosus Poodle, Pomeranian, Collie, Shetland Sheepdog,
German Shepherd Dog, Cocker Spaniel, English
Springer Spaniel
Pulmonic stenosis Beagle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel,
Schnauzer, Newfoundland, Rottweiler
Tetralogy of Fallot Keeshond, English Bulldog, Miniature Poodle,
Miniature Schnauzer
It is important to identify affected individuals when treatment is most
likely to be successful and before the dog is used for breeding. The best time to
screen puppies for congenital heart defects is when they are 6 to 8 weeks of
age, before being released to their new homes. Screening is done by carefully
listening for murmurs with a stethoscope over the four valve areas. The examination
is best performed by a veterinarian who is experienced in recognizing
heart murmurs. Murmurs heard at this age may not be associated with disease;
some will disappear as the pup matures. If the murmur is present at 16 weeks,
however, the puppy should be screened using cardiac ultrasound.
OFA maintains a cardiac registry to gather data on congenital heart
defects. (See appendix D for information on how to contact OFA.) Dogs are
screened at 12 months of age or later by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist,
and if they are found to be unaffected, they are issued a certificate and a
registration number. For bloodlines with an increased incidence of congenital
heart defects, it is highly desirable to seek OFA certification before selecting
breeding animals.
BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS
THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM • 337
Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves and the lining of the
heart. The disease is not common. It is caused by bacterial species that gain
entrance to the circulation system through wounds and infections elsewhere
in the body. In many cases the actual source of infection is unknown. Dogs on