Canine Cardiomyopathies and Myocarditis Flashcards
What are the three main canine cardiomyopathies?
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Atrial Standstill
What type of cardiomyopathy is common in Dobermans and other large breed dogs?
DCM
Which breed inherits ventricular arrhythmias (rare)?
German Shepherd
Which breeds are predisposed to juvenile DCM?
Portugese Water Dog
Great Dane
What are three infectious causes of myocarditis?
Chagas disease
Parvovirus
Lyme disease
What are the two most common nutritional deficiences leading to cardiomyopathy in dogs?
Taurine
Carnitine
What drug can cause toxic cardiomyopathy in dogs?
Doxyrubricin
What four metabolic states can commonly cause cardiomyopathy and systolic dysfunction?
Muscular dystropy
Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism
Tachycardia
What is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)?
Primary heart muscle disease characterized by cardiac dilatation and systolic dysfunction of one or both ventricles
What are the five hypothesized causes of canine cardiomyopathy?
Familial/genetic Immune-mediated Viral Metabolic Nutritional
T/F: Canine cardiomyopathy is better understood than human cardiomyopathy
False; we’ve only pinpointed a few genes
Small dogs are more likely to get ___ (DCM/CVD), while large dogs are more likely to get (DCM/CVD)
CVD
DCM
T/F: There are breed-specific types of DCM
True Doberman Boxer English Cocker Spaniel American Cocker Spaniel Irish Wolfhound Portuguese Water Dog Great Dane
Large breed, male, middle aged dogs are a typical candidate for ___
DCM
What is the pathogenesis of DCM?
Neurohormonal activation -> proliferation of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts and sodium and water retention -> increased preload -> cardiac remodeling (hypertrophy, dilatation, fibrosis, sphericity) -> Abnormal systolic, diastolic functions and arrhythmias
What are the three occult signs of DCM?
Arrhythmias
Systolic dysfunction
Sudden death
What are the six clinical signs of DCM?
Weakness Exercise intolerance Syncope Weight loss CHF Sudden cardiac death
What five signs of DCM should one look for on a physical exam?
Systolic murmur or S3 gallop (S3 is blood filling ventricle) Arrhythmia (pulse deficit) Weak arterial pulses Left sided CHF Biventricular CHF occasionally occurs
What is seen on ECG of a dog with DCM?
Often, nothing
May see tachyarrhythmia (VT, AF)
What is seen on radiographs of a dog with DCM?
Nothing until overt diation present
Rads can’t assess function
What is seen on an echocardiograph of a dog with DCM?
Can see LV systolic dysfunction
Mitral regurgitation
LA enlargement
What are biomarkers?
Substances that can give information about organ function or dysfunction
What is atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) useful for?
It is increased in Dobermans with occult and overt DCM
Not sensitive in other breeds
What are brain natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-BNP useful for?
NTproBNP increased in overt DCM
BNP sensitive screen for dogs with occult DCM
What is troponin I (cTNI) useful for?
Increased in overt and occult DCM in Doberman
In American cocker spaniels, there is an association between low plasma ___ and DCM. How is this treated?
Taurine
Supplement taurine and L-carnitine