Key considerations in the approach to congenital heart disease in dogs and cats

Abstract

Congenital heart disease is an important subset of all cardiovascular disease in dogs and cats that is present at birth and most often detected in young animals but can be diagnosed in adulthood. The range of abnormalities that can occur during development of the heart is vast incorporating simple and complex defects, varying degrees of severity and clinical presentations that include heart failure and cyanosis. While some defects do not result in morbidity in an individual animal, others cause severe clinical signs and death at a young age. Advances in imaging and expanding treatment options offer increasingly more possibilities in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease which is the focus of this review. The objective is to provide a broad overview of current practice and highlight key aspects to guide practitioners in their approach to congenital heart disease diagnosis and knowledge of available treatment options.

Abnormal Morphology: Mitral Dysplasia in a Cat

“…However, hormones alone are not sufficient for diagnosis. Even if the degree of heart failure is evident, it can be found in normal reference values [1] [9]. Blood pressure measurement is an essential clinical examination standard in veterinary medicine and human medicine.…”

“…Postmortem examination revealed hypertrophy due to regurgitation caused by dysplasia, microscopically and macroscopically [4]. The prognosis is generally poor, and sudden death is possible [1]. This study emphasizes that congenital heart diseases are more common in cats than is thought and the importance of a multisystemic approach in the diagnosis stage.…”

“…Abnormal growth may occur in the chordae tendineae or other structures associated with the valves. These abnormalities in the valves prevent complete closure, resulting in an abnormal transmitral and regurgitant flow profile [1].…”

Диференційна Діагностика Хвороб Печінки У Собак

“…Якщо при гепатодистрофії уміст загального білка підвищується або залишається без змін у межах максимальної норми, то у собак, хворих на цироз печінки, він знижується. Кількість альбумінів при цирозі печінки була удвічі меншою, ніж при гепатодистрофії, і в жодному випадку не перевищувала 23,2 г/л, а при гепатодистрофії була не менше 27,5…”