Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
German shepherd dog with breathing trouble from heart defect
By Guglielmini, C et al.·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2001·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Aorticopulmonary septal defect in a German shepherd dog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female German shepherd was brought to the vet after experiencing breathing problems, fluid buildup in her abdomen, and a lack of appetite for two months. During the exam, the vet found an irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, and a significant heart murmur. Tests showed that her heart was enlarged and not functioning properly, and an ultrasound revealed a serious heart defect called an aorticopulmonary septal defect, which affects blood flow between the heart and lungs. Unfortunately, the dog did not survive after the diagnosis was confirmed.
People also search for: German shepherd breathing problems · dog heart murmur treatment · aorticopulmonary septal defect in dogs
Abstract
A 2-year-old, female German shepherd dog was referred with a 2-month history of dyspnea, ascites, and anorexia. On physical examination, an arrhythmia, tachypnea, and a continuous grade V/VI heart murmur were evidenced. Atrial fibrillation and tall R waves were noted on electrocardiography. Survey thoracic radiography revealed generalized cardiomegaly and enlarged pulmonary vessels. Echocardiography demonstrated severe dilatation of the left atrium and ventricle with reduced fractional shortening. Doppler echocardiography showed continuous and turbulent flow in the ascending aorta between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Necropsy demonstrated an aorticopulmonary septal defect.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11563441/