Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Cardiomyopathy survival and symptoms in Boxer dogs study
By Palermo, Valentina et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2011·Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche Veterinarie, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Cardiomyopathy in Boxer dogs: a retrospective study of the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and survival.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Boxer dogs diagnosed with cardiomyopathy (a heart condition) showed varying outcomes based on the severity of their condition. Dogs with normal heart size had a median survival time of about 124 weeks, while those with an enlarged heart only survived around 17 weeks. Among the dogs with an enlarged heart, those that had previously collapsed fared even worse, living only about 10 weeks on average. This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and monitoring for better management of heart issues in Boxers.
People also search for: Boxer dog heart problems · cardiomyopathy in dogs · Boxer heart disease treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively compare and contrast the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings and survival in Boxer dogs with cardiomyopathy, with or without left ventricular (LV) systolic failure. ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of Boxers referred between 1993 and 2008 in which a diagnosis of ventricular arrhythmias and/or cardiomyopathy was made, were reviewed. Dogs were divided into two groups according to their left ventricular (LV) systolic diameter, group A normal (20 dogs) or group B dilated (59 dogs). RESULTS: Dogs in group A had a better outcome than dogs in group B (median survival time of 124 and 17 weeks respectively, p < 0.001). In group B, dogs with a history of collapse had a worse outcome (median survival time of 10 weeks) compared with dogs not showing collapse (median survival time 24 weeks) (p = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of dogs, in this UK study, presented with the myocardial dysfunction form of the disease, with LV dilation and congestive heart failure signs. The prognosis was worse in dogs with LV dilation compared to dogs with a normal LV and ventricular arrhythmias. In the Boxers with LV dilation, dogs with collapse had a worse prognosis than those without.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21306968/