Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Old Siberian Husky dog with spine and heart changes like connective
By Bengü Bilgiç et al.·Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science·2025·Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Türkiye, CH·View original on DOAJ →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Case Report: Skeletal and cardiovascular alterations compatible with a connective tissue disorder in an elderly dog
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old female Siberian Husky was brought to the vet because she was having trouble using her back legs, wasn’t eating, and was losing weight. During the exam, the vet found a serious heart murmur and some unusual bone shapes in her chest and spine. X-rays and an ultrasound showed issues with her heart and aorta, suggesting a possible connective tissue disorder. Unfortunately, without more specific tests, the exact diagnosis couldn’t be confirmed. The case emphasizes the importance of further research into these types of conditions in dogs.
People also search for: elderly dog hindlimb weakness · Siberian Husky heart murmur · dog connective tissue disorder symptoms
Abstract
A 15-year-old intact female Siberian Husky was referred for hindlimb paresis, anorexia, and cachexia. Cardiac auscultation revealed a grade 5/6 systolic murmur, with maximum intensity over the right hemithorax. Right lateral thoracic radiography revealed an undulating thoracic aorta with a normal vertebral heart scale. The patient had a left-sided scoliosis deformity at the lower thoracic and upper lumbar levels. In addition, sternum deformity revealed pectus excavatum, with no history of trauma in the anamnesis. Echocardiographic examination revealed aortic regurgitation (5.29 m/sn) and dilation of the aortic root and proximal ascending aorta in the parasternal long-axis view. The left ventricle was mildly enlarged, and the left atrial diameter was within reference ranges. This case describes an uncommon combination of skeletal and cardiovascular abnormalities in an elderly dog, raising the suspicion of a connective tissue disorder. However, in the absence of molecular or histopathological confirmation, the diagnosis remains presumptive. The case highlights the need for further genetic investigations and the establishment of specific diagnostic criteria for connective tissue fragility syndromes in veterinary medicine.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1662596