Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog with heart infection causing abnormal heart connection
By Iuliani, K et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2024·Oradell Animal Hospital, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Echocardiographic and pathologic identification of an aorto-left atrial fistula secondary to infective endocarditis in a canine patient.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A dog was brought in for lameness, fever, and extreme tiredness, and during the exam, the vet found a new heart murmur and swelling in the joints. Tests showed that the dog had a serious infection in multiple joints and a heart condition called infective endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart valve. Unfortunately, the prognosis was poor, and the owner chose to have the dog humanely euthanized. A follow-up examination confirmed the heart infection and a connection between the aorta and the left atrium.
People also search for: dog lameness and fever · dog heart murmur treatment · infective endocarditis in dogs
Abstract
A dog was presented for lameness, fever, and extreme lethargy. On physical exam, a new heart murmur, arrhythmia, and joint effusion were detected. These findings were not detected two months prior. A diagnostic work-up confirmed septic suppurative inflammation in multiple joints. Echocardiogram revealed aortic valvular endocarditis along with a communication, as a consequence of a fistula, that extended from just below the aortic sinotubular junction to the left atrial lumen. Due to a poor prognosis, humane euthanasia was elected. Necropsy and histopathology confirmed infective endocarditis of the aortic valve and an aorto-left atrial fistulous tract extending from the left coronary sinus of the aortic valve to the lumen of left atrium.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38430823/