Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Echocardiogram finds heart defect in dogs and cats
By Thomas, William P·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2005·Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Echocardiographic diagnosis of congenital membranous ventricular septal aneurysm in the dog and cat.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
In a study involving 17 dogs and three cats, veterinarians used an ultrasound of the heart (called echocardiography) to find a condition known as a membranous ventricular septal aneurysm. This condition showed up as a thin membrane sticking into the right side of the heart, linked to a congenital ventricular septal defect (a hole in the heart). In most cases, the aneurysm was intact, but in some animals, it had a small hole in it. Interestingly, this aneurysm was usually found by chance during heart exams and did not seem to cause any heart problems for the pets. Overall, the treatment or management of this condition did not appear necessary since it wasn't causing any issues.
Abstract
Membranous ventricular septal aneurysm was diagnosed by echocardiography in 17 dogs and three cats. The aneurysm appeared as a thin membrane protruding into the right ventricle from the margins of a congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD). The aneurysm was intact in nine dogs and two cats and perforated by a small VSD in eight dogs and one cat. Other congenital heart defects were present in seven dogs. In all animals, the aneurysm was an incidental finding observed during echocardiographic examination, and it did not appear to directly cause any cardiac dysfunction.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15995157/