Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Infective heart valve infection in UK dogs from 2009 to 2019
By Berrezaie, M et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2023·Department of Clinical Science and Services, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Infective endocarditis in dogs in the UK: 77 cases (2009-2019).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 77 dogs in the UK were diagnosed with infective endocarditis, a serious heart infection, with lethargy being the most common symptom noticed by their owners. Most affected dogs were large breeds, averaging about 7 years old, and the mitral valve was the most commonly impacted. While a specific cause was identified in only about a third of the cases, many dogs were treated successfully, with 69% surviving to leave the hospital. Those that did survive had a median lifespan of over a year after discharge, although developing congestive heart failure was linked to a poorer outcome.
People also search for: dog lethargy heart infection · infective endocarditis treatment in dogs · large breed dog heart problems
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the causative organisms, clinical features and outcome of canine infective endocarditis in the UK. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical records of three veterinary referral hospitals were searched for dogs with infective endocarditis between December 2009 and December 2019. Signalment, clinical signs, causative organism, valve affected, treatment and survival data were recorded. RESULTS: Seventy-seven cases with possible or definite infective endocarditis (according to the modified Duke criteria) were included. The majority were large breed (40/77 - 51.9%). There were 47 of 77 (61%) male dogs and the mean age was 7.3 ±3 years. A causative organism was identified in 26 of 77 (33.8%) cases. The most common organisms were Escherichia coli (7/27 - 25.9%), Pasteurella spp. (5/27 - 18.5%), Staphylococcus spp. (4/27 - 14.8%) and Corynebacterium spp. (4/27 - 14.8%). Bartonella spp. were not detected in any patients. The mitral valve was most commonly affected (48/77 - 62.3%). Clinical features were non-specific, with lethargy being the most common clinical sign observed (53/77 - 68.8%). Fifty-three dogs (68.8%) survived to discharge. The median survival time post discharge was 425 days (2 to 3650 days). The development of congestive heart failure was associated with a poorer outcome. Cardiac troponin concentration, antithrombotic use and the development of thromboembolism or arrhythmias were not significantly associated with outcome. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Some dogs with infective endocarditis that survive to discharge can have a long lifespan. The inability to detect an underlying organism is common and Bartonella spp. may be a less prevalent cause of canine infective endocarditis in the UK than in the USA.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36336849/