Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
English Bulldog fainting from right heart arrhythmia and aneurysm
By Santilli, Roberto A et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary cardiology : the official journal of the European Society of Veterinary Cardiology·2009·Clinica Veterinaria Malpensa, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Outflow tract segmental arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in an English Bulldog.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old English Bulldog was brought to the vet after suddenly collapsing and showing signs of extreme tiredness. Tests revealed that the dog had a serious heart rhythm problem called ventricular tachycardia, which was linked to a bulging area in the right side of the heart. This condition, known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), is rare in Bulldogs. The vet confirmed the diagnosis through heart imaging and tissue analysis. Unfortunately, this case highlights a serious heart issue that may require ongoing management and monitoring.
People also search for: English Bulldog heart problems · dog fainting episodes · arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy in dogs
Abstract
A 5-year-old English Bulldog was presented for acute onset of syncope and fatigue caused by sustained ventricular tachycardia with left bundle block morphology and inferior axis. This arrhythmia had the electrocardiographic features of a ventricular tachycardia arising from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), as described in an experimental canine model and in people. Since a RVOT aneurysm was identified by echocardiography, a segmental form of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) was suspected. Gross examination of the heart confirmed the bulging of the RVOT and histological examination of the ventricular myocardium revealed segmental involvement of the RVOT with transmural fibro-fatty degeneration. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case of AVRC in an English Bulldog and the first example of segmental AVRC described in the dog.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19482570/