Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Septic pericarditis and air around heart in dog with esophageal
By Botha, Willem J et al.·Published in Journal of the South African Veterinary Association·2017·Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Septic pericarditis and pneumopericardium in a dog with an oesophageal foreign body.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old male Yorkshire Terrier was brought in after showing signs of lethargy and not eating for six days. The vet found that the dog had difficulty breathing and muffled heart sounds, and tests revealed fluid around the heart and an enlarged heart shape. Unfortunately, the treatment for septic pericarditis (an infection around the heart) did not work, and the dog was euthanized. A foreign object stuck in the esophagus was discovered during a post-mortem exam, which likely contributed to the dog's condition.
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Abstract
A 5-year-old, intact, male Yorkshire Terrier presented with a 6-day history of lethargy and anorexia. Clinical examination revealed dental plaque accumulation, abdominal effort during respiration and muffled heart sounds. Thoracic radiographs revealed an enlarged globoid cardiac silhouette and mild pneumopericardium, transthoracic ultrasonography revealed a pericardial effusion after which pericardiocentesis, cytology and culture diagnosed septic pericarditis. Three multidrug-resistant bacteria were isolated, two of which have been implicated in gas-producing infections before. Medical management failed to resolve the pericarditis and euthanasia was opted for. A chronic osseocartilaginous oesophageal foreign body cranial to the heart base was found on necropsy. Septic pericarditis and pneumopericardium are rare conditions in dogs. This is the first case to describe a multidrug-resistant polybacterial aetiology causing mild pneumopericardium and only the second case to describe septic pericarditis associated with an oesophageal foreign body.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28582985/