Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
What is congenital subaortic stenosis in dogs and how does it progress
By Kienle, Richard D. et al.·Published in Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine·1994·School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Department of Medicine and the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, , Davis, CA, United States·View original on Crossref →
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Original publication title: The Natural Clinical History of Canine Congenital Subaortic Stenosis
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 195 dogs diagnosed with congenital subaortic stenosis (a heart condition) to understand how it affects them over time. Breeds like Newfoundlands, Rottweilers, Boxers, and Golden Retrievers were found to be at higher risk. Many dogs showed symptoms like fatigue, fainting, and breathing problems, with some experiencing sudden death, especially those with severe cases. Dogs with mild cases tended to live longer and often showed no symptoms, while those with severe cases had a much poorer outlook, with many not surviving past three years. Treatment options weren't discussed, but the findings highlight the importance of monitoring affected breeds for heart issues.
People also search for: dog congenital heart disease symptoms · Newfoundland heart problems · Boxer fainting episodes · Rottweiler heart murmur treatment
Abstract
Abstarct The demographics and natural clinical history of canine congenital subaortic stenosis (SAS) were evaluated by retrospective analysis of 195 confirmed cases (1967 to 1991), 96 of which were untreated and available for follow-up evaluation. Of these, 58 dogs had left ventricular outflow systolic pressure gradients available for assessment of severity. All 195 dogs were used for demographic analysis. Breeds found to be at increased relative risk included the Newfoundland (odds ratio, 88.1; P < .001), Rottweiler (odds ratio, 19.3; P < .001), Boxer (odds ratio, 8.6; P < .001), and Golden Retriever (odds ratio, 5.5; P < .001). Dogs with mild gradients (16 to 35 mm Hg) and those that developed infective endocarditis or left heart failure were diagnosed at older ages than those with moderate (36 to 80 mm Hg) and severe (>80 mm Hg) gradients. Of 96 untreated dogs, 32 (33.3%) had signs of illness varying from fatigue to syncope; 11 dogs (11.3%) developed infective endocarditis or left heart failure. Exercise intolerance or fatigue was reported in 22 dogs, syncope in 11 dogs, and respiratory signs (cough, dyspnea, tachypnea) in 9 dogs. In addition, 21 dogs (21.9%) died suddenly. Sudden death occurred mainly in the first 3 years of life, primarily but not exclusively, in dogs with severe obstructions (gradient, > 80 mm Hg; odds ratio, 16.0; P < .001). Infective endocarditis (6.3%) and left heart failure (7.3%) tended to occur later in life and in dogs with mild to moderate obstructions. Left heart failure was uncommon in the absence of additional congenital defects or infective endocarditis. Dogs with mild obstructions lived longer than other groups and tended to remain asymptomatic. The majority of dogs with severe obstructions died before 3 years of age and had a high prevalence (8 of 15) of sudden death. The prognosis for long-term survival in dogs with untreated mild or moderate SAS is favorable (median survival, 30.5 and 51.1 months, respectively), while the prognosis for dogs with severe SAS is very poor (median survival, 18.9 months).
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Search related cases →Original publication on Crossref: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.1994.tb03262.x