Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How common is heart muscle disease in Irish wolfhounds
By Vollmar, A C·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·2000·Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of Wissen, Germany·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: The prevalence of cardiomyopathy in the Irish wolfhound: a clinical study of 500 dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that 41.8% of Irish wolfhounds examined had heart problems, with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) being the most common issue. This condition can lead to serious complications like congestive heart failure (CHF), which was seen in 72 dogs, some experiencing severe symptoms like fluid buildup in the chest. Unfortunately, dogs diagnosed with DCM had a median survival time of just over 5 months, while those still alive after diagnosis had a median survival of about 15 months. Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial for early detection and management of heart issues in this breed.
People also search for: Irish wolfhound heart problems · dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs · dog congestive heart failure symptoms
Abstract
The prevalence of cardiomyopathy in Irish wolfhounds was evaluated by retrospective review of the results of cardiovascular examinations carried out in 500 dogs presented for veterinary services at the author's practice. Abnormalities were found in 209 (41.8%) of the dogs examined. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was diagnosed in 121 (24.2%) of the dogs and was accompanied by atrial fibrillation in 106 dogs. Seventeen dogs were suffering from advanced congestive heart failure (CHF), and 55 dogs were suffering from mild to moderate CHF as a result of DCM. Congestive heart failure was most commonly characterized by mild to severe pleural effusion due to right-sided heart failure in addition to pulmonary edema. Rhythm disturbances without evidence of DCM were detected in 48 dogs. Forty dogs had echocardiographic abnormalities without signs of DCM. Soft to moderate mitral regurgitations were diagnosed in 13 (2.6%) of these 40 dogs examined. In 39 dogs that died as a result of DCM, the median survival time from the time of diagnosis was 5.1 months, and in 59 dogs with DCM that are still alive, the median survival time is 15.7 months.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10730622/