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Congenital Heart Disease in Dogs

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Breed Predispositions for Congenital Heart Defects

Atrial septal defects	Samoyed
Ventricular septal defects	Bulldog
Aortic and subaortic stenosis	Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Boxer, German Shorthaired Pointer, Samoyed
Tricuspid dysplasia	Labrador Retriever, Great Dane, Weimaraner, German Shepherd Dog
Mitral dysplasia	Great Dane, German Shepherd Dog, Bull Terrier
Patent ductus arteriosus	Poodle, Pomeranian, Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, German Shepherd Dog, Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel
Pulmonic stenosis	Beagle, Labrador Retriever, Cocker Spaniel, Schnauzer, Newfoundland, Rottweiler
Tetralogy of Fallot	Keeshond, English Bulldog, Miniature Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer

It is important to identify affected individuals when treatment is most likely to be successful and before the dog is used for breeding. The best time to screen puppies for congenital heart defects is when they are 6 to 8 weeks of age, before being released to their new homes. Screening is done by carefully listening for murmurs with a stethoscope over the four valve areas. The examination is best performed by a veterinarian who is experienced in recognizing heart murmurs. Murmurs heard at this age may not be associated with disease; some will disappear as the pup matures. If the murmur is present at 16 weeks, however, the puppy should be screened using cardiac ultrasound.

OFA maintains a cardiac registry to gather data on congenital heart defects. Dogs are screened at 12 months of age or later by a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, and if they are found to be unaffected, they are issued a certificate and a registration number. For bloodlines with an increased incidence of congenital heart defects, it is highly desirable to seek OFA certification before selecting breeding animals.

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WebMD Veterinary Reference from "Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook"

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