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Prevalence and clinical characteristics of congenital heart diseases in dogs examined at the Clinic for Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb in the period from 2013- 2017

Congenital heart diseases/defects (CHD) encompass a large group of complex malformations of the heart. These malformations most often involve valves, cardiac septa or large vessels, and lead either to pressure or volume overload of the heart. The precise etiology of CHD is seldom known, but it can be generally said that they are caused by genetic and environmental factors. Depending on the type of defect and its impact on cardiovascular hemodynamics, clinical signs of CHD may be wide ranging: asymptomatic or mild to life- threatening. In the setting of clinical examination, the vast majority of CHD is accompanied by a loud heart murmur, which makes heart auscultation the most important screening test. Treatment of CHDs depends on the type of defect, and can be conservative (symptomatic), minimally invasive or surgical. Early and accurate diagnosis and successful management of CHD has an impact on patient morbidity and survival. The main objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of CHDs in the population of dogs and cats examined at the Clinic for Internal Diseases of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb in the period from January 1st 2013 to September 30th 2017. Additionally, the main clinical characteristics of the diagnosed CHDs are described. All dogs and cats included in the study underwent a full physical examination and complete echocardiography. In some of the study animals necropsy was done. In our study CHD had an overall prevalence of 0, 25% and reported frequencies of diagnoses were 24% for patent ductus arteriosus, 20 % for pulmonary artery stenosis, 16 % for subaortic stenosis, ventricular septal defect and tricuspid valve dysplasia and 8% for right persistent aortic arch.

congenital heart defects, prevalence, clinical characteristics, dog, cat, Zagreb

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