A Study on the Prevalence of Canine Endocarditis

Background: Canine cardiac ailments are disease associated with cardiovascular system of dogs. Congenital and acquired heart diseases are the two main categories of cardiac ailments. Congenital cardiovascular lesions includes patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonary stenosis, aortic stenosis, persistent right aortic arch, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of fallot, atrial septal defect, persistent left cranial vena cava and mitral insufficiency which accounts for only 5% of all canine heart diseases and are generally diagnosed in puppies On the other hand, acquired diseases of the heart are those which a dog picks naturally during its lifetime usually as a result of infection, injury, or normal wear and tear and includes cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension disease, heartworm disease, congestive heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, pericarditis, myocarditis, and endocarditis.

Methods: A prevalence study of canine cardiac ailments was carried out by conducting the retrospective study and routine heart health screening at different veterinary polyclinics, of Dehradun, Haldwani and Rudrapur of Uttarakhand & nearby Veterinary Institutions (NDVSU, Jabalpur and DUVASU, Mathura).

Results: A total of 51655 cases were taken in the present study and it was found that 5.91% of canine population had clinical evidence of cardiac problems out of which 0.11% were found positive for endocarditis. Out of the screened areas maximum prevalence of endocarditis was found in Mathura (0.137%) and least in Jabalpur (0.070%). Out of positive endocarditis cases, the males were more affected as compared to the females. The highest prevalence of endocarditis was found in the 7-9 year age group (33.33%) and least in 2-4 year age group (15.78%). Endocarditis was found to be most prevalent in Labrador and least in Dalmantian.

Conclusion: On the basis of results of the present study, endocarditis showed variations in prevalence based on geographical location, gender, age, and breed, with middle-aged to older male Labradors being at higher risk.