Screening of dilated cardiomyopathy in senior dogs

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy is frequently associated with a genetic predisposition in certain breeds of dogs and can also occur secondary to other diseases and nutritional deficiencies. Cardiac dilatation is the thinning of the myocardial walls and especially of the ventricular myocardium, in the vast majority of cases being the natural consequence of the presence over time of the factors causing hypertrophy. Any obstruction in the two circulations increases the pressure and leads to compensatory hypertrophy, then dilation. The most common mechanical causes occur in the lower circulation through various acute pulmonary diseases that prolong into subacute or chronic form. Static disease in the great circulation is represented by arteriosclerosis, atheromatosis, aneurysms, thrombosis, chronic hepatic or renal organopathies