Congenital heart diseases in dogs
are malformations of the heart or great vessels. The lesions
characterizing congenital heart defects are present at birth and
may develop more fully during perinatal and growth periods. Many
congenital heart defects are thought to be genetically transmitted
from parents to offspring; however, the exact modes of inheritance
have not been precisely determined for all cardiovascular
malformations.
CARDIOMYOPATHY
SUBVALVULAR
AORTIC
STENOSIS (SAS) - Click
on link for more information.
German Shorthaired
Pointer breeding
stock are traditionally tested for heart issues once in their lifetime. In other
breeds, heart exams are done on an annual basis. What if we
test our animals for heart issues and they are all clear, but
develop a murmur the next month for example? PLEASE test
animals in breeding programs annually to ensure they have healthy
hearts! If not testing annually, at least test immediately
before they are bred.
Understanding the OFA Cardiac
Number:
Example:
GSP-CA250/12M/C-PI
-
GSP
= Breed Code, in this case a German Shorthaired Pointer
-
CA
= OFA Database, in this case Cardiac (CA)
-
250
= Ascending numerical identifier given to each animal with a
breed evaluated as normal and given a number, in this case the
250 the German Shorthaired Pointer to be given a cardiac number
-
12
= The age in months when the testing was done, in this case 12
months
-
M
= Sex
-
C
= Suffix indicating the area of specialty of the attending
veterinarian.
P = General Practitioner
S = Specialist
C = Board Certified Cardiologist
-
PI
or VPI = Indicates that the animal has been
permanently identified in the form of tattoo or microchip. If
the dog is permanently identified AND the id has been verified
and signed off by the attending veterinarian, a suffix of VPI
is applied. If the animals lacks permanent identification, a
suffix of NOPI is applied.
HELPFUL
LINKS ON CARDIAC ISSUES
Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals -
http://www.offa.org/cardiacinfo.html
Information
showing seizures as a symptom of SAS - http://cardiology.vetmed.lsu.edu/Education/CongenitalCardiacDisease/AorticStenosis/tabid/451/Default.aspx
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