Introduction

• Congenital heart defects (CHDs), may be defined as those abnormalities of heart structure that are present at birth.
• 'Congenital defect' is not synonomous with 'genetic defect' since other causes such as toxin or viral exposure must be considered.
• Traditionally, abnormalities of aortic arch development are also included in this category of cardiac disease.
• Many congenital cardiac defects arise as a result of the aberrant embryological development of the heart and great vessels.
• Canine congenital heart defects include:
  • Patent ductus arteriosus Patent ductus arteriosus (toy and miniature Poodles Poodle:toy Poodle: miniature, Maltese Maltese, Pomeranian Pomeranian, Shetland sheepdogs Shetland sheepdog, English Springer spaniels English Springer spaniel, Bichon Frise Bichon Frise, German Shepherd German Shepherd dog.
  • Pulmonic stenosis Pulmonic stenosis (English Bulldog English Bulldog, Mastiff Mastiff, Miniature Schnauzer Miniature Schnauzer, West Highland White Terrier West Highland White Terrier.
  • Aortic stenosis Heart: aortic stenosis (Golden Retriever Retriever: Golden, Newfoundland Retriever Newfoundland, Rottweiler Rottweiler, Boxer Boxer).
  • Ventricular septal defect Ventricular septal defect (English Spriner spaniel, English Bulldog).
  • Atrial septal defect Atrial septal defect (Standard Poodle Poodle: standard).
  • Mitral or tricuspid dysplasia Atrioventricular valve dysplasia (Labrador Retriever Retriever: Labrador, German Shepherd).
  • Tetralogy of Fallot Tetralogy of fallot (Keeshond Keeshond).
  • Eisenmenger's complex Eisenmenger's complex.
  • Persistent right aortic arch Vascular ring anomalies (German Shepherd, Great Dane Great Dane).

Development of congenital cardiac disease

Clinical signs

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Schrope D P (2015) Prevalence of congenital heart disease in 76,301 mixed breed dogs and 57,052 mixed breed cats. J Vet Cardiol 17 (3), 192-202 PubMed.
• Oliveria P, Domenech O, Silva J et al (2011) Retrospective review of congenital heart disease in 976 dogs. JVIM 25 (3), 477-483 PubMed.
• Tidholm A (1997) Retrospective study of congenital heart defects in 151 dogs. JSAP 38 (3), 94-98 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Strickland K & Oyama M A (2015) Congenital heart disease. In: Manual of Canine and Feline Cardiology. 5th edn. Eds F W K Smith, L P Tilley, M A Oyama, M M Sleeper. Philadelphia: Elsevier, pp 218-238.
• Bonagura J & Lehmkuhl L (1999) Congenital heart disease. In: Textbook of Canine and Feline Cardiology. 2nd edn. Eds P R Fox, D Sisson & N S Moise. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. pp 471-566.
• Bonagura J & Darke P (1995) Congenital heart disease. In: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 4th edn. Ed S J Ettinger. Philadelphia: W B Saunders. pp 892-943.