Canine heart testing schemes
Pedigree dogs have many inherited diseases and different breeds each have their own problems. Many dog breed societies employ testing schemes to detect individuals affected with certain conditions at any early stage of the disease at an early age. Early detection is important, not only to ensure appropriate treatment for affected dogs but also so that these animals can be excluded from breeding programmes to prevent them passing on the disease to their offspring. Congenital heart diseases are not uncommon in puppies and some of these are inherited. There are a number of breed testing schemes which allow early detection of these conditions.
The following breed clubs operate heart testing schemes:
- Boxer aortic stenosis
- Bull terrier aortic stenosis and mitral dysplasia
- Cavalier King Charles spaniel mitral valve disease
- Great Dane dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Irish Wolfhound dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Newfoundlands aortic stenosis
- Pyrenean sheepdog patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
- Field Spaniel prevalence of murmur and arrhythmia
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