Abstract
The epidemiology of Congenital Heart Diseases (CHDs) has changed over the past twenty years. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of CHDs in the population of dogs recruited in a single referral center (RC); compare the epidemiological features of CHDs in screened breeds (Boxers) versus non-screened (French and English Bulldogs, German Shepherds); investigate the association of breeds with the prevalence of CHDs; determine the popularity and volatility of breeds over a 20-year period; analysed the trends of the most popular breeds in the overall population of new-born dogs registered in the Italian Kennel Club (IKC) from 1st January 1997 to 31st December 2017. The RC’s cardiological database was analysed, and 1,779 clinical records were included in a retrospective observation study. Descriptive statistics and frequencies regarding the most representative breeds and CHDs were generated. A logistic regression model was used to analyse the trends of the most common CHDs found in single and in cluster of breeds. The relationship between breed popularity and presence of CHDs was studied. The most common CHDs were Pulmonic Stenosis, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Subaortic Stenosis, Ventricular Septal Defect, Aortic Stenosis, Tricuspid Dysplasia, Atrial Septal Defect, Double Chamber Right Ventricle, Mitral Dysplasia, and others less frequent. The most represented pure breeds were Boxer, German Shepherd, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, Maltese, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Golden Retriever, Chihuahua, and others in lower percentage. Chihuahuas, American Staffordshire Terriers, Border Collies, French Bulldogs, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were the most appreciated all of which showed a high value of volatility. This study found evidence for the value of the screening program implemented in Boxers; fashions and trends influence dog owners’ choices more than the worries of health problems in a breed. Effective breeding programs are needed in order to control the diffusion of CHDs without impoverishing the genetic pool.
Highlights
Congenital anomalies of the cardiovascular system are defects present at birth, and often lead to perinatal death in dogs
Dogs affected by one Congenital Heart Diseases (CHDs) were included in the isolated Congenital Heart Disease group (CHDi), and dogs with two or more concurrent defects were included in the associated Congenital Heart Disease group (CHDa)
Among the most common CHDs in pure breeds, the youngest dogs at presentation were affected by Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and the oldest by AS (Fig 1)
Summary
Congenital anomalies of the cardiovascular system are defects present at birth, and often lead to perinatal death in dogs. In some cases, congenital heart diseases are asymptomatic and undetected until later in life, so the percentage of dogs with congenital heart diseases that survive to adulthood to breed can be rather high [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. To decrease the incidence of CHDs in the dog population as a whole, the early identification of affected dogs could inform a breeding program. Some of the most common CHDs could be successfully treated by surgical management, and an early diagnosis can help to provide a normal life expectancy compared to that of the untreated dogs [8]. Epidemiological studies on congenital heart disease in dogs have been conducted all over the world since the early 1960s [9,10]
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