A prospective study of systolic ejection murmurs and left ventricular outflow tract in boxers

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and progression of murmurs and the development of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and flow velocities in the great arteries in boxer puppies through adolescence until three years of age. METHODS: Nineteen boxer puppies with or without a low-intensity murmur, but without evidence of congenital heart disease, were studied prospectively. Examinations were carried out at 7 weeks, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12 and 36 months of age by cardiac auscultation and Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Presence and intensity of heart murmurs varied in the same dog and between dogs, but flow velocities did not change. Estimated effective orifice diameter (EOD) and indexed EOD was significantly narrower than measured subvalvular and valvular diameters. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The variability in presence and intensity of low-intensity ejection murmurs is high during growth in boxers.

Published in

Journal of Small Animal Practice
2011, volume: 52, number: 1, pages: 11-17
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

SLU Authors

• Höglund, Katja

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Häggström, Jens

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Kvart, Clarence

  • Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Veterinary Science
Animal and Dairy Science

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2010.01009.x

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/47543