Open AccessUse of Auscultation and Doppler Echocardiography in Boxer Puppies to Predict Development of Subaortic or Pulmonary Stenosis
Author(s) -
Jenni S.,
Gardelle O.,
Zini E.,
Glaus T.M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of veterinary internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.356
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1939-1676
pISSN - 0891-6640
DOI - 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0213.x
Subject(s) - medicine , auscultation , puppy , cardiology , pulmonary artery , doppler echocardiography , stenosis , heart murmur , diastole , blood pressure , ecology , biology
Background: Boxers are predisposed to subaortic and pulmonic stenosis (SAS, PS). Screening of puppies may be useful in estimating the risk of their developing a defect that potentially compromises life expectancy or exercise tolerance. Hypothesis: Presence of SAS or PS in adult Boxers can be predicted by auscultation and Doppler echocardiography at 9–10 weeks of age. Animals: Eighty‐five Boxer puppies examined at 9–10 weeks of age and at 12 months of age. Methods: Prospective, longitudinal observational study. Auscultation by stethoscope and continuous wave‐Doppler echocardiography for peak velocities ( V max ) in the aorta (Ao) and pulmonary artery (PA). Results: Intensity of heart murmurs in puppies correlated with V max Ao and V max PA in adults. V max Ao and V max PA in puppies correlated with V max Ao and V max PA in adults, respectively. From puppy to adult, V max Ao increased and V max PA remained unchanged. The negative predictive value for absent or only a soft (≤II/VI) murmur in puppies being associated with V max Ao and PA ≤ 2.4 m/s as an adult was 90% and ≤3.5 m/s 100%. The negative predictive value of a V max ≤ 2.4 m/s as a puppy still being ≤2.4 m/s as an adult was 94% for Ao and 96% for PA, and of a V max ≤ 3.5 m/s, 99% for Ao and 100% for PA. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Even though V max Ao increases during growth in Boxer puppies, indicating relative narrowing of the aorta, puppies with V max Ao ≤ 2.4 m/s do not usually progress to clinically have relevant SAS at 12 months of age.