By Stephen Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM and Cardiology)
Last month we discussed cardiology exams for congenital disease in young animals. Once breeding animals reach physical maturity, they require further testing to ensure that they are free of genetic heart disease that could be passed on to offspring. This particular exam is for dogs, but an exam for cats will be similar.
Congenital heart conditions can be identified in young puppies and kittens, but dogs may not be certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals as free of heart disease until after they are 12 months old. Breeders or owners who wish to register their dogs with OFA or other health registries for various genetic diseases will bring them in for the official examination required for registration.
The dog being examined should already be microchipped or identified with a tattoo. Conscientious breeders and owners do this to ensure that the correct information is submitted for the correct dog.
The breeder or owner can acquire OFA forms online and print them out. It is the breeder or owner’s responsibility to fill out the form beforehand with the necessary information, including the dog’s American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club, or other registered name and registration number and the registered names and numbers of both the sire (father) and dam (mother). Ideally forms are completed in advance so the veterinarian can be aware of which dog is being examined if there is more than one.
The veterinarian or veterinary cardiologist will sign the form once the examination is completed. The breeder or owner may then submit the form to OFA. Submission of the form with the dog’s results is optional, but conscientious breeders and owners provide the information whether or not the animal is declared free of disease.
Performing the Exam
Advise owners prior to the appointment that pets should not be sedated for at least 12 hours before examination. It is also best not to feed the animal for 12 hours prior to examination, but owners do not need to withhold water. Determine beforehand if the dog is receiving any medications or supplements since some drugs may alter normal heart sounds.
Owners unfamiliar with the exam process may be concerned about their pet’s wellbeing. Assure them that animals experience no pain or discomfort during any part of the examination process. Any anxiety on the animal’s part can be minimized through Fear Free handling techniques.
As with a puppy or kitten exam, auscultation should take place in a quiet room with little to no foot traffic or other noise outside it. Before beginning, remind others in the room of the need for quiet. Provide the pet with a comfortable non-slip surface so the pet has good footing and feels secure. A warmed fleece blanket with a calming pheromone might help relax the pet even more.
If necessary, ask the owner to be nearby or to help stabilize the pet to prevent him moving around a great deal, or even gently hold the muzzle of a panting dog so that breathing sounds are temporarily cut off in order to clearly hear the heart sounds. Calmly petting the dog may help distract him.
After the exam, give a few special treats or some play to create a positive association with the experience. Dogs with a high level of FAS or a history of aggression may require a basket-type muzzle that will allow them to breathe easily and minimize the amount of handling. Ideally, the dog should previously have been acclimated to the muzzle to prevent escalation of FAS.
Post-Exam Recommendations
If you hear a murmur on auscultation, refer breeders or owners immediately to a veterinary cardiologist so the problem can be identified and, if possible, treated early in the animal’s life. If you are uncertain about the nature of the sounds you hear, recommend further examination by a veterinary cardiologist.
Should the cardiologist hear a problem, he or she may suggest further testing to clarify the cause. Such testing may include one or more of the following: radiographs of the thorax; an electrocardiogram; an echocardiogram; blood pressure evaluation (NIBP); or CBC, biochemistry, thyroid evaluation, or heartworm antigen analysis. While radiographs are not difficult to take, an animal showing signs of FAS may require a mild sedative to be held in such a way that the films are well-positioned and that the information obtained is appropriate and shows what is required.
Certification
A dog free of abnormal heart sounds is cleared for OFA certification. Certifying papers are completed, and the veterinarian will check off the auscultation box, sign the form, and return it to the breeder or owner. One copy is kept for the patient’s medical record, and the other forms are taken by the breeder or owner to submit to OFA if desired or for the breeder’s and owner’s records.
OFA cardiac certification is good for only one year. It requires annual renewal, if desired, by the breeder or owner.
Client Communication
Discuss findings and recommendations with the client, who may choose to do all that is suggested or nothing. Sometimes the caretaker/owner has a health guarantee for the dog, and it may be necessary to discuss findings with the breeder or pet store or from whomever the dog was purchased. Many breeders will not accept certifications that were not completed by either ACVIM-boarded practitioners or those with board certification in cardiology.
In rare instances, the dog may be harboring genetic traits that did not show up in this examination. That is seen over the years only when families of dogs with genetic disease are studied as a group. That is why these OFA examinations and records are important, so that researchers can go back over time to see if any problem was identified that would lead them to believe that a specific line was carrying genes that perhaps contributed to an animal having a genetic defect.
This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.
