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Boxer Cardiomyopathy Arrhythmia - Details of this Heart Condition
Overview of Boxer Cardiomyopathy
Boxer cardiomyopathy is still being studied. However, as this disease is currently understood it consists mainly of
an electrical conduction disorder. This means that it causes the heart of a Boxer dog to beat
erratically. This is also more commonly known as an arrhythmia. This can happen randomly with no way of knowing when or how long it will happen for.
In cases where this does happen randomly and not often, the dog will probably not have symptoms of heart disease. However, if the erratic beats occur in sequence this will cause weakness, collapse or sudden death to the Boxer dog.
For this reason, any owner of a Boxer breed dog should be aware of this health concern.
In cases where this does happen randomly and not often, the dog will probably not have symptoms of heart disease. However, if the erratic beats occur in sequence this will cause weakness, collapse or sudden death to the Boxer dog.
For this reason, any owner of a Boxer breed dog should be aware of this health concern.
The heart of a Boxer dog
What are the Symptoms?
Once this disease gets severe enough to cause noticeable symptoms, your Boxer dog may have:
Fainting – When blood is not pumped correctly, this can cause lapses where the dog is not receiving enough blood flow and the dog can faint. The fainting will happen for a few seconds to a few minutes depending on how fast the dog’s heart corrects itself.
Coughing - Each case is different. However some Boxer dogs with cardiomyopathy will reach a point where the ventricles of the heart expand. This causes the walls of the heart to become thin and the heart itself will decline in strength. Coughing may occur.
How is the Diagnosed?
How do you know if your Boxer has cardiomyopathy (arrhythmia)? This is a part of why this canine disease can be so tricky. There is usually no symptoms during early stages. This is usually found during a routine vet visit.
The heart arrhythmias are not always identified by using a stethoscope. It all depends on the actual frequency of the abnormal heart rhythm.
Usually, the cardiomyopathy will cause an extra heart beat or a skipped beat and it must occur without a corresponding pulse in order to be deemed cardiomyopathy arrhythmia. If the frequency is just right, a veterinarian will be able to detect this during a normal checkup.
Normally, your dog’s veterinarian will use 1 hand to hold the stethoscope and 1 hand is put on the dog’s hind leg to feel their pulse. Why on the hind leg? This area contains a large femoral artery which vets find one of the best areas to feel a dog’s pulse.
What Happens if an Irregular Heart Beat is Found?
If your dog’s veterinarian determines that your Boxer may have cardiomyopathy, the next step is to perform an ECG on the dog.
The top way to assess a boxer for arrhythmia is to use a 24-hour ECG. While an ECG can pick up arrhythmias if they are very frequent. It will tell show if your dog has frequent or infrequent skips and how many.
Is This Treatable?
Yes. If your Boxer dog is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy arrhythmia, he or she can be treated with anti-arrhythmic medication.
Is This Fatal?
Sadly, yes, it can be. If the Boxer keeps getting barraged with skipped beats this can cause the heart to enter an unstoppable uneven rhythm which is fatal. This happens when 100’s or even 1000’s of skips occur in a 24 hour time period.
Does an Irregular Heartbeat Mean it is Cardiomyopathy?
No. Some Boxer dogs will have a disease that causes an irregular heartbeat. This can happen with some very serious infections and with certain types of cancer. Once that disease is under control, the heart will go back to beating normally. When the irregular heartbeats in a Boxer happen to an otherwise perfectly healthy dog, it is then that cardiomyopathy is suspected.
What Can I Do to Prevent This Canine Health Issue?
Studies are underway to find out more about the element of L-Carenitine and if this has an affect on a dog’s chances of improving or controlling this disease before it becomes serious. These studies are not yet conclusive. When you Boxer is 1 year old, your dog should be checked for an irregular heartbeat. A dog should be checked for this before any breeding is done. More often than not, a Boxer who has Cardiomyopath arrthymia will show signs by the age of 5.
Much More Information
Looking for much more detailed Boxer health information? Click here to learn more
Once this disease gets severe enough to cause noticeable symptoms, your Boxer dog may have:
Fainting – When blood is not pumped correctly, this can cause lapses where the dog is not receiving enough blood flow and the dog can faint. The fainting will happen for a few seconds to a few minutes depending on how fast the dog’s heart corrects itself.
Coughing - Each case is different. However some Boxer dogs with cardiomyopathy will reach a point where the ventricles of the heart expand. This causes the walls of the heart to become thin and the heart itself will decline in strength. Coughing may occur.
How is the Diagnosed?
How do you know if your Boxer has cardiomyopathy (arrhythmia)? This is a part of why this canine disease can be so tricky. There is usually no symptoms during early stages. This is usually found during a routine vet visit.
The heart arrhythmias are not always identified by using a stethoscope. It all depends on the actual frequency of the abnormal heart rhythm.
Usually, the cardiomyopathy will cause an extra heart beat or a skipped beat and it must occur without a corresponding pulse in order to be deemed cardiomyopathy arrhythmia. If the frequency is just right, a veterinarian will be able to detect this during a normal checkup.
Normally, your dog’s veterinarian will use 1 hand to hold the stethoscope and 1 hand is put on the dog’s hind leg to feel their pulse. Why on the hind leg? This area contains a large femoral artery which vets find one of the best areas to feel a dog’s pulse.
What Happens if an Irregular Heart Beat is Found?
If your dog’s veterinarian determines that your Boxer may have cardiomyopathy, the next step is to perform an ECG on the dog.
The top way to assess a boxer for arrhythmia is to use a 24-hour ECG. While an ECG can pick up arrhythmias if they are very frequent. It will tell show if your dog has frequent or infrequent skips and how many.
Is This Treatable?
Yes. If your Boxer dog is diagnosed with cardiomyopathy arrhythmia, he or she can be treated with anti-arrhythmic medication.
Is This Fatal?
Sadly, yes, it can be. If the Boxer keeps getting barraged with skipped beats this can cause the heart to enter an unstoppable uneven rhythm which is fatal. This happens when 100’s or even 1000’s of skips occur in a 24 hour time period.
Does an Irregular Heartbeat Mean it is Cardiomyopathy?
No. Some Boxer dogs will have a disease that causes an irregular heartbeat. This can happen with some very serious infections and with certain types of cancer. Once that disease is under control, the heart will go back to beating normally. When the irregular heartbeats in a Boxer happen to an otherwise perfectly healthy dog, it is then that cardiomyopathy is suspected.
What Can I Do to Prevent This Canine Health Issue?
Studies are underway to find out more about the element of L-Carenitine and if this has an affect on a dog’s chances of improving or controlling this disease before it becomes serious. These studies are not yet conclusive. When you Boxer is 1 year old, your dog should be checked for an irregular heartbeat. A dog should be checked for this before any breeding is done. More often than not, a Boxer who has Cardiomyopath arrthymia will show signs by the age of 5.
Much More Information
Looking for much more detailed Boxer health information? Click here to learn more
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1996-2010 contact@AllBoxerInfo. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
Copyright
1996-2010 contact@AllBoxerInfo. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
