Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia - 2 case reports

Two Dogs:

Dog 1:  Mild Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia diagnosed at under 1 year.  No symptoms except mild exercise intolerance and enlarged heart on xray.  Dog is currently 4+ years old.

Dog 2:  No murmur present.  At 1 year, it was noted that dog didn’t ‘like’ to jog any distances and couldn’t keep up with other dog when jogging together.  Dog frequently ‘paced’ at eighteen months.  No other symptoms were noted until 22 months of age.  Dog developed a wet cough.  Upon examination, right side heart failure was diagnosed.  After extensive diagnostic testing by a cardiologists, TVD was diagnosed—severe.  Dog was put on diuretics to relieve heart failure symptoms.  During the next 6 months, dog lost weight extensively, exhibited grey gums, several recurrent bouts of heart failure, lack of appetite, lethargy.  Dog dropped dead suddenly after waking in the am at 28 months of age.  Time from onset of symptoms to death:  6 months, with aggressive veterinary treatment.

Note:  Thankfully, this seems to be the LEAST common of the heart diseases known in Samoyeds.  However, this also seems to be the most debilitating type of heart disease in Samoyeds.  Most cardiologists asked do not see this condition in the Samoyed.