Demographic studies and clinical characteristics of dogs affected with mitral valvular disease

Abstract

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is considered as the most prevalent acquired cardiac disorder in dogs, characterised by progressive degeneration of mitral valve, leading to mitral regurgitation and heart failure. This study was conducted to investigate the demographic characteristics and clinical presentations of MMVD in dogs across districts of central Kerala. A total of 537 dogs presented with clinical signs suggestive of cardiac disease were examined and 187 were confirmed to have cardiac disease. Of these, 97 were diagnosed with mitral valve disease (MVD). The study focused on evaluating breed, age and sex predispositions, along with clinical signs associated with MVD. Results indicated a higher occurrence of MVD in small-breed dogs, with Spitz (24.74 per cent), being the most affected breed, followed by followed by Dachshund (15.46 per cent), non-descript (13.40 per cent), Miniature Pinscher (6.19 per cent), etc. The predominant clinical manifestations included cough, exercise intolerance, lethargy and respiratory difficulty. Pearsons chi-square test was performed to compare the occurrence of MVD between age groups and sexes. The findings of study highlight the importance of breed predisposition, age and sex distribution and clinical symptoms in dogs affected by MVD.