DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR DACHSHUND HAS MYXOMATOUS MITRAL VALVE DISEASE (MMVD)?
What is MMVD?
MMVD refers to degeneration of the valve of the heart between the left atrium & left ventricle which may lead to development & progression of left heart failure.
MMVD is the most common heart disease in dogs comprising 75%-80% of canine cardiac disease 1. Although MMVD is encountered in all dog breeds, the Dachshund is one of the most predisposed breeds1-6 .
Cause of MMVD
Cause of MMVD
The exact cause of canine MMVD has not been ascertained but its particular affiliation with breeds such as Dachshund & Cavalier King Charles Spaniel have suggested that genetic factors play a major role. A large scale study involving 190 Dachshunds which also included 31 parents and 92 offspring has indeed found that mitral valve prolapse (an important component in developing MMVD) in Dachshunds is an inherited condition4.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
-Early or mild MMVD will be identified by a low-grade heart murmur with a stethoscope with no apparent clinical signs.
-Progressive or advance MMVD will exhibit signs of heart failure (eg: exercise intolerance, increased respiratory rate &/or effort & a cough may develop). Syncope (collapse) may also occur after dogs experience abnormal heart rhythms. In some cases sudden death may occur when a catastrophic degree of severity causes the left atrium to rupture.
Diagnosis
-Characteristic murmurs or other telltale symptoms
-Thoracic radiographs (x-rays)
-Electrocardiography (ECG)
-Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart)
Treatment
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-Fortunately, the majority of patients with MMVD do not require any treatment until they show symptoms and most that do tend to live well with drug therapy alone.
-A combination drug therapy protocol, including diuretics, ACE inhibitors, inodilators such as pimobendan & others depending on the specific individual’s needs & stage of disease, are commonly used to control heart failure 7,8. Low-sodium diets & exercise restriction are also commonly incorporated as adjunctive therapy. Only the severely diseased tend to succumb, in spite of treatment.
-Surgical treatment of mitral valve disease is unlikely to be practically or economically feasible in dogs 8-10 .
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