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CARDIOMYOPATHY AND MYOCARDITIS

This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only.

You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

 

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Description
The term cardiomyopathy refers to diseases of the heart muscle, including structural disorders and functional disorders. Myocarditis refers to diseases that cause inflammation of the heart muscle e.g. infections. There are several different types of heart muscle disease and many proven or suspected causes (see lists below). Cardiomyopathy is a common disorder in cats and dogs, but less common in horses.


Causes
The following is a list of proven causes of myocardial disease in cats (c) and dogs (d):
Type of cardiomyopathy Classification Underlying problem Specific cause

Primary or Idiopathic

Hypertrophic cd

Congestive (dilated) cd

Restrictive c

Intermediate or Intergrade cd

Increased muscle mass

Dilation of the heart

Reduced stretch of heart muscle wall

Unable to determine type

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Secondary

Metabolic abnormalities

Endocrine disorder

Excess thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) cd

Excess growth hormone (acromegaly) c

Hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's Disease) d

Phaeochromocytoma d

L-Carnitine deficiency d

 

 

Nutritional

Taurine deficiency c

Obesity c

 

Infiltration of heart muscle

 

Cancer cd

Leukaemia

 

Fibroplastic change in heart muscle

Endomyocardial fibrosis cd

Endocardial fibroelastosis cd

Unknown

Unknown - genetic

 

Physical agents

High body temperature cd

Hypothermia cd

 

 

Toxins

Doxorubicin cd

Catecholamines cd

Lead cd

Ethanol cd

Cobalt d

 

 

Inflammation of the heart muscle

Infectious diseases

Viral infection d

Bacterial infection cd

Protozoal infection cd

Fungal infection cd

Algal infection cd

Rickettsial infection d

 

Genetically inherited disorders

Endocardial fibroelastosis c

 

 

Hypersensitivity d

 

 

 

Other causes

Ischaemia of the heart muscle cd

Conduction system disorders cd

Muscular dystrophy d

 

Based on Tables in "Canine & Feline Cardiology" by Phillip R Fox. Reproduced with the permission of Harcourt Brace Publishers. The latest edition of this book can be purchased from the Provet Bookshop.

The following is a list of suspected (but not proven) causes of cardiomyopathy in cats (c ) and dogs (d).

Type of cardiomyopathy Classification Underlying problem Specific cause

Primary cardiomyopathies

Restrictive d

Secondary cardiomyopathies

Metabolic

Endocrine

Uraemia cd

Hypothyroidism d

 

 

Nutritional

Selenium deficiency cd

Vitamin E deficiency cd

Obesity d

 

 

Infiltration of heart muscle

Glycogen storage disease cd

Mucopolysaccharidosis c

 

 

Hypersensitivity c

 

 

 

Inflammation

Viral infections c

Non-infectious collagen diseases cd

 

 

Genetic

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy cd

Dilated cardiomyopathy cd

Endocardial fibroelastosis d

 

 

Other causes

Muscular dystrophy c

Excessive left ventricular moderator bands c

Based on Tables in "Canine & Feline Cardiology" by Phillip R Fox. Reproduced with the permission of Elsevier. The latest edition of this book can be purchased from the Provet Bookshop.

 

Updated January 2016 

 
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