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AS and the Glen |
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Aortic stenosis (AS) is a defect of the aortic valve, which causes a partial obstruction of blood flow from the heart. This hereditary defect may be mild and not affect the quality or longevity of the dog's life, or it may be severe and result in symptoms of exercise intolerance and syncope (fainting). It is also one of the causes of sudden death. |
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This page looks at aortic stenosis and the Glen of Imaal Terrier, and explains the reasoning behind the breed survey. More general information about AS can be found on the Aortic Stenosis page. To continue reading this page, please click on the links below or scroll down the page: |
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Our own Glen, Breege, was diagnosed with SUPRAVALVULAR AORTIC STENOSIS in September 2002, at the age of 2 years and 8 months. A heart murmur was picked up at her second annual vet check. As we had intended breeding from her in 2003, she was referred to a veterinary cardiologist for a definitive diagnosis. Breege was found to have a Grade 2-3/6 murmur, and ultrasound studies revealed a defect just above the aortic valve. To our knowledge, she is the first Glen of Imaal Terrier to have been diagnosed with aortic stenosis. |
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Prior to her appointment with the cardiologist, I tried to find out as much as I could about Breege's "family history" (FH) and whether there were any known heart problems in Glens. I was told that three male Glens had collapsed and died, suddenly and unexpectedly. They were a "home-grown" youngster of just four years, a ten-year-old import from Denmark and an eight-year-old import from Germany. All three Glens can be traced back, within three generations, to a bitch from Ireland i.e. she appears as a great grandparent in all three pedigrees. Breege's sire was one of these "sudden death" dogs. As far as I am aware, none of these Glens had been diagnosed with a heart murmur or aortic stenosis. However, there remains a question mark over all three Glens with regard to cause of death. |
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Since [i] AS is one of the causes of sudden death, [ii] AS is a known hereditary heart defect, and [iii] a "sudden death" Glen has produced a daughter with AS, we are encouraging all Glen owners to have their Glen(s) heart-checked to exclude a heart murmur. Please see BREED SURVEY and DATABASE. |
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Heart murmur picked up at second annual vet
check
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S/B practice vet
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S/B by veterinary cardiologist (first visit)
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F/U with veterinary cardiologist
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Age: 2 years and 7 months |
Age: 2 years and 8 monthss |
Age (Aug 03): 3 years and 7 months
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Murmur detected |
Grade 2-3/6 murmur (mild) |
Aug 03 ~ Murmur slightly "softer"
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[Murmur not picked up during first annual check at 16 months] |
Aortic outflow velocity:
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Aortic outflow velocity:
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Referred to veterinary cardiologist |
Diagnosis: Supravalvular AS |
Further scan at 9 - 10 yrs |
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* Normal = 1.2m/sec (Breege's litter sister was seen by a veterinary cardiologist in May 2003. Ultrasound showed no defect i.e. she does not have aortic stenosis. Her aortic outflow velocity was measured, to compare against Breege's, and it was measured at 1.2m/sec). Breege only has a "mild" heart murmur and so she should go on to lead a full and active life. However, as aortic stenosis is known to be hereditary in some breeds of dog i.e. the defect can be passed from one generation to the next, we will not be breeding from Breege. |
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Breege's veterinary cardiologist and Dr Bruce Cattanach (Steynmere Boxers), who is a canine geneticist, kindly answered my questions about aortic stenosis. I was particularly interested in whether or not they felt that "further investigation", within the breed, was warranted. |
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Veterinary cardiologist |
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Our veterinary cardiologist recommended that these
Glens should have a thorough heart-check to exclude
a heart murmur:
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Canine geneticist |
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From correspondence with Dr Cattanach in October 2002: |
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Dr Cattanach wrote "... if one wants to play safe further investigation is required. By this I mean, a breed survey using just auscultation [listening to the heart using a stethoscope]." |
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NB Dr Cattanach suggested that screening for heart murmur should, ideally, be undertaken by a veterinary cardiologist. However, we felt that we would achieve our aim of getting as many Glens as possible heart-checked, if we suggested that this was done as part of the annual check-up. |
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Q A Seall: "... should we prioritise
the checking of Glens, or should we be encouraging
everyone to have their Glen(s) checked, whatever their age?"
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Q A Seall: "Do you have any recommendations for
the testing of Breege’s litter-siblings if they are to
be used for breeding?"
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Q A Seall: "If [relatives of an affected
dog] are checked and declared 'No murmur detected',
can we safely assume that they do not have aortic stenosis
... is it possible for an animal to have the gene but
not show the trait?"
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Q A Seall: "Am I correct in assuming that
the reason for not breeding from an animal with mild
aortic stenosis, [as Breege has been classified], is
because it is possible to pass on a more severe form
of the defect?"
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This worldwide breed survey has been initiated to try to determine the incidence of heart murmurs within the breed. |
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Please ask your vet to have a thorough listen to your Glen's heart, at his/her next annual check-up or visit to the surgery, to ascertain whether or not a heart murmur is present. Please let your vet know that you are participating in a breed survey, following the recent diagnosis of AORTIC STENOSIS in a Glen of Imaal Terrier. |
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Our experience with Breege has certainly highlighted the importance of annual and pre-breeding checks. Breege's heart murmur was not picked up at her first annual check-up. Perhaps this was because she was quite "stressed" at the time; the vet certainly commented that her heart was going "nineteen-to-the-dozen"! Softer murmurs can sometimes be missed, but if the examining vet is aware that he/she is specifically listening to exclude a heart murmur associated with aortic stenosis, then the vet can ensure that the examination takes place under optimum conditions. |
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"Examination conditions must be appropriate for recognition of subtle cardiac malformations. Identification of soft cardiac murmurs is impeded by extraneous noise or by poorly restrained, anxious, or panting dogs." |
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[Reference: www.offa.org/cardiacguide.html - Limitations 3.] |
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Suggestions for screening |
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~ Young Glens: Have a thorough heart-check at the first and second annual checks i.e. over one year old and over two years old. |
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~ Older Glens of any age: Have a thorough heart-check at the next visit to the vet. |
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Heart-check results |
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If your Glen does not have a heart murmur - that's great news! |
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However, if your Glen does have a heart murmur, you will need to discuss with your vet what further action, if any, should be taken. |
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NB Not all heart murmurs are caused by aortic stenosis e.g. some puppies can have "innocent" murmurs, which they outgrow; and some older dogs can develop heart murmurs related to an "acquired" heart condition of old age. So, if your Glen is found to have a heart murmur, it does not necessarily mean that he/she has got aortic stenosis. |
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Costs |
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Most responsible owners and breeders have their dogs vet-checked annually, and auscultation (listening to the heart) is a routine feature of the examination. If the "survey screening" is requested at the annual check-up, there should be no extra costs incurred by the owner. |
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Reporting of results |
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A database has been established to record and monitor all heart-check results - see below. We would encourage all Glen owners and breeders to submit their Glens' heart-check results to the database co-ordinator. Please let your breeder and/or your country's breed club know the results, as well. |
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The breed survey was initiated in October 2002 and the database was set up at the same time. This record of heartcheck results is being kept in good faith, on the understanding [i] that the owner has informed the examining vet of the recent diagnosis of aortic stenosis in a Glen of Imaal Terrier and [ii] that the vet has either excluded (or confirmed) the presence of a heart murmur. |
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NB If you are the owner/breeder of a "sudden death" Glen, please advise the database co-ordinator. |
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Please submit the results of your Glen's heart-check to the database co-ordinator at: |
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Please indicate: "No murmur detected" or "Murmur detected" * and submit the following information for the database records: |
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Date of test (month & year) |
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Your Glen's kennel name |
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Date of birth |
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Sire's (father's) kennel name |
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Dam's (mother's) kennel name |
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Country of residence |
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Owner's name(s) |
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Breeder's name(s) |
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* If your Glen is found to have a heart murmur and further investigations are undertaken, please inform the database co-ordinator of the results. Thank you. |
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If you are aware of any "family history" of heart problems or sudden death in your Glen's pedigree, please provide as much information as you can e.g. ~ Kennel name and relationship to your Glen.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH! |
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Further information and a list of heart-checked Glens is available from the database co-ordinator, on request to seall@bregorreyglens.co.uk. |
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Aortic Stenosis
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Breege's pedigree
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