JoJo is an 11-year-old poodle. He presented to HVSEH with a heart murmur and a cough.
An echocardiogram revealed myxomatous mitral valve disease, a common condition primarily seen in small, middle-aged to older dogs, though any dog can be affected.
In this disease, mitral regurgitation (a leak in the mitral valve) occurs. The mitral valve lies between the two left-sided heart chambers—the left atrium, which receives blood from the lungs, and the left ventricle, which pumps this blood to the body. Over time, the persistent leak can cause these chambers to enlarge, increasing pressure in the heart and leading to a buildup in the blood vessels of the lungs. This may result in pulmonary oedema, a condition where fluid escapes the blood vessels and accumulates in lung tissue, causing breathing difficulties and sometimes a cough.
JoJo’s chest radiographs showed he had pulmonary oedema. Our Cardiology Specialist, Samantha Gomart, prescribed medications to help clear the fluid. A week later, we reevaluated his response to the treatment and assessed whether any adjustments were needed. His cough had improved, and radiographs confirmed that the pulmonary oedema had resolved. He is now doing well on his medications.