Partial pericardial defect with left auricular herniation in a dog with syncope

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Cardiology
• Congenital Abnormalities

Background:

• Pericardial defects, rare in dogs and humans, can be congenital or acquired.
• These defects are often discovered incidentally during autopsy.
• Diagnostic imaging like thoracic radiography and echocardiography aid ante mortem diagnosis.

Observation:

• This report details the first documented case of a dog presenting with syncope and supraventricular tachycardia.
• The dog had a partial left pericardial defect with herniation of the left auricle.
• Extensive ante mortem diagnostic data was available for this case.

Findings:

• Partial absence of the pericardium can lead to cardiac chamber enlargement.
• This condition should be considered when disproportionate cardiac chamber enlargement is observed in dogs.
• Other congenital and acquired heart diseases must be ruled out.

Implications:

• This case expands the understanding of pericardial defects in veterinary medicine.
• It emphasizes the importance of considering pericardial defects in diagnosing cardiac abnormalities in dogs.
• Improved ante mortem diagnosis of pericardial defects can lead to better patient outcomes.