• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.125-129
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• 2004

A 2-year-old, female, American cocker spaniel dog presented for a 1-year history of severe ascites, exercise intolerance, tachypnea. At that time, she was in an emergency state. First, the dog was stabilized with oxygen therapy. A diagnosis of cardiac problem was made from history, auscultation, radiograph, ECG, and echocardiography. Jugular pulsation was palpated and a harsh, systolic murmur of tricuspid regurgitation was prominent at the right cardiac apex. Tricuspid valve dysplasia (TVD) was confirmed with echocardiography, accompanying enormous myocardial hypertrophy. The clinical signs had been improved for 8 months with careful therapy and periodic abdominocentesis, and ascites was well controlled. The situation, however, became worse quickly in a week because the client did not follow our management schedule. Finally, she died due to dyspnea and shock. After the spontaneous death, necropsy and histopathological examination were performed and when we opened the thorax, a significantly large heart was observed. On histopathological findings, grossly myocardium appeared pale initially, then progressed to yellow and white. Microscopically, there was an extensive hemorrhage along with loss of myocardial striations. Interstitial fibrosis and various degenerative alterations in myocytes were also present.