If bacteria enter the bloodstream, it can settle on the heart valves. The valves get infected and swollen. This irreversible damage leads to blood clots, heart murmurs, and eventually heart failure. It is potentially fatal.
CAUSES:
There are a few possible causes of endocarditis, including:
Procedures that allow bacteria into the bloodstream (like dental work or IV)
Bacterial infections anywhere in the body: mouth, bones, uterus, kidney, intestines, skin
Drugs that suppress the immune system
Cancer
Bite wounds
SIGNS:
Common signs of endocarditis are:
Coughing
Difficulty breathing
Fever
Lethargy
Loss of appetite
DIAGNOSIS:
In order to properly diagnose your dog with endocarditis, your veterinarian may perform the following:
Review of medical history
Physical exam
Blood and urine tests
Chest x-rays
Ultrasound of the heart
ECG and EKG (tests the heart’s electrical activity)
TREATMENT:
Your veterinarian may advise the following treatments:
Antibiotics
Drugs to control abnormal heart rhythm
Drugs to treat heart failure
Drugs to treat shock
PREVENTION:
Prevention is crucial because endocarditis causes irreversible damage.
The best prevention is oral care by your veterinarian (cleaning, polishing) and at home (brushing and rinsing).
PROGNOSIS:
Prognosis depends on the severity of the infection and the valve affected.
If the aortic valve (the valve that prevents blood from flowing from the aorta back into the heart) is infected, the prognosis is poor.
If the mitral valve (the valve that prevents blood from flowing from the lower left chamber back into the upper left chamber) is infected, the prognosis is better.
However, the damage done already is irreversible.
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