CHRONIC MITRAL-VALVE DISEASE IN CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIELS - 95 CASES (1987-1991)

Systolic heart murmurs caused by chronic mitral valve disease are part icularly common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) in Great Brit ain. To determine if American-bred CKCs have a similar high prevalence of chronic valve disease, results of stethoscopic examinations on 394 CKCs were analyzed. Left apical systolic heart murmurs were found in 22% of the dogs. The prevalence ranged from 9% in dogs < 1 year old to 100% in those greater-than-or-equal-to 10 years old; prevalence was 5 6% in dogs greater-than-or-equal-to 4 years old. Differences were not found in prevalence between sexes and among various coat colors. Reexa mination of 79 dogs after 1 year revealed an incidence of new murmurs of 21%. Comparison of ages at initial examination in 128 referral hosp ital cases with chronic mitral valve disease revealed a mean age of 6. 25 years in 17 CKCs, in contrast to a mean age of 12 years in other br eeds. Echocardiographic and necropsy findings indicated that ruptured chordae tendineae and mitral valve prolapse are major components in th e chronic valve disease process in CKCS.