ENDOCARDIAL FIBROELASTOSIS IN A DOG

Endocardial fibroelastosis is an uncommon congenital heart disease in dogs that may be manifested by signs of left-sided congestive heart fa ilure, A three-month-old, male, Fila Brasileiro dog developed signs of generalised heart failure, Physical examination revealed normal tempe rature, ascites, and pale and cyanotic mucous membranes, The pup died just after radiography which revealed ascites, hepatomegaly, severe ca rdiac enlargement and pulmonary oedema, At necropsy, serosanguineous f luid in the thorax and abdomen, pulmonary oedema, right ventricular di latation, hypertrophy and dilatation of the left ventricle, and mitral valve incompetence were observed, The histopathological examination d emonstrated that the thickening of the endocardium of the left atrium and left ventricle was due to the presence of elastic and collagen fib res, although there were no signs of an inflammatory process.