Heart Sac Inflammation (Pericarditis) in Dogs
Key takeaways
Pericarditis in dogs is inflammation of the pericardium, the thin sac that surrounds the heart.
- Pericarditis is most commonly due to infections or idiopathic causes
- It can also develop from traumatic injury, heartworm disease, or as a consequence of heart neoplasia
- Symptoms of pericarditis include weakness, pale or blue gums, cold extremities, rapid breathing, and exercise intolerance
- A diagnosis is reached through a series of tests including a physical examination, electrocardiogram, diagnostic imaging, and sampling pericardial fluid
- Treatment varies depending on the cause and might consist of repeated fluid drainage, medications such as antifungals, antibiotics, and corticosteroids, or surgical removal of the pericardial sac
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A closer look: Heart Sac Inflammation (Pericarditis) in Dogs
Pericarditis is an uncommon cardiovascular disease in dogs. Depending on the cause, the prognosis can be guarded or poor, as the condition is potentially life-threatening.
More severe forms of pericarditis result in pericardial effusion, the accumulation of fluid within the pericardial sac. The accumulating fluid puts pressure on the heart, and may prevent the heart from beating properly. This situation is called cardiac tamponade, and may result in sudden death.
Similarly, the thickening of the pericardium in constrictive pericarditis can prevent the pericardium from stretching appropriately as the heart beats. As the pericarditis worsens, the heart may be unable to beat at all, resulting in cardiac tamponade.
The symptoms of pericarditis can be easily overlooked, and prompt treatment increases the chances of surviving. Any dog showing symptoms of pericarditis requires emergency veterinary care.
Risk factors
The severity of the symptom may vary depending on the type of pericarditis affecting the dog. Most mild cases of pericarditis show few or no symptoms, until the condition has sufficiently progressed to impact the function of the heart.
Possible causes
The most common causes of pericarditis in dogs are:
- Idiopathic pericarditis (IP), which has no identifiable underlying cause
- Infections, such as coccidioidomycosis and tuberculosis
- Constrictive pericarditis (CP), where the pericardial sac becomes scarred and unable to stretch
Main symptoms
Testing and diagnosis
The diagnostic process usually involves:
- A physical examination, with particular attention to heart rate monitoring
- Electrocardiogram
- Diagnostic imaging such as chest X-rays or ultrasounds
- Sampling of pericardial fluid
- Cytology of pericardial fluid
- Measuring intrapericardial pressure
Primary idiopathic pericarditis is typically diagnosed via the elimination of other possible causes.
Steps to Recovery
Treatment varies according to the underlying cause of pericarditis.
- Repeated removal of accumulating pericardial fluid
- Antifungal or antibiotics medications
- Corticosteroids
- Pericardiectomy (surgical removal of the pericardium)
- Specific therapies might also be needed in cases of neoplasia, such as chemotherapy
The prognosis varies according to the underlying cause. It is generally guarded to poor. Cases of pericarditis identified early, before pericardial effusion or cardiac tamponade develop, have the best prognosis.
Prevention
There are no methods for preventing pericarditis, as many cases are idiopathic with no identifiable cause.
Pericarditis is not contagious but some infections associated with it might be.
Is Heart Sac Inflammation (Pericarditis) in Dogs common?
Pericarditis is an uncommon cardiovascular disease in dogs.
Typical Treatment
- Pericardiocentesis
- Antifungal or antibacterial medications
- Corticosteroids
- Pericardiectomy
- Specific therapies for neoplastic tumors
