Sudden death in related bloodhounds |
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| Authors: | D F Kelly S J Newsholme |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Liverpool, PO Box 147, Liverpool L69 3BX;*S. J. Newsholme's current address is SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, 709 Swedeland Road, PO Box 1539, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406, USA |
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| Abstract: | An unusual pattern of sudden, unexplained deaths occurred in a litter of 15 bloodhounds of which 12 had survived the neonatal period. Nine of these dogs died between the ages of six weeks and three years. Two others became unacceptably aggressive and were humanely killed at 18 and 22 months old. Of the nine dogs that died, five (four males, one female) did so unexpectedly and suddenly without previous illness or pre-monitory signs. Post mortem examinations were carried out on only two of these five dogs, and in neither case was there evidence of organic dis- ease adequate to account for sudden death. Both dogs had incidental epicardial mesothelial fronds. The clinical history of these related dogs raises the suspicion of a possible familial or breed-associated cardiac dysrhythmia, not recognised hitherto. Confirmation will require cardiological monitoring of related dogs and systematic post mortem examination of bloodhounds that die suddenly without premonitory signs. |
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