Boxer cardiomyopathy

Boxer cardiomyopathy, or as it is also known, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), is an adult-onset cardiac disease that affects the cardiac muscle. As the name suggests, it predominantly affects the myocardium of the right ventricle, but on histopathology, has also been shown to involve the intraventricular septum and left ventricle. ARVC in Boxer dogs has many similarities to ARVC in humans, which has been documented as a cause of sudden cardiac death in apparently healthy young athletes (Basso et al, 1996). It was first described in Boxer dogs in 1983 (Harpster, 1983) and has since been shown to be a genetic disease within the breed (Meurs et al, 1999). ARVC has been reported in other breeds of dog (Santilli et al, 2009), in cats (Fox et al, 2000) and in horses (Freel et al, 2010). Studies have shown that ARVC in Boxer dogs is an inherited disease (Meurs et al, 1999), and so family history of sudden death and syncope is useful in supporting a diagnosis of the disease. While it is an uncommon form of heart disease, and typically difficult to diagnose, veterinary nurses should be aware of it, because any Boxer dog that is admitted with episodes of syncope, periods of ventricular tachycardia, or congestive heart failure (CHF) could be at risk of sudden death.