Case Study

Mild mitral insufficiency in a 6 month old FI Springer Spaniel

A 6-month-old F Springer spaniel was presented for evaluation of a recent onset heart murmur that had been picked up on routine examination prior to spay surgery.

A 6-month-old F Springer spaniel was presented for evaluation of a recent onset heart murmur that had been picked up on routine examination prior to spay surgery.

Sonographic Differential Diagnosis

There is a very mild mitral insufficiency present in this patient, which is most probably due to mitral dysplasia. It is unlikely that this insufficiency has any hemodynamic consequences. The heart murmur noted could be due to the MI, or it could be a functional murmur secondary to other physiologic causes.

Image Interpretation

On CDI, there is a small mitral insufficiency jet (considered abnormal) and a very small pulmonary insufficiency jet (considered normal). Tricuspid valves are normal with very little insufficiency on CDI.

DX

Very mild mitral insufficiency

Outcome

This study should be repeated in one year.

Clinical Differential Diagnosis

Congenital cardiac disease – pulmonic stenosis, aortic stenosis, ASD, VSD, tricuspid dysplasia. Acquired cardiac disease – Mitral/tricuspid endocardiosis, vegetative endocarditis, early cardiomyopathy. Pyuria – Physiological bacterial cystitis.