Project Overview
The project is focused on blood sample collection, and echocardiogram imaging only (not treatment) for dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). Dogs with a suspicious diagnosis, or previous diagnosis, of DMVD will have an echocardiogram, and a single blood sample collection performed.
Dogs are eligible if they meet the following inclusion criteria:
- Dogs must weigh ≥ 1.5 kg
- Dogs must be ≥ 2 years of age
- Dogs must be client-owned
- Dog must be pure-bred
- Dogs must be free of uncontrolled inflammatory disease, infections and endocrine disease
Dogs are not eligible if they meet any of the following exclusion criteria:
- Aggressiveness/intractability such as to make examinations or sampling difficult to perform
- Females known or suspected to be pregnant or lactating
- Dog has malignant neoplasia
- Dog has evidence of heartworm disease
Breeds of interest
Dogs ≤ 20kg that are healthy or with signs of a murmur, DMVD, heart enlargement, or congestive heart failure. The following breeds are of particulate interest:
- Bichon Frise
- Boston Terrier
- Boykin Spaniel
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chihuahua
- Cocker Spaniel
- Dachshund
- Fox Terrier
- King Charles Spaniel
- Lhasa Apso
- Miniature Pinscher
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Pekingese
- Pomeranian
- Poodle (toy, miniature)
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Shih Tzu
- West Highland White Terrier
- Whippet
- Yorkshire Terrier
Project Funding
Funding includes all procedures required within the one study visit. This includes a physical exam, the echocardiogram, and the one time blood-draw.
Participating Sites
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates- Towson
1209 Cromwell Bridge Road
Towson, MD 21286
Phone: (410) 339-3461
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates- Annapolis
808 Bestgate Road
Annapolis, MD 21401
Phone: (410) 224-0039
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates- Columbia
10,000 Old Columbia Road
Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: (443) 583-3131
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates-Rockville
1 Taft Court
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: (301) 984-5791
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates-Gaithersburg
500 Perry Parkway
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Phone: (240) 361-3820
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates-Fairfax
8500 Arlington Blvd.
Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: (571) 348-3888
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates-Leesburg
165 Fort Evans Road NE
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: (703) 669-9311
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates-Richmond
5918 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230
Phone: (804) 497-8940
Chesapeake Veterinary Cardiology Associates-Vienna
140 Park Street SE
Vienna, VA 22180
Phone: (703) 281-7717
Friendship Hospital for Animals (Non-DMVD dogs only, control group)
4105 Brandywine St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20016
Phone: (202) 363-7300