How long do boxers live with ARVC?

Although dogs with Boxer ARVC do die suddenly and do develop congestive heart failure, the majority of dogs in this study were still alive at 9 years of age and did not have shorter survival than the control dogs.

How common is ARVC in boxers?

If VPCs are strung together an arrhythmia called ventricular tachycardia occurs and can result in symptoms. Cause: A genetic deletion in an important heart gene (striatin) has been identified in Boxers and it seems that up to 40% of Boxers have this genetic mutation.

Are boxers prone to cardiomyopathy?

Boxers are one of several breeds with a higher chance of contracting cardiomyopathy—specifically one type of cardiomyopathy. It’s called Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and, although seen in other breeds as well, it’s often called Boxer cardiomyopathy.

What is ARVC in Boxer dogs?

Boxer ARVC is an adult onset heart muscle disease that can lead to sudden death or the development of congestive heart failure where the dog starts to cough or becomes short of breath. This is an inherited disease, but it is adult onset.

How long can boxers live with cardiomyopathy?

This process may evolve over a period of months or even years; the factors responsible for the variable rate of progression from one dog to another are not well understood. Once heart failure occurs, the long-term prognosis is dismal, usually no better than 3 to 6 months.

What are signs of cardiomyopathy in boxers?

Symptoms and Types

  • Veterinarian may notice an irregular heartbeat in a routine exam.
  • Fainting (syncope)
  • Coughing.
  • Rapid breathing.
  • Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.
  • Sudden death.

How do you test for ARVC in dogs?

The best method to detect the symptoms of ARVC is through the use of a Holter monitor. This monitor uses ECG measurements to monitor the dog’s health over the course of 24 hours. This detects any abnormalities such as ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) that may suggest ARVC.

Can you live a normal life with ARVC?

Living with ARVC You will also need yearly cardiac testing. It is a progressive disease, so it will continue to get worse as you get older. But when it is controlled with medicine and an ICD, you can live a fairly normal life.