Case Report

Acquired Gerbode defect associated with suspected aortic endocarditis in a dog

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Abstract

A three-year-old, male boxer, previously diagnosed with moderate valvular aortic stenosis, presented with acute lethargy, anorexia and intermittent lameness. Physical examination revealed a grade III/VI left cranial systolic heart murmur, fever, generalized lymphadenopathy and swelling of all palpable joints. Echocardiographic assessment confirmed moderate valvular aortic stenosis and identified vegetative lesions on the aortic valve leaflets and a left ventricle outflow tract-to-right atrial (LVOT-RA) communication, compatible with an acquired Gerbode defect (GD). Despite treatment with intravenous antibiotics and supportive care, the dog developed severe respiratory distress during hospitalization, and euthanasia was elected. Gerbode defects are rare LVOT-RA communications and can be congenital or acquired. Only nine cases have been documented in the veterinary literature, of which six acquired GDs due to bacterial endocarditis or blunt trauma in dogs and three presumed congenital GDs in two cats and one dog. In this case report, an acquired GD secondary to suspected bacterial endocarditis in a dog is described.