The Heart Under the Microscope: Congenital and Acquired Heart Defects in Dogs and Cats—from Diagnosis to Therapy and Beyond—Unveiling Future Frontiers

Dear Colleagues,

Veterinary cardiology has become a permanent fixture, both in the way of services provided by general practitioners, and also in specialized centers, which are being established in growing numbers around the world. Acquired heart disease, which develops and progresses with age, accounts for the vast majority of cardiac cases. They are also the subject of greatest interest to researchers, due to the prevalence and difficulties encountered during their treatment. Among them, the most common are myxomatous mitral valve disease in small-breed dogs, dilated cardiomyopathy in large-breed dogs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. In contrast, congenital heart defects, which are significantly less common, can pose considerable diagnostic challenges and be cumbersome in terms of selecting the optimal treatment protocol. Due to the rapidly developing branch of interventional cardiology, including minimally invasive procedures, a growing number of defects, such as patent ductus arteriosus, pulmonic stenosis, atrial septal defects or ventricular septal defects, can be successfully addressed by surgical methods. In many cases, such treatment results in a complete recovery, which positively affects the rest of the animal's life. With the use of advanced diagnostics, such as 3D and 4D transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cardiac computed tomography (CT), the characteristics of acquired and congenital defects and their complexities can be assessed very accurately, favoring the selection of optimal treatment methods, as well as allowing the determination of possible strategies for surgery. Thanks to this comprehensive approach, veterinary cardiology services in many countries around the world have achieved incredibly high standards of care.

In this issue, we would like to focus on original research data and case reports on acquired and congenital heart defects in dogs and cats. We intend to pay special attention to complex diagnostic approaches and possible treatment options with both conventional and surgical methods, including new methods or surgical tools. Papers dealing with retrospective data as well as reviews broadly commenting on recent reports in the field of congenital malformations will also be valuable. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. Urszula Pasławska
Guest Editor

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