SAS: ARC Brief for Breeders-Sub-Aortic Stenosis in Rottweilers

Congenital Heart Disease: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is a malformation of the heart and/or great vessels, and becomes more severe as the puppy grows.

Many forms of CHD exist in the dog, and are thought to be inherited from the parents.

The most common CHD in Rottweilers is SAS, (Sub-Aortic Stenosis.) SAS involves the narrowing of the out-flow tract from the left ventricle leading to the aorta. (This is similar to a hose with a "crick" in it.) When there is a "crick" in the tract, the heart must pump harder to get blood through the smaller opening. As the SAS-affected dog matures, his/her heart develops more muscle to push harder, which leads to an irregular heart beat, a lack of blood to the heart, congestive heart failure, or sudden death.

Sudden death is the most common sign of SAS in Rottweilers.

CURRENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BREEDERS

SAS is now believed to be "autosomal-dominant, variable expression." This means that if you breed a bitch to a dog with SAS, some of your puppies will develop SAS. If she also has SAS, most or all of the puppies will have it, some very severely. The degree of severity can vary from undetectable to sudden death.

The good news is that by eliminating all identifiable SAS dogs from breeding, and breeding only clear dogs to clear dogs, we have a fighting chance of eliminating the disease from our breeding stock.

Diagnosis of SAS is the key, There is controversy over what type of veterinarian should perform the screening & how it should be done. Based on current information available to ARC Health Committee, the following recommendations are made:

Screen all of your Rottweilers for SAS, even if they are old, neutered, or pets.

Screening should be done by a Board Certified Cardiologist. A false negative (vet says dog is OK, but he/she "secretly" has SAS) only hurts your puppies and your reputation. "There's no use running from a dead dog... It'll catch up to you in the long run.”

Ask where potential brood bitch/stud dog had their heart screening done, and by whom. Go ahead, be a snob! The OFA now plans to add a suffix to the OFA Cardiac number. Look for and insist on this!

Realize that our understanding of this disease is new. There is no place for blame. By working together, we can rid our dogs of this disease in our lifetime.

Clinical Exam - MUST be done by a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, specializing in cardiology.

Cardiac auscultation (listening) with a stethoscope is performed in a quiet place with panting controlled. Some vets will then exercise the dog and re-listen.

If no murmur is heard, further testing is not indicated. If a murmur is heard, further testing will ensue.

The next step is echocardiography with a Doppler (ultrasound) machine. This does not hurt the dog and can be video-taped.

The cardiologist will fill out a sheet for you with the diagnosis.

You and your vet may then fill out the OFA CARDIAC sheet and send it in. THE SUFFIX NUMBER WILL INDICATE WHETHER THE SCREENING WAS DONE BY A BOARD CERTIFIED CARDIOLOGIST,

SUMMARY

DO NOT breed affecteds, and carefully screen relatives for mildly affected, "sub-clinical" animals. Even one affected puppy indicates a parent as a carrier. ONLY Board Certified Cardiologists are qualified to perform the quality of screening our dogs deserve.

Partial list of Board-certified Cardiologists/ Members CHD committee

Dr. D. Sisson, U. ILL.

Dr. Wm. Thomas, UC Davis

Dr, J. Bonagura

Dr. J. Buchanon

Dr. M. Miller