Boxer cardiomyopathy

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is a specific myocardial disease affecting Boxer dogs. It is an adult-onset disease that affects dogs over a wide age range, and results in a wide spectrum of clinical signs: asymptomatic ventricular tachycardia, syncope, congestive heart failure and sudden death. Veterinary nurses should be aware of this disease because it has implications for nursing of Boxer dogs with episodes of syncope. Patients with a history of fainting should be treated with caution and stress should be minimised. If a patient has an episode while in the practice, the veterinary surgeon should be informed immediately and routine airway, breathing and circulation checks commenced. Placement of an intravenous catheter would be useful in case antiarrhythmic medication is required, and an electrocardiogram (ECG) would provide important diagnostic information.