The occurrence of preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy in the Weimaraner dog breed and the prognostic importance of cardiac markers

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in various dog breeds, being the second most common acquired cardiac disease in dogs. The most frequently affected breeds are Doberman Pinchers, Great Danes, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds and others. We found out that the Weimaraner breed also suffers from this disease. Prospective dog screening may identify animals with DCM at Stage B. In the study, a total of 331 dogs of the Weimaraner breed were enrolled. Of the total number, 300 dogs were healthy. Seventeen dogs were diagnosed with preclinical DCM. The cut-off value for preclinical DCM of NTproBNP (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide) was 405 pmol/l, sensitivity was 73% and specificity was 72%. The cut-off value for preclinical DCM of troponin I was 0.04 ng/ml, sensitivity was 66% and specificity was 88%. This is the first study to evaluate the use of NTproBNP and cTnI as markers of preclinical DCM in Weimaraners. Setting the cut-off values for these parameters shows its clinical validity in detecting the disease, such as the possibility of using these tests in routine clinical practice.