Pericardial Closure Defect with Right Atrial Herniation in a Dog

摘要

A 16 years old German Shepherd dog was referred to the teaching hospital of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Ia?i, with cardio-respiratory symptoms. Clinical examination, electrocardiography, thoracic X-ray, echocardiography and necropsy have been performed and congestive heart failure due to right cardiac dilatation was diagnosed. Necropsy revealed a right pericardial closure defect with the hernia and incarceration of the right atrium in the mediastinum. The aim of the study is to describe an uncommon cardiac pathology in a geriatric dog represented by a pericardial tear with the right auricular hernia and incarceration and to raise hypothesis of the etiology of the pathological findings.