Subaortic Stenosis in Dogs


What is Subaortic Stenosis (SAS)?

  • A relatively common congenital (inherited) heart defect in the dog and a rare defect in the cat.
  • It is most often identified in large and giant breed dogs such as the Newfoundland, Golden Retriever, Boxer, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, English Bulldog, Great Dane, German Short-haired Pointer, and Bouvier des Flandres. It is reported in many other purebreds as well as mixed breeds of dogs.
  • It consists of abnormal tissue located just below the aortic valve that creates an obstruction the heart has to overcome to pump blood out to the body.
  • Stenosis makes the heart work harder than normal. As a result, the heart muscle can become thickened (hypertrophied). The heart murmur is created by blood being pumped at a higher speed and pressure across the stenosis into the aorta.

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The abnormal tissue obstructing normal flow out of the left ventricle is shown.
The abnormal tissue obstructing normal flow out of the left ventricle is shown.

Symptoms of SAS may include:

Diagnosis of SAS

How is it treated?

What is the prognosis?