Endocarditis (Heart Lining/Valve Inflammation)

Veterinary care required

This condition belongs in veterinary diagnosis and treatment. Compounds are at most supportive.

Priority · vet & management

Clarification belongs urgently with veterinary cardiology: echocardiography (detection of valve vegetations), auscultation, ECG as well as blood count, inflammation values and blood cultures to identify the pathogen. Treatment is by a longer, targeted antibiotic therapy strictly by the vet; complementary feeds have no role here and must in no way replace the antibiotic treatment.

Possible causes

• · bacteraemia from other foci of infection (e.g. dental, respiratory, wound infections)
• · pre-damaged heart valves as a target
• · septic thrombophlebitis or infected venous accesses as an entry point
• · weakened defences as a favouring factor

Supportive compounds · supplementary feed, not medication

Prevention

Consistently treating foci of infection (teeth, wounds, airways), careful hygiene with venous accesses and early work-up of unclear fever reduce the risk of bacteria colonising the heart valves.

Equiterna's take

Equiterna links endocarditis to the idea that unclear fever plus a new heart murmur should always make one think of the heart — diagnosis via echocardiography and blood cultures as well as the antibiotic therapy remain strictly veterinary.