The Royal Kennel Club (RKC) administers and collates heart test results submitted by veterinary cardiologists that have been approved by the Veterinary Cardiovascular Society (VCS).
Terms and conditions
Aims
- To identify dogs free from any cardiac abnormality.
- To identify dogs with heart murmurs, abnormal rhythms or heart defects, and confirm the cause by further investigation of affected animals.
- To advise the owner, breeder and dog's veterinary surgeon when an abnormality has been identified and recommendations about any further investigation, if indicated.
- To ascertain the prevalence of heart disease in specific breeds and to monitor the progress for ongoing research for the overall improvement of the relevant breeds.
- To collate data for investigation of a possible genetic basis to a specific heart problem in a given breed by the VCS, the RKC, a breed club nominated person, geneticist or veterinary surgeon.
Methods of heart testing
1. Auscultation: examination with a stethoscope
This is an essential part of examining the animals' heart and circulation. Any heart murmurs are identified, timed, localised and graded (grade 0 - 6). Careful note of the heart rhythm is made. Heart murmurs are a feature of most congenital heart defects (CHD) and mitral valve disease (MVD). Some common forms of CHD include aortic stenosis (AS), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and pulmonic stenosis (PS). Abnormal heart rhythms may occur without murmurs in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
It may be difficult for the veterinary surgeon to detect a quiet murmur in a noisy room or in a dog which fidgets.
Auscultation may also have decreased sensitivity in dogs with broad chests or thick hair coats. Some murmurs may increase or alter at different heart rates, after exercise or excitement. If a significant murmur is detected, the veterinary surgeon may advise that the condition should be investigated further. Auscultation does not provide a conclusive diagnosis; further investigations are required. Although all veterinary surgeons will check your dog's heart, most breed club schemes will use a veterinary cardiologist, who has received training, has passed post graduate examinations and is able to grade heart murmurs in a way which is consistent with other cardiologists.
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
This is always indicated if an abnormal heart rhythm is detected. It is most often used to screen certain breeds of dogs for DCM. It is less sensitive at identifying CHD or MVD.
3.Echocardiogram (with Doppler)
Two-dimensional echocardiography allows visualisation of a "slice" through the heart in real-time. M-mode echocardiography allows measurements to be taken and compared with normal values for breed or size of dog. Severe CHD, MVD or DCM are usually evident using these techniques. However, Doppler echocardiography (spectral, with or without colour flow mapping) is required to confirm the diagnosis of the specific type of CHD, and to identify mildly affected animals. It will confirm whether or not there is a significant cause of the heart murmur or whether it is “innocent". In some cases, it is difficult to be certain whether a dog has mild disease or an "innocent" murmur. Doppler will allow the cardiologist to give a prognosis about the severity of any disease. Veterinary cardiologists normally carry out Doppler examinations as this is a very skilled technique, which requires considerable expertise and experience.
The cardiologist agrees:
1. To use reasonable endeavours to provide the RKC with the assessment form promptly and accurately for health records and publication where appropriate.
2. To use reasonable endeavours to notify the RKC of any errors or omissions relating to the diagnostic imaging and/or clinical results as soon as reasonably practicable.
3. To provide notice and details of any appeal as soon as possible.
4. To make available results of both Kennel Club and non-Kennel Club registered dogs to the RKC.
5. To notify the RKC as soon as reasonably practicable when a screening result or assessment form is being requested to be withheld from the RKC and/or publication.
6. To securely dispose of owners' personal data, as defined by the GDPR, once the cardiologist has provided that data to the RKC.
The Royal Kennel Club (RKC) agrees:
1. To record the results, and permanent identification number (as verified at the time of examination), for the participating dogs on its centralised database.
2. To publish results as agreed as appropriate in one or more of the following: Breed Records Supplement; registration certificate; website (Health Test Results Finder and health pages) and such other methods as may be agreed.
3. To provide summary data obtained from the assessment forms (anonymised) to the VCS and a nominated individual from the breed clubs on request.
The owner agrees:
1. That the dog presented for assessment is the correct dog listed on the assessment form.
2. To the information being collated by the RKC, VCS, and breed clubs and published according to breed guidelines.
3. To this information being used (in confidence) by the RKC, VCS, breed clubs, veterinary surgeons or geneticists researching into the problem of heart disease in dogs.
4. To pay in full the cardiologist fee for assessment.
Further information
The cardiologist testing your dog will be willing to discuss the results of the tests with you, which are summarised on the certificate of heart testing. If you have questions about the conditions screened for in your breed of dog, you should consult the relevant person in your breed club or your veterinary surgeon.
Your dog's data including registered name, registration number and health results will be used for statistical purposes in canine research and shared for that purpose with the RKC, VCS and a nominated person from your breed club, for the sole purpose of undertaking research to improve dog health and welfare.