Pericardial Closure Defect with Right Atrial Herniation in a Dog

A 16 years old German Shepherd dog was referred to the teaching hospital of Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Iasi, with cardio-respiratory symptoms. Clinical examination, electrocardiography, thoracic X-ray and echocardiography have been performed and congestive heart failure due to right cardiac dilatation was diagnosed. Due to the dog’s death, necropsy have been performed and revealed a right pericardial closure defectwith 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 pathological findings etiology.