Vaccine-Associated Anaphylactic Shock in a Springer Spaniel Dog with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy

A 5-year-old female Springer Spaniel dog was submitted for necropsy after sudden death following vaccination against Leptospira spp. Gross examination revealed a diffuse dark red discolouration of skeletal musculature, severe diffuse congestion of all the abdominal organs and a contracted spleen. Severe dilation and reduction in wall width was seen in the right ventricle and histological examination revealed multifocal replacement of the right ventricular myocardium by a large amount of fibrofatty tissue. Pathological changes were consistent with post-vaccinal anaphylactic shock in a dog with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), a rare condition typical of Boxer dogs but not previously reported in Springer Spaniels. Canine vaccine-associated adverse events are discussed and ARVC is compared with the corresponding human cardiac condition.