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Juvenile Cardiomyopathy Heart Study

JCM Menu

● Study Updates ● Published Articles ● Emergency Protocol ● Autopsy Information ● Screening Guidelines ● Genetic Testing ● Study Contacts

Toy Manchester deaths as a result of what we now call Juvenile Cardiomyopathy have been sporadically reported anecdotally and confirmed through autopsy for almost three decades in North America.  Since 2005, the Health Committees of the Canadian Manchester Terrier Club (CMTC) and American Manchester Terrier Club (AMTC) have jointly supported a study into Juvenile Cardiomyopathy in Toy Manchester Terriers.  The study is being led from the University of Prince Edward Island's Atlantic Veterinary College by Dr. Etienne Cote, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology, SAIM) and Dr. Shannon Martinson, Diagnostic Pathologist (with assistance as required from genetic researchers at the University of Pennsylvania).  Its purpose is to determine the characteristics of JCM, investigate whether screening of breeding stock is possible and explore the eventual development of a genetic test for the disease.

The term “cardiomyopathy” refers to an inherent disease (pathy) within the muscle tissue (myo) of the heart (cardio). Cardiomyopathies can be very serious or even life threatening if they are severe enough to compromise the heart’s output of blood to the vital organs. Though there are several types of cardiomyopathy known in dogs, the arrhythmic disturbance seen in Toy Manchester Terriers appears to be unique.

At present, the study is pursuing three general areas of investigation:

• Postmortem Examination
• Cardiovascular Screening
• Genetic Investigation

Please explore the links above and in the box at right for more information on JCM and how you can contribute to current research initiatives.  If you have a dog in crisis, please consult our emergency protocol.