Cardiovascular infections in dogs: epizootiology, clinical manifestations, and prognosis.

Bacteremia in dogs was found to be more prevalent than suspected and Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and beta-hemolytic streptococci were the most commonly isolated microbes. Administration of glucocorticoids was the most common predisposing cause of infections. Subacute and chronic bacteremia often followed integumentary infections such as abscesses, cellulitis, and infected wounds and was usually the result of gram-positive microbes. Peracute and acute bacteremia was associated with internal infections and was usually the result of E coli. Many dogs with bacteremia had unusual or multisystemic signs similar to those observed with immune-mediated diseases. Hypotension, tachycardia, and weakness were features of gram-negative bacteremia, whereas gram-positive bacteremia had more chronic signs and tended to develop into diskospondylitis. The adequacy of treatment, type of bacteremia, source of infection, and delay before treatment influenced the course of illness. Cephalosporins and gentamicin were most effective against all types of bacteremia.