Ovine and Caprine Cardiovascular Disease – NAVLE Study Guide

Overview and Clinical Importance

Cardiovascular disease in sheep and goats is relatively uncommon in clinical practice compared to other species. The occurrence of clinically recognized cardiovascular disease in these small ruminants is very low, with most cardiac conditions being incidental findings rather than primary presenting complaints. However, understanding these conditions is essential for the NAVLE, particularly nutritional myodegeneration (white muscle disease), which represents the most clinically significant cardiac disease in young sheep and goats.

Atherosclerosis in sheep and goats occurs primarily as spontaneous aortic lesions and is rarely of clinical significance. While these animals can develop atherosclerotic changes, particularly in research settings with high cholesterol diets, naturally occurring disease severe enough to cause heart failure is exceptionally rare. In contrast, white muscle disease (nutritional myodegeneration) is the predominant cardiac condition encountered in practice, causing both sudden death and heart failure in selenium-deficient regions.

Atherosclerosis and Arteriosclerosis in Small Ruminants

Spontaneous Atherosclerosis

Pathophysiology: Spontaneous atherosclerotic lesions can occur in sheep and goats, primarily affecting the aorta. Studies examining goat aortas have documented lesions in up to 64 percent of animals aged 1.5 to 4 years. These lesions are categorized as fatty spots or streaks (51 percent), fibrous plaques (10 percent), intimal elevation, and less commonly, aneurysms.