Abstract:
A 5-year-old, intact, male Yorkshire Terrier presented with a 6-day history of lethargy and
anorexia. Clinical examination revealed dental plaque accumulation, abdominal effort during
respiration and muffled heart sounds. Thoracic radiographs revealed an enlarged globoid
cardiac silhouette and mild pneumopericardium, transthoracic ultrasonography revealed a
pericardial effusion after which pericardiocentesis, cytology and culture diagnosed septic
pericarditis. Three multidrug-resistant bacteria were isolated, two of which have been
implicated in gas-producing infections before. Medical management failed to resolve the
pericarditis and euthanasia was opted for. A chronic osseocartilaginous oesophageal foreign
body cranial to the heart base was found on necropsy. Septic pericarditis and pneumopericardium
are rare conditions in dogs. This is the first case to describe a multidrug-resistant polybacterial
aetiology causing mild pneumopericardium and only the second case to describe septic
pericarditis associated with an oesophageal foreign body.
