Cardiomyopathy is an inherited condition affecting the conduction system of the heart. 

This disease can affect dogs as young as a few months old but is more typically found in adult dogs with a wide age range. 

The symptoms are variable in their presentation and severity. 

They can be a fast & irregular heart beat in a dog that is symptom free, fainting, coughing, exercise intolerance, laboured breathing, loss of weight and in some cases, sudden death from cardiac arrest.

This condition can be tested for by the way of a Holter monitor, it is a jacket that the dog wears for 24 hours and it has leads that are attached to the chest to check the electrical activity of the heart. 

It is a doggy version of a 24 hour tape for us humans. 

Another test that is being developed is a Troponin blood test. 

This is a protein released from the heart muscle if there has been any damage to it. 

This blood test is currently used in humans to diagnose heart attacks.

The Boxer Breed Council have been working tirelessly to trace where the cardiomyopathy originated from and have identified carriers of cardiomyopathy. 

This list is published on their website at www.boxerbreedcouncil.co.uk