Gavin has a particularly interest in myxomatous mitral valve disease, (MMVD or DMVD). Myxomatous mitral valve disease is the most common heart disease in dogs. MMVD is usually slowly progressive and may be relatively benign in some dogs. Dogs with MMVD are staged to guide management however staging may not reflect the severity of disease in all patients.

Recent research suggests there might be a benefit in staging MMVD with additional echocardiographic measurements not typically used.

Following dogs over a long period of time can also help to improve our understanding of this condition.

There are an increasing number of medical and surgical treatment options available for managing MMVD in dogs.