Sources and notes

1. [1] Moovet DXC — stima prudente / conservative estimate
   Method notes

   Over 2.5 million dogs at risk: conservative Moovet DXC estimate (9.1 million dogs in Italy, Assalco-Zoomark Report 2026, × 30.4% elderly or very elderly dogs, Umbria dog registry – IZSUM, Report 2021 ≈ 2.8 million).

2. [2] Keene BW et al. ACVIM consensus guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2019;33(3):1127–1140. doi:10.1111/jvim.15488.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15488

   About 75% of heart diseases, North American data; not a prevalence measurement in the Italian population.

3. [3] Borgarelli M, Häggström J. Canine Degenerative Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease: Natural History, Clinical Presentation and Therapy. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice. 2010;40(4):651–663. doi:10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.03.008.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.03.008

   The Cavalier King Charles reference is breed-specific, not a figure for the general dog population.

4. [4] Swift S, Baldin A, Cripps PJ. Degenerative Valvular Disease in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Results of the UK Breed Scheme 1991–2010. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2017;31(1):9–14. doi:10.1111/jvim.14619.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14619

   The mean 1.4-year delay concerns the Cavalier King Charles population studied in the UK breed scheme.

5. [5] Mattin MJ et al. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2015. doi:10.1111/jvim.12591.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12591
6. [6] Franchini A et al. LOOK-Mitral. Journal of Veterinary Cardiology. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.jvc.2021.04.005.
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvc.2021.04.005
7. [7] Boswood A et al. Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study—A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2016;30(6):1765–1779. doi:10.1111/jvim.14586.
   https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.14586

   The EPIC study result in enrolled dogs with preclinical disease and cardiomegaly; not an individual guarantee. Treatment decisions belong to the vet.

8. [8] Assalco–Zoomark. Rapporto Assalco–Zoomark 2026. Alimentazione e cura degli animali da compagnia: Animali d’affezione in Italia e le famiglie di cui fanno parte. XIX edizione, 2026.
   https://www.assalco.it/archivio10_documento-generico_0_1710.html
9. [9] IZSUM. RTA Cani 2021 — Anagrafe canina della Regione Umbria, dati al 31 dicembre 2021.
   https://view.izsum.it/RTA/RTA2021.htm
10. [10] CuorEasy — istruzioni di raccolta del campione / sample collection instructions.
    https://cuoreasy.it/tutorial

    30 seconds is the operational swab duration, not a clinical-study result.

11. [11] Università degli Studi di Milano — Moovet DXC, spin-off universitario.
    https://moovet.it/

    Institutional project reference; not a substitute for a scientific publication on the salivary test.