At the Heart of Your Dog's Health

Heart disease is basically a weakened heart. Heart disease can lead to heart failure, which is the dog's condition when the heart cannot pump a sufficient amount of blood through the body. While continuing to work harder to pump blood, further heart damage can occur.

The main causes of heart failure in dogs are MVD, DCM, and CVD.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a disease of the heart muscle. The heart pumps weakly, so blood is not supplied to the body as efficiently. The heart then has to work even harder, and it stretches and enlarges.

• This is more common in medium to large breeds of dog rather than small dogs.
  
• Some breeds that are more susceptible include Boxer, Cocker and Springer Spaniels, Dobermann, Irish Setters, German Shepherds, and Great Danes.
  

Vets know this can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, but other causes are just not known yet.

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is most common form of heart disease in dogs. It occurs when the heart valves become leaky which means blood circulation is less than optimal.

• It generally occurs in small to medium size dogs rather than big dogs.
  
• Some breeds who suffer more than average including Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Fox Terrier, Poodle, and Schnauzer.
  
• It is a condition seen more often in older dogs because many dogs are able to live with and compensate for the inadequate blood flow for quite some time.
  

This inadequate circulation creates a noise, or murmur, that your veterinary surgeon can hear with a stethoscope.

Valvular heart disease is a condition that occurs when the dog's heart valves (that open and shut to let blood in and out) thicken and degenerate. Valvular heart disease is very common and of of canine heart diseases in adult dogs, it is the main one to look out for.

• Valvular heart disease is a progressive disease that is common in older dogs.
  
• Commonly affected dogs include poodles, Yorkshire terriers, schnauzers, cocker spaniels and small mixed-breeds.
  
• Some breeds, such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels, can be affected early in life.
  

CVD affects the working of the dog's heart valves so they don't work properly, which often leads to heart enlargement or heart failure with fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) or the abdomen (ascites).

Heart failure in dogs tends to show the same general symptoms, no matter what the cause of the failure.

Dogs with mild to moderate heart failure show

• lethargy
  
• difficulty breathing
  
• coughing
  
• some weakness
  
• loss of appetite
  

Severe heart failure is characterized by

• much difficulty breathing even when the dog is just laying
  
• fainting
  
• no tolerance for any exercise
  
• weight loss
  
• lack of energy/depression
  
• swollen abdomen (ascites)
  

As with many illnesses, you need to have your dog seen by a professional for a proper diagnosis. But you watch for symptoms so you don't ignore the fact something may be wrong. Too often, dog owners do not take their dogs to visit the veterinarian until they are displaying severe signs of heart failure, and by then it may be too late. When heart disease or failure is found, your veterinarian can recommend a schedule of regular visits and discuss a treatment plan that can help.

Although there is no cure for most heart disease in dogs, new treatments are available such as ACE inhibitors relieve some of the stress on the heart or Digitalis to slow a heart that beats too fast. In most cases, heart disease can be successfully managed with early detection and treatment"

In addition to safeguarding your dog's heart, there's a lot you can do to keep your dog happy and in top shape. When your dog has a lifetime of good habits, heart failure doesn't have to occur, or at least is less likely if there is heart defect. Ensure a healthy lifestyle by making sure that your dog gets a moderate amount of exercise on a regular basis and has a balanced diet.