Did you know that heart disease is one of the most common health problems affecting dogs today? But if caught early enough, heart disease can be managed with medication, diet, exercise, and possibly surgery. New puppy exams and yearly adult exams by a veterinary surgeon can detect heart problems early, before symptoms start.
One of the hardest-working muscles in the body, the heart is essentially a four-chambered pump for circulating blood. The right side of the heart pumps blood to the lungs, while the left side pumps blood to the rest of the body.
Dogs can suffer from both congenital and acquired heart disease. Congenital heart defects are usually present at birth. These account for only 5 percent of all heart disease cases and usually disappear by the time the puppy is 4 to 6 months old. Be aware that a puppy with a heart murmur may also have other defects present. Unfortunately, some puppies have serious heart defects. Affected puppies are generally much smaller than their litter mates, and may not be as active. Some common problems encountered in puppies are shunts, thickening of the vessels entering and leaving the heart, abnormal valves, or atrial and ventricular septal defects. In some breeds, genetic tests are available to help detect affected dogs. In breeds that are predisposed to heart problems, an ultrasound scan can detect problems early and treatment can be started immediately.
Acquired heart disease, which accounts for the majority of cases, usually develops during a dog’s lifetime. It is usually a result of normal wear and tear, injury, or infection. Usually, by the time a dog is showing symptoms, the heart has suffered irreversible damage. Some problems of a diseased heart can be thickened walls, thinning walls, irregular valves, inflammation of the heart muscle, or disturbances in the conduction system.
So what are signs of heart disease? Exercise intolerance is one of the first signs, but owners often think their dog is slowing down because of old age. Coughing is another classic symptom. Usually the dog will cough when getting up from a resting position. In more severe cases, the dog may collapse while out walking. Some dogs may even get fluid build-up in their abdomen to give them a pot-bellied appearance. A bluish tongue is another sign of heart trouble. Dogs with abnormal cardiac conduction systems may just collapse.
To help diagnose heart disease, your vet may perform an ECG, which measures the electrical activity of the heart. If an electrical disturbance is detected, your vet may put a Holter monitor on your dog. This is an ambulatory ECG for measuring heart activity over a 24 hour period or longer. The vet may also take an x-ray to see if the heart is enlarged. An ultrasound scan can determine if the chambers are enlarged or the valves are leaking. An ultrasound will enable your vet to measure the contractility of the heart, chamber size, thickness of the walls, and visualise tumours or blood clots that are located in the chambers or vessels.
Luckily, with modern medication, many dogs with heart disease can be treated to make them more comfortable, and to prolong their life. Some types of heart disease can be repaired surgically. Owners can help a dog with heart disease by keeping its weight down. High levels of omega 3 fatty acids are beneficial to dogs with heart problems. There are also prescription diets specifically for heart disease. Exercise must also be moderated. If your dog’s heart is not working properly, excessive exercise will put a lot of extra stress on the heart.
For further enquiries, please phone 045 480 478 or www.animalsfirst.ie
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