Your Dog’s heart problem
If your dog has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, there is no need to feel down-hearted.
With your care and suitable medication from your vet, a better, longer life for your dog is now in prospect. Understanding your dog’s condition will help you to help your dog. An important thing to remember is that your dog’s condition is not uncommon. Heart disease affects around 10% of all dogs.
A heart problem can be present from birth; this is termed congenital heart disease. Or it can develop during the course of a dog’s life-time, often in middle age; and is called acquired heart disease. Acquired heart disease accounts for around 95% of all heart conditions in dogs.
Acquired heart disease usually affects either the heart valves or the heart muscle. Your vet will be able to tell you which type of problem that your dog has. Both of these acquired diseases can result in heart failure. Heart failure in dogs is not like a heart attack in people.
The term “heart failure” comes from the heart’s inability to pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. This causes the dog to show signs or symptoms as the heart’s performance declines over time. Whilst there is no cure for heart failure, it can usually be managed with medication and care.
- Mitral Valve Disease – Find out more about this disease
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy – Find out more about this disease
- Find out more about managing your dog’s condition – It’s important for you to visit your veterinary surgeon on a regular basis and understand your dog’s problem.
