| Heart disease is one of the most frequently seen | | | | exercise, breathing difficulties, distended abdomen, |
| problems in dogs. Different diseases involving the | | | | weight loss, and exercise intolerance. Your |
| heart valves or heart muscle can lead to heart | | | | veterinarian can diagnose heart disease by x-rays |
| failure. Mitral insufficiency is by far the most | | | | and electrocardiogram. |
| common type of heart disease seen in dogs. | | | | Many forms of heart disease are accompanied |
| Mitral insufficiency involves the heart valve that | | | | by heart murmurs. A heart murmur is nothing |
| separates chambers in the heart. If this valve | | | | more than an irregular sound caused by the |
| becomes diseased and fails to close properly, | | | | disruption of normal blood flow within the heart. |
| blood is allowed to flow backward, which reduces | | | | Heart murmurs are usually classified according to |
| blood flow forcing the heart to work harder to | | | | their intensity as heard by a stethoscope. Your |
| keep up with the body's demand for blood. This | | | | veterinarian can identify which portion of the |
| over working of the hart eventually leads to | | | | heart is affected by pinpointing the area on the |
| premature heart failure. | | | | dog's chest where the murmur is the loudest. |
| This disease can result from normal wear and | | | | Unfortunately, most cases of heart disease are |
| tear associated with age, or it can appear | | | | nonreversible. The treatment for any dog |
| secondary to other diseases, normally periodontal | | | | suffering from such is to create an environment |
| disease. Bacteria from the diseased teeth and | | | | that relieves some of the workload on the heart. |
| gums can enter the blood stream and attach to | | | | Special diets and medications can be used to |
| the heart valve, setting up infection and | | | | improve the quality of life and extend the animal's |
| inflammation. Over time, the heart valve becomes | | | | life expectancy. Early detection is the key here. |
| damaged and scarred, making it unable to function | | | | At the first sign of clinical problems mentioned |
| properly. The end result is heart failure. | | | | earlier you should get the dog to a veterinarian as |
| The clinical signs associated with a failing heart | | | | soon as possible. |
| include coughing, especially at night and after | | | | |