How is heart disease in dogs treated?
Treatment
- Medications to help the heart work and correct irregular heartbeats.
- Medications to slow fluid build-up in the lungs.
- Surgery to correct a torn valve or to insert a pacemaker to correct the heart beat.
- A commercial or prescription low-salt diet to help decrease fluid build-up in your dog’s body.
Can a dog have heart disease and not heart failure?
Heart disease is commonly diagnosed in both dogs and cats and the diagnosis can be disturbing and confusing for pet owners. Heart failure is a condition that can occur due to severe heart disease. Not all dogs that have heart disease will develop heart failure. The differences between heart disease and heart failure are important to recognize.
How to diagnose heart disease in dogs and cats?
Diagnosing heart disease and/or heart failure in the dog and cat requires a combination of several different testing methods. A physical exam can often pick up a heart murmur (the sound of blood moving turbulently through the heart) or an arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm).
How are medications used to treat cardiac disease in dogs?
Help your dog’s heart muscles work better. Other medications, called positive inotropes, help the heart muscles contract more strongly to move blood through the heart more efficiently. They also slow the heart rate so the heart doesn’t have to beat so fast to pump blood.
How to diagnose congestive heart failure in dogs?
Most cardiovascular diseases can be highly suspected by physical examination and x-rays. X-rays are also used to monitor the progression of congestive heart failure. Electrocardiography is specific for diagnosis of arrhythmias. Echocardiography is excellent for confirming tentative diagnoses,…
What kind of heart disease does a dog have?
Heart disease in general, and congestive heart failure (CHF) in particular, are fairly common diseases in dogs. The most common acquired heart abnormality (differentiated from a heart abnormality the dog is born with) is chronic valvular disease. The valves deteriorate and become stiff, allowing blood to flow backward as the heart beats.
How is congestive heart failure diagnosed in dogs?
The presence or absence of congestive heart failure is then diagnosed by X-ray of the chest. If congestive heart failure is present, oral medications can be prescribed and some dogs can do well with these medications for 1-2 years.
When to see a cardiologist for a dog?
Upon examining your dog, if your vet detects a heart murmur or other types of heart irregularities, they may refer you to a pet cardiologist or other type of pet heart specialist.
Can a dog have congenital heart disease in utero?
Dogs that have congenital heart disease can develop it in utero from one or several of the following causes: Since heart disease can easily go unnoticed, early stages of it may only be detected by your veterinarian.
