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Everything You Need To Know About Dog Congestive Heart Failure
June 25th, 2009
Congestive heart failure is a life-threatening health problem. When something is wrong with the structure or function of the heart, this condition occurs. Here is everything you need to know about congestive heart failure in canines.
Forms
Failure comes in two forms. In one form of heart failure, the walls of the chambers in the heart thicken. This leads to reduced pumping efficiency. The muscles that form the walls become thinner in another form of this disease. The heart will enlarge when the walls stretch thinner.
The heart also pumps less efficiently when the heart enlarges. The heart will have to work harder to make up for reduced blood pumping efficiency. Once this compensation is no longer enough, dog congestive heart failure results.
Signs
As your dog’s heart compensates in the early stages of this disease, he will show no symptoms. This can last for months or even years. It’s common for dogs in heart failure to drool excessively and get tired quickly. He may pant and cough a lot after exercise, or even while resting. Heart failure in canines also causes a bluish tongue and gray membranes in the mouth.
Diagnosis
This condition is diagnosed via an electrocardiogram. The electrocardiogram will help the vet see if there are any problems with the heart. Dogs with this disease may have an enlarged heart. An ultrasound can easily detect this. Another diagnostic test for heart failure in dogs is an x-ray.
Treatment
You will need to limit your dog’s sodium intake and exercise if he is diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He will also need to take medications to increase calcium in the heart muscles. This will help increase pumping efficiency and reduce the heart rate.
Diuretics may also be given to treat this disease. This is due to the fact that the reduced blood flow may cause buildup of fluids in the lungs and abdomen. The blood vessels can also be tightened using ACE inhibitors to increase blood pumping efficiency.
Your precious pet can be susceptible to symptoms of canine illnesses. You can read up on many different potential health problems at dog-illnesses.com. Click over right now.
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