How can cardiovascular conditions impact the health and well-being of my dog?
Cardiovascular conditions can largely limit the quality of life of your dog. This could manifest as a decrease in their willingness to go out for walks or a decrease in the distance they can travel on walks. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory distress, which can be significantly life-limiting.
Ryan Sherwood, DVM
Brunswick Veterinary Hospital
What is a veterinary cardiologist?
A veterinary cardiologist is a board-certified specialist who focuses solely on the health and well-being of the whole cardiovascular system, which includes the heart and circulating vessels.
What are some signs and symptoms of cardiovascular conditions in my dog?
The most common symptom is exercise intolerance. Second to that would be coughing. Often, a dog with a cardiovascular condition will present with a persistent cough that lasts for months. Usually, the coughing occurs when they're quiet, calm, and relaxed, or when their airways are slightly closed down.
How soon should I bring my dog in to see a veterinarian if I suspect a heart issue?
I generally recommend the sooner, the better. While heart conditions are typically slow-growing, there are occasions where the progression is quite rapid. The sooner we intervene, the better off your dog will be.
How will a veterinarian diagnose cardiovascular disease in my dog?
In dogs, we typically start with listening to the chest for a heart murmur, difficulty breathing, or any crackles or wheezes in the lungs. If we're suspicious, we'll progress to X-rays to examine the lungs and heart. We'll look for signs of congestion or an enlarged heart. If anything concerning is found, we usually recommend an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound of the heart. This allows us to examine the internal structure of the heart and ensure that the valves are functioning correctly.
What kinds of treatments are available for dogs with heart problems?
Treatment typically involves a trio of medications, depending on the severity of the cardiac disease. If it's in the early stages, we may just recommend monitoring. If it's a more severe case, we'll usually start with a drug called pimobendan, which helps the heart pump blood more efficiently. If fluid is backing up into the lungs, we may add a diuretic. If there's any high blood pressure, we may prescribe medication for that as well.
What types of preventative care can help my dog avoid cardiovascular issues?
The best preventative measure is regular visits to your veterinarian. We recommend once a year visits for dogs under seven years, and every six months for older dogs. Regular physical exams allow us to monitor your pet's health and catch any issues early. At home, keeping a close eye on your dog's activity levels and maintaining a good, well-balanced diet can help prevent cardiovascular problems. We've noticed that some grain-free diets have been linked to cardiac disease, so it's important to be mindful of what you're feeding your dog.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (518) 279-0700, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Cardiology - FAQs 1
Ryan Sherwood, DVM
Brunswick Veterinary Hospital
What is the first sign of a heart issue in a dog?
The first sign of a heart issue in dogs varies. In some cases, it can be a noticeable decrease in the dog's ability to exercise, like being unable to complete a daily run. It could also be a persistent cough that doesn't seem to be associated with an infection or any other illness.
How are heart murmurs diagnosed in dogs?
A murmur is a sound that veterinarians hear when listening to a dog's chest. It is usually discovered during a physical exam or when investigating a problem such as exercise intolerance or a persistent cough. Murmurs are graded on a scale from one to six based on volume, with one being the quietest and six being the loudest.
What does an echocardiogram show that an x-ray does not?
While X-rays can give a general idea of the shape and size of the heart, an echocardiogram allows for a more detailed examination of the heart's valves and chambers. This information can be crucial for diagnosing certain heart conditions that might not be detectable through an x-ray.
What is the prognosis for dogs with heart issues?
The prognosis for dogs with heart issues varies depending on the severity and stage of the condition. Dogs that are collapsing or struggling to breathe generally have a poor prognosis, though medication can help improve their quality of life. If the issue is caught early, such as detecting a murmur or slight exercise intolerance, the dog can often live a normal life with the help of medication.
What is a board-certified cardiologist?
A board-certified cardiologist is a specialist who has dedicated their career to cardiac health. They are considered the best resource for managing heart disease, although many conditions can also be diagnosed by a general practitioner.
Do I need a cardiologist to diagnose heart issues with my dog?
No, you don't necessarily need a cardiologist to diagnose heart issues in your dog. A general practitioner can diagnose many cardiac diseases, and they can refer you to a cardiologist if necessary.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (518) 279-0700, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Dog Cardiology - FAQs 2
Ryan Sherwood, DVM
Brunswick Veterinary Hospital
What are the most common heart diseases in dogs?
Most commonly, we see two forms of heart enlargement in dogs. One is due to a leaky valve, typically the mitral valve, which we call hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The other is dilated cardiomyopathy, which we typically recognize as dietary in origin.
What is a heart murmur?
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound between the first and second, the lub-dub of the heart. It typically sounds like rushing water, with various volumes, so we'll describe it as a grade one to six, grade one being very quiet, grade six being fairly loud.
What is dog cardiomyopathy?
Cardiomyopathy is a blanket term for a problem in the heart muscle. It can arise from a number of causes.
Can diet affect my dog's heart health?
Diet can absolutely affect a dog's heart health. In the 70s and 80s, an increase in dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs was noticed, typically as a result of a lack of taurine in their diet. We've seen a resurgence of this disease in the past 10 to 20 years as grain-free diets have become more popular. A lot of the grain-free diets don't add in that taurine, an amino acid that is very common in grains.
What is an enlarged heart in dogs?
An enlarged heart in dogs is what we call any sort of dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where the heart is enlarging and thinning or laying down extra muscle, usually in response to increased resistance or regurgitation through one of the one-way valves.
How would you treat an enlarged heart?
The treatment for an enlarged heart depends on the cause. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, we use medications that increase the ability of the heart to pump and decrease the resistance the heart has to work against. In dilated cardiomyopathy, where we're seeing a taurine-deficient cause, we recommend a diet change to supplement that taurine.
What is heart failure in dogs?
Heart failure in dogs is when we notice not only the signs of cardiac disease but a decompensation, where they're no longer able to cope with it. This is typically seen as increased fluid retention somewhere, like in the lungs causing difficulty breathing, or fluid filling the belly. In both cases, these are very severe and need to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (518) 279-0700, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram