Heart Failure in Dogs: An Overview
Dog Breeds
Heart failure in dogs is a condition which occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump enough blood through the dog's body at levels that are required by the body’s organs. Heart failure in dogs can occur due to a number of reasons: old age, injury to the heart, abnormalities within the heart’s structures, or inherited heart conditions which eventually progress to heart failure.
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Definition of Heart Failure
Heart failure is the inability of the heart to maintain and sustain circulation sufficient to meet the body’s needs.
How Heart Failure Affects Dogs
Depending on why the heart is failing, a dog may develop signs of disease suddenly or slowly. The early signs of heart disease are normally subtle and nonspecific, but may well be recognized by attentive owners. These include reduced activity levels, tiring easily, panting more than normal, lethargy, reduced appetite and weight loss. Respiratory distress is the most consistent clinical sign of heart failure. Affected animals often have shortness of breath even at rest, and many develop a progressive cough. They frequently retain fluid in their abdominal cavity and look painfully “pot-bellied.” As the heart fails, the dog’s respiratory difficulties will worsen, it will become fatigued, mucous membranes will turn pale to blue and, ultimately, the animal will collapse and become recumbent. Vomiting, diarrhea and an elevated or weak heart rate also are common.
Causes of Heart Failure in Dogs
Heart failure has many potential causes: injury/trauma to the heart, congenital structural abnormalities within the heart’s chambers or valves, infection, ingestion of toxins, environmental stresses, breed predispositions and inherited heart abnormalities which eventually progress to heart failure, among others. Heart failure can happen in dogs of all ages and breeds, including mixed breeds, and in males and females alike.
Preventing Heart Failure in Dogs
Heart failure is one of the most serious medical conditions in dogs and usually dramatically reduces life expectancy. Unfortunately, there are few reliable measures that can be taken to prevent heart failure in companion animals. One of the obvious preventive measures is to avoid obesity. Dogs fed a high-quality nutritious diet and who exercise regularly tend to have better heart health. Regular heartworm preventatives should be used in areas where heartworm is prevalent. Of course, dogs should have free access to fresh water, proper housing and bedding and appropriate protection from weather extremes to contribute to their physical and psychological health.
Special Notes
A number of medications are available to treat and manage the effects of heart failure in companion dogs. Your veterinarian is in the best position to discuss treatment protocols with you, but in a nutshell drug therapy can help reduce fluid build-up in the chest, ease the heart’s workload and alleviate the respiratory distress that accompanies heart failure. Because a diagnosis of heart failure is so serious, pet owners want to do everything they can to recognize the warning signs so that treatment – or at least medical management -- can begin immediately. The prognosis for dogs whose heart disease has progressed to heart failure is poor to grave.
Prevention