Heart Diseases in Dog

July 20, 2016

The heart is an important part of a body of any living being. It pumps blood to all the parts of the body. If the heart stops pumping, the person will die. There are different heart diseases that affect its functionality. Like human being dog can also suffer from different heart diseases but they affect dogs differently than humans. However, they can also face serious or even fatal result.

Rarely dogs are affecting by coronary artery disease, the result of bad diet. However, congestive heart failure can affect them, a gradual decrease in the heart’s capability to pump blood to the whole body. As the heart is the main machine which carries oxygen in the whole body so the congestive heart failure also influences working of other organs.

There are many progressive heart diseases in the dog, the dog can live with progressive heart diseases for several years without indicating any symptom. The progressive heart disease becomes fatal overtimes and slowly its symptoms start emerging.

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Causes of Heart Diseases in Dogs

Mostly about 95% heart diseases in the dog is considered as acquired heart disease. Normally cause by usual wear and tear or any infection. Dogs are affecting by heart disease in middle or old age. The few common types of dogs acquired heart diseases are as follow:

Chronic valvular disease: A weak valve of heart with age start leaking is a chronic valvular disease.

Myocardial disease: the weakness of heart muscles of dog results in heart enlargement cause myocardial disease.

Arrhythmias: the problem in the electric system of the dog, which tells the heart how to beat, is arrhythmias.

Pericardial disease: filling of the protective sac with fluid, which results in the abnormal beat of heart, is a pericardial disease.

Congenital defects: Some dogs are born with a rear heart problem, which is congenital heart disease. You have most likely listened about the disease known as a heart murmur, which is due to a heart defect that interrupts smooth blood flow, making a “whooshing” sound that is easily hear by a stethoscope. Heart murmurs are normal and there is nothing to worry about them. The condition normally clears up after few months on its own.

Symptoms in dogs of heart diseases

If the following symptoms tend to appear in your dog, do not waste your time and rush to the vet:

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  1. After exercising or playing dry cough.
  2. Weight loss
  3. Shortness of breath
  4. Fainting spells
  5. Fatigue
  6. Swollen abdomen

Treatment of heart disease

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After an initial examination, the doctor will ask a certain question regarding your dog, which is very helpful in treatment. Different tests, x-rays, and ultrasound are also conducted. After getting the entire test reports doctor, suggest treatment.

How to avoid heart disease

Feeding your dog with healthy food is not the only reason of his good health; also, exercises done by the dog can keep him healthy, active and in good shape.

There are many causes of heart disease and its treatment is very difficult so it is better to be careful and take actions while spotting initial signs of a problem. When the problem becomes severe, it is difficult and time-consuming to treat it.

References:

· http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/317-heart-disease

· http://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/general_health/top-ten-signs-of-heart-disease-in-dogs