Heart disease in dogs (and cats) is more common than you might think!
It can be caused by inherited or congenital defects in the heart, such as a hole in the heart or a narrowed valve, or by acquired disease such as degeneration of heart valves, or cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease).
Screening of at-risk animals such as those with murmurs, irregular heartbeats, or even breeds predisposed to heart issues, can be important to catch disease early.
When diagnosed early we can start medications to slow down the progression of the disease, look at surgeries that can correct congenital conditions, or carry out breed screening to prevent diseased genes being passed on to future generations. If these are not caught early the consequences can be severe.
Understanding Heart Disease in Dogs
Common Types of Canine Heart Conditions
- Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition predominantly seen in dogs; it is usually caused by genetic defects in certain breeds, usually large breed dogs such as Great Danes or Wolf Hounds. It can cause abnormal heart rhythm, lead to heart failure or even cause sudden death. DCM in cats has been all but eradicated due to dietary supplementation with taurine in commercial cat foods after it was found that a deficiency was the cause in the 1987.
- Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) or more specifically degenerative mitral valve disease is a common cause of heart disease in mostly small breed, middle aged dogs. It is caused by changes to the mitral valve, between the left atrium and left ventricle, that occur with time. These lead to the leakage of blood through the closed valve, which can cause a build-up of pressure in the lungs and ultimately result in congestive heart failure.
- Aortic Stenosis (AS) is a congenital condition seen in certain breeds of dog that is caused by a narrowing of the left side of the heart as the blood exits via the aorta.
- Pericardial Effusion is a build-up of fluid in the sac around the heart and can be caused by several different conditions including infections, cancers and heart disease.
Breeds Most at Risk of Heart Problems
Certain breeds are inherently at risk of heart disease.
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a very high incidence of degenerative mitral valve disease, anything up to 100% by the time they have reached their early teens.
- Many other small breed dogs such as dachshunds and Pomeranians are also overrepresented.
- Dobermans are very prone to DCM with more than half of all dogs being affected in one study. Other breeds affected include giant breeds, such as Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Boxers, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, as well as other breeds such as German Shepherds, Labradors and Cocker Spaniels.
- Congenital diseases are often overrepresented in certain breeds, for example aortic stenosis is more common in Boxers, Bouvier des Flandres, Bull Terriers, Bullmastiffs, German Shepherds, Dogues de Bordeaux, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and Rottweilers.
- Dogs at highest risk of pulmonic stenosis are English and French bulldogs, although it also affects other breeds.
In cats, Maine Coons, Ragdolls and Sphynx cats are predisposed to the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a common cause of heart disease in the species.
Other Factors Which Increase Your Dogs Risk of Heart Problems
Genetic factors are the most common cause of heart disease in animals although diet can also play a role.
A high incidence of DCM in cats in the 20th century was linked to low dietary taurine levels, this was almost completely irradicated in 1987 following the addition of high levels of taurine to commercial cat foods following a vitally important study.
There have been recent links between DCM in dogs and grain-free diets, although a direct cause and effect have not yet been shown.
Signs and Symptoms Every Dog Owner Should Know
Signs of heart disease can vary significantly from animal to animal, and sometimes there are no signs at all. But it’s worth keeping an eye out for:
- Reduced activity,
- Reluctance to exercise,
- Coughing,
- Breathing fast or more heavily,
- Fainting or collapse,
- Reduced appetite.
In some cases, animals without any signs or symptoms can have advanced heart disease, especially cats.
A regular clinical examination by a veterinarian is important to pick up less obvious signs such as an arrhythmia or heart murmur, usually in combination with an annual vaccination. In some cases blood tests or heart scans of at-risk animals may be needed to diagnose a hidden condition.
Why Early Detection Is So Important
How Heart Disease Progresses Over Time
In some cases, heart disease progresses slowly or not at all but monitoring of progression with regular heart scans is important to accurately assess the condition so that action can be made early before signs are too advanced.
In young animals with heart murmurs, screening with a heart scan is very important, as some conditions such as patent ductus arteriosus can be completely cured while the animal is young, but, if left until the patient is even a little older, treatment will become impossible and life span will be short.
The Benefits of Early Cardiac Screening and Monitoring
Early detection of congenital heart disease is very important as intervention can be life changing if done early enough.
In older animals with acquired conditions such as DCM of MVD, early detection allows medication to be given that can delay or even prevent progression of disease leading to longer, healthier lives for the affected animals.
How Early Intervention Can Save Lives, just like Oscar!
Oscar is a beautiful 5-year-old short haired cat that came to Beehive in mid-December with breathing difficulties. Following a discussion and examination with Luke, Oscar was quickly admitted and started on oxygen to ease his breathing.
A rapid scan of his chest found that there was a lot of fluid surrounding is lungs, stopping him from breathing properly.
This fluid was drained with a needle, immediately improving Oscar’s ability to breathe. He went home with medication to treat the fluid and blood thinners to stop him from developing a blood clot.
Two months later, Oscar is doing well. Without intervention it is unlikely that he would have survived the night.
What Happens During a Cardiac Screening at Beehive Vets
Our Veterinary Expertise in Canine Cardiology
Luke, co-owner of Beehive Vets, holds a post graduate certificate in small animal cardiology studies and is eligible for registration as an advanced practitioner. Find out more about Luke over on our Meet the Team page.
What to Expect in a Heart Health Appointment
An initial consultation, examination, and discussion are important to make sure that pet owners know what to expect and why any investigation is being performed.
Tools and Diagnostic Tests We Use
Direct imaging of the beating heart with an advanced ultrasound machine has been the single biggest advancement in cardiology ever.
It is vitally important to assess size, contractility, and blood flow to enable us to detect and stage heart disease in pets. Additional tools include ECG to measure the electrical activity of the heart, holter monitor, a 24-48 hour ECG, x-rays to look at the lungs, blood vessels and outline of the heart and blood tests.
Supporting Your Dog Afterwards: Ongoing Care and Monitoring
Following a diagnosis a discussion with the vet is crucial to discuss ongoing management and monitoring of the disease. Depending on the condition a repeat check, or further treatment, will be needed between several days to 3 months later, with repeat heart scans as needed to follow up progression of the condition.
How to Support Your Dog’s Heart Health at Home
Nutrition, Exercise, and Weight Management Tips
Maintaining a healthy weight and fitness level is important for all dogs but especially those with heart disease. Diets are available to support heart health in certain circumstances, and restriction of salt is very important as heart disease progresses.
Check out a recent blog we wrote on weight management in pets here.
Managing Stress and Routine Vet Visits
We will help in whatever way is best for your pet. Regular social visits for treats and strokes so they can get used to us, medication to calm anxiety, longer appointments or home visits for routine checks are all options.
Signs of Deterioration: When to Contact Your Vet Immediately
In animals with confirmed heart disease and at risk of heart failure, measuring resting respiratory rate is a very useful tool to pick up early signs of progression as this has been shown to increase within 4 months heart failure developing.
This is also a useful tool to monitor the effectiveness of medication prescribed to animals with congestive heart failure. Any animal that is acting unusually, has reduced activity or diet should be seen as they simply cannot tell you what is wrong themselves.
Book a Cardiac Screening at Beehive Vets
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