Heart Failure affects canines of different breeds and ages, representing between ten and twenty percent of degenerative conditions in the species.
The human and canine heart have similarities in functionality and structure, however, the heart rate of dogs is between 70 and 120 beats per minute, a high number compared to the human heart.
Between 10 and 20% of canines can suffer from Congestive Heart Failure, also known as Heart Failure, a silent condition.
In this article, dog owners will find some tools so that they can promptly identify risky situations for the health of pets such as Heart Failure, a condition that affects canines of different breeds and ages, mainly impacting geriatric patients or patients over 7 years of age. .
To reduce the impact of Congestive Heart Failure, pay attention to the following warning signs:
- If these are small breed dogs, a complete medical examination with cardiac evaluation should be performed from 7 years of age onwards, and visit the veterinarian regularly.
- In the case of large breeds, it is important that, from the age of 7, a cardiovascular evaluation and, if possible, a chest x-ray be performed to evaluate cardiac size.
- Canines of all breeds that have a nocturnal cough should consult a veterinarian, since unexplained coughing attacks at night can be symptoms of CHF.
- Any patient who presents dizziness, fainting or loss of consciousness should be examined by the veterinarian.
- Exercise intolerance should be considered as a possible consequence of heart failure, therefore, a visit to the veterinarian is recommended.
- The presence of constant swelling of the limbs, collection of fluids in the abdomen, decreased urine production, fatigue and extreme weakness can also be symptoms of CHF.
- Congestive Heart Failure can vary depending on the size of the dog and its breed. Small breed animals can suffer from myxomatous valve disease, presenting structural damage to the heart valves; According to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), the breeds most likely to develop this disease are Poodle, Pincher, Pomeranian, Chihuahua and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the latter being more likely to present it at an early age.
- For dogs of medium or large breeds, Dilated Cardiomyopathy occurs, with a high genetic and hereditary component, generating enlargement of the heart and causing difficulty in pumping blood to the body and fluid retention in various organs. The breeds most likely to suffer from this disease are the Boxer, Doberman, German Doge, Dalmatian, Afghan and Cocker Spaniel.
- This condition usually goes unnoticed by owners and veterinarians because it is a slow-progressing chronic disease. For this reason, many of the clinical signs are usually identified when the patient is in an advanced stage and it is difficult to manage and control the condition. It should be noted that this condition has no cure, but it can be successfully treated if a timely diagnosis is made.
To reduce the impact of this disease, we must know the tools that allow us to identify the disease in our dogs.
There are drugs that can benefit the health of pets with these medical conditions, such as Vetmedin, the first medication in veterinary cardiology approved for preclinical use. The product represents a new therapeutic approach compared to conventional treatments and, additionally, dogs treated with this new approach have a higher survival rate. It is important that the Veterinary Doctor makes the precise diagnosis, and only he will indicate the appropriate treatment considering the patient’s situation.
It is important that dog owners be aware of any of the warning signs mentioned above, in order to act in a timely manner and provide specialized care to avoid major complications in the future and thus give their pets a better quality of life. life.
