What Is a heart disease?

The heart is a major organ of the body. Any alteration in its function can result in severe health issues. Heart disease is a term used to refer to diseases that affect the heart in some way. 

Heart diseases include:

• Conditions affecting blood vessels, for example, coronary artery disease
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
• The ones that involve the heart that one is born with (congenital heart diseases)
• Disease affecting the muscular wall of the heart
• Heart valve disease

Heart Diseases in Dogs:

 Heart disease is common in dogs, especially at a certain age. It is a fact that the major function of the heart is to pump blood all over the body and indeed, anything that has a screw loose in such an important organ is likely to have severe repercussions.

Canine heart disease remains a critical and potentially fatal disease that is potentially manifesting in dogs with no discrimination to breed or age. If diagnosed early and treated by your veterinarian, you will greatly help the management of food allergic conditions and increase the quality your dog’s life. Heart diseases are not uncommon in dogs; and this article will explore the signs, causes, and possible treatment of some of the most frequent types of cardiovascular diseases in dogs.

Types Of Heart Diseases in Dogs:

In human beings, there exist dozens of types of heart diseases, but in dogs these primary forms are distinguished:

Cardiomyopathy in dogs refers to diseases that may develop in various structures of the heart and vascular system. Knowledge of heart diseases enables one to recognize some symptoms and seek the correct remedy.

1. Congestive Heart Failure (CHF):

CHF entails a situation in which the heart cannot circulate the blood properly resulting in congestion of the lungs and rest of the body. This is a usual complication of several forms of heart disease and the condition of the dog can worsen severely.

2. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM):

DCM is defined by the dilation and the ineffective or non-optimal working of the heart muscles, most predominantly the ventricles. This condition impairs the pumping function of the heart, and this is often observed in large breeds with prone breeds being the Doberman and the boxer.

3. Mitral Valve Disease (MVD):

MVD concerns the wearing out of the mitral valve that divides the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. Being hereditary, this disease affects smaller breed dogs, for example, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and if not treated results in heart failure.

4. Heartworm Disease:

Also known as cardio-pulmonary parasitic disease, this is transmitted by mosquitoes containing the parasitic worms which affect the lungs and heart thus causing respiratory and cardio-vascular diseases. This condition is manageable, especially through the use of medication but may be fatal if not attended to in good time.

5. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM):

Thus, while HCM is principally a feline disease, it can occasionally be observed in dogs. This disease is characterized by the hypertrophy of the ventricles’ walls of the heart, which limits the ability of the heart to fill with blood and affects circulation. It is relatively rare in dogs but may be seen in specific breeds. This includes difficulty in breathing, light-headedness, and physical weakness during activities such as walking or climbing stairs.

6. Arrhythmias:

Cardiac arrhythmias are abnormal heart rhythms that could occur in any breed and age of dogs. These abnormal rhythms may result in the heart rates going too high, too low, or having an irregular rate. Thus, depending on the degree of deviation, arrhythmias can be tolerable or cause severe consequences, including heart failure. The clinical manifestations include fatigue, syncope, and sudden falls. Treatment may be pharmacological, by means of pacemakers or any other method.

7. Pericardial Disease:

This condition is characterized by the presence of fluids within the sac that surrounds the heart hence causing pressure on the organ and thereby reducing its functionality. The pericardial disorder can be due to infective, neoplastic, or inflammation. These include intolerance to exercise and labored breathing. The management may involve the evacuation of the substance or surgery.

8. Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA):

PDA is a congenital disease characterized by the failure of a vessel that is supposed to shut after birth to do so thereby resulting in wrong blood circulation between the aortal and pulmonary artery. This condition is especially seen in breeds such as Poodles or Pomeranians. PDA may cause heart failure if not treated but surgical intervention to correct the problem is almost always effective.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF HEART DISEASE IN DOGS:

The clinical manifestations of cardiac lesions in dogs may vary and depend on the type and the severity of the disease. However, some common indicators include: 

1. Coughing:

The first symptom that can be linked to the existence of heart disease is a cough with a duration that is constant or recurrent, with the cough occurring after exercising or during the night. It may be caused by the accumulation of fluids in the lungs through pulmonary edema, or through compression of the airways due to congestive cardiac failure.

2. Difficulty Breathing:

Difficulty or shortness of breath is a sign that the heart has difficulty sending blood successfully, causing fluid in the lungs or in the belly (ascites).

3. Fatigue and Weakness:

Heart disease can cause dyspnea in dogs which manifests in signs of fatigue during walks or playtime or discharge of other exercises they used to undertake. They might present steric, or one might observe that they were less active compared to previous days or even weeks.

4. Exercise Intolerance:

A reduced level of activity or reduced ability of your dog to play without getting exhausted is another common sign. Dogs may also show some degree of lack of desire and/or ability to perform physical activities that were previously enjoyed.

5. Fainting (Syncope):

The failure of the heart, most especially during exercise or times of heightened emotion, results in one passing out or collapsing as there is inadequate blood flow to the brain. This is a very dangerous sign which calls for veterinary treatment.

6. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss:

 In some severe forms of heart disease, dogs may even lose interest in foods, resulting in weight loss. This could be due to energy loss, breathing problems, or any small problem that may cause uneasiness.

7.  Restlessness or Anxiety: 

It also has signs that are more frequent in dogs with heart disease, one of which is restlessness, mainly at night. They can barely find a suitable position where dogs are comfortable in, in case there is an accumulation of fluid, or they have breathing complications.

CONCLUSION:

Cardiac diseases in dogs are perilous and ought to be handled with adequate care and through strict monitoring. Understanding the signs presented here and taking your dog to the veterinarian early is a way to make your dog live comfortably. Like in any other case of sickness, prevention is better than cure; therefore, it is recommended to take your dog regularly for checkups, feed him or her a balanced diet and give his or her heartworm medication as a preventive measure.

 It pays to know the most basic forms of heart disease in dogs, this will help in recognizing when trouble is likely to astir. Dogs with suspected heart disease should be taken to the vet so that they can be treated early when options amount to the most and might require investigatory and follow-up tests by a veterinary cardiologist.