FAQ's

What Is Congestive Heart Failure?
Heart disease refers to a condition where there is an abnormality of the heart. Heart failure exists when the heart is no longer able to meet the circulatory needs of the body. Signs of heart failure include cough, edema, and rapid breathing. Signs of heart failure may be more pronounced in active animals as they are more likely to place a demand on their cardiovascular systems whereas the problem may go undetected in more sedentary pets.

The severity of heart failure is often staged, using the following guideline:

• Asymptomatic: Heart disease may be detectable in the pet but there are no outward signs. A cardiac murmur or arrhythmia may be present.

• Mild to moderate heart failure: Clinical signs of heart failure are in evidence at rest or with mild exercise.

• Advanced heart failure: Critical clinical signs, such as respiratory distress, ascites (fluid in the body cavity), and profound exercise intolerance, are in evidence.

With each advancing stage, the prognosis worsens and the need for treatment increases.

What Is Heart Disease?
Cardiovascular disease is an important health problem that we share with our pets, typically starting in middle age. Unlike people, however, dogs and cats do not really have heart attacks. According to veterinary cardiologists, this is because dogs and cats metabolize the fats in their diets differently than we do, and as a result, do not develop plaque on the walls of their coronary arteries. On the other hand, many humans with heart valve problems, or murmurs, can live long and healthy lives, but heart valve problems in pets can be quite serious. In dogs in particular, valve problems are frequently degenerative and can lead to congestive heart failure, a state in which the heart’s output is insufficient to meet the body’s metabolic needs. Certain breeds are also prone to congenital, or inherited, heart disease. There are many types of heart diseases in dogs and cats, which are usually broken down into two large categories: congenital heart disease and acquired. Congenital heart diseases are cardiac abnormalities that animals are born with. Acquired heart diseases are those that develop at some point during a pet’s life. Early detection and treatment of these and other cardiovascular problems, can help slow the course of the disease and allow your pet a very high quality of life. The majority of patients with heart disease usually have few or no symptoms of their problem until late in the course of their disease. That is why regular wellness exams are so important for the early detection of cardiovascular disease in order to ensure the best prognosis possible.

 

What is Chronic Valve Disease?
Chronic Value Disease (CVD), or endocardiosis, is a group of diseases characterized by degeneration and fibrosis of the heart’s mitral and/or tricuspid valves. It most commonly affects the mitral valve in dogs, cats, and horses. It is less common in cats, but occurs more commonly in the smaller dog breeds, particularly the miniature poodle, Shetland sheepdog, dachshund, and cocker spaniel.

What is Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
While valve disease is the more common heart ailment in smaller breeds of dogs, larger breeds are more prone to suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy involves the dilation and thinning of the heart’s chambers, which can lead to lowered heart function and, eventually, congestive heart failure.

What Is Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy?
The most common heart disease in cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a heart muscle disease in which the walls of the heart, specifically the left ventricle, become abnormally thickened. As the disease progresses, it alters the structure of the heart and impairs its function. It is a potentially serious disease that is found in cats of all ages. A cat that seems healthy can suddenly become very ill or even die. There currently is no cure, although there are medications veterinarians can prescribe to help alleviate the symptoms.
 

What Is A Heart Murmur?
A heart murmur is a sound caused by turbulence in the blood flow. Murmurs can occur if valves in the heart are leaking, either due to congenital problems or age related changes. Murmurs are graded according to severity. Mild murmurs, especially in older dogs, may not require treatment.

What Is Pericardial Effusion?
This is a buildup of fluid in the membranous sac surrounding the heart. This can be caused by various types of heart tumors although, in many cases, no apparent cause can be found. If a large amount of fluid is present, it can compress the heart and prevent it from working properly. Heart sounds will be muffled and, on x-rays, the heart may appear balloon-like due to the presence of the fluid.
 

What Can Be Done if My Pet Has A Heart Problem?
Many of the same types of diagnostic tools and treatment options that are used to help keep human heart patients alive and healthy are also available to pets. For example, sophisticated diagnostic options (see box below) can help determine whether heart problems are present and, if so, assess their severity. Depending on your pet’s particular problem, cardiac catheterization, angioplasty, pacemaker implantation, and cardiac surgery to repair heart defects have all become relatively commonplace. In addition, many of the medications used in pets are similar to those that are also used in humans.

Will My Regular Veterinarian Still Be Involved?
In most cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet’s veterinary care. In other cases, your referral doctor may take over the majority of your pet’s medical care. It depends on your pet’s particular disease and condition.
 

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