Your pet and heart disease
Heart disease is one of the most common illnesses we see in companion animals and all breeds can be affected and the incidence increases dramatically with age. Here’ s what you need to know about your pet’s heart health:
- Large breed dogs (especially Dobermans and Boxers) are predisposed to what is called dilated cardiomyopathy, which means the heart wall gets very weak and doesn’t pump the blood very well. This can be seen in very young dogs and can cause sudden death if left undiagnosed and treated.
- Small breed dogs (e.g. Maltese and Yorkshire Terrier) are more likely to get diseased heart valves when they are older. This is often detected as a heart murmur and can be successfully treated and managed if treated early.
- Cats tend to get hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which means the heart wall thickens and the pumping action of the heart is inefficient.
- Signs of heart disease include exercise intolerance, coughing, difficulty breathing, lethargy, blue gums, cold feet, decreased appetite and fainting. Should your pet show any of those signs please bring them in for a check up as soon as you possibly can.
One of the reasons we recommend annual check ups for your pet is to assess his or her heart. When you bring your pet for vaccination we will always listen to the heart very carefully for changes in the heart rate and rhythm and for murmurs.
Should a problem be detected we often recommend further testing, e.g. x-ray, ECG or an ultrasound of the heart (also called an echocardiogram). The earlier the problem is detected the more effective the treatment and management of the disease so please don’t neglect your pet’s annual check up.
Heart disease doesn’t have to be a death sentence. But early detection is key. Book your pet’s annual check up today.
