Canine Heart Disease: A Silent Killer
By Susan McCullough
On a percentage basis, more dogs than people suffer from heart disease. According to Novartis Animal Health, a Switzerland-based healthcare company, 25 percent of dogs over the age of seven have the most extreme form of heart disease -- heart failure. By contrast, the National Institutes of Health estimates that only 6.4 percent of men and 2.5 percent of women between the ages of 65 and 74 suffered from the same condition between 1998 and 2002 (the most recent period for which such data is available).
While both dogs and people can get heart disease, the reasons they acquire these conditions differ. "With human beings, it's a matter of lifestyle -- putting on weight, not eating properly and not exercising," explains Dr. Deborah Fine, assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine. "With dogs, what we see is mostly caused by genetics or breed susceptibility."
Common Canine Heart Diseases and Their Symptoms
The two most prevalent canine heart diseases -- dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mitral valve disease -- are believed to be at least partially hereditary.
DCM and mitral valve disease cripple the heart in different ways. DCM causes a swelling of one of the heart's lower chambers, which are called ventricles. The left ventricle is affected more often than the right. "The ventricle changes from a football shape to a basketball shape," explains Dr. Fine. "This weakens the ability of the heart to pump blood. The heart becomes large and flabby and beats weakly."
Mitral valve disease attacks the valves that serve as doorways between the heart's upper chambers, which are called atria, and the ventricles. The valves deteriorate to the point that they don't close completely. This failure to close allows some blood in the ventricle to flow back to the atrium instead of out from the heart to the rest of the body the way it's supposed to do. Consequently, the heart must work harder than normal to pump enough blood to meet the dog's needs.
With either condition, a dog may not show outward symptoms for years. Eventually, though, the dog shows signs that all is not well. Those signs can include:
- Lethargy
- Appetite loss
- Coughing, especially during exercise or excitement
- Gasping for breath
- Fainting or collapsing
- Gradual abdominal swelling
Although these signs can signify the onset of heart failure, they also mimic other conditions. For example, if the left side of the heart fails, fluid backs up into the lungs, but other conditions can do that too. That's why a dog with these symptoms needs a thorough examination with appropriate testing. "You need a chest X-ray to confirm left-side heart failure," says Dr. Fine. "Fluid in the lungs could also be pneumonia, bronchitis or a fibrosis of the lungs."
At-Risk Breeds
Due to inherited genes and as a consequence of breeding, DCM usually affects large or giant breeds, especially:
- Doberman Pinschers
- Great Danes
- German Shepherds
- Irish Wolfhounds
- Mastiffs
Mitral valve disease, again due to genetics and breeding, affects a disproportionate number of small breeds, including:
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
- Chihuahuas
- Miniature Poodles
- Toy Poodles
- Maltese
- Bichon Frises
- Beagles
- West Highland White Terriers
Both diseases generally strike dogs in mid-life or later, except for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which can show signs of mitral valve disease at just 2 years of age.
Helping Your Dog
If your dog is one of the more susceptible breeds, expert monitoring from an early age is a good idea. For example, some experts believe that every Doberman Pinscher over the age of one year should receive an annual electrocardiogram because DCM is especially prevalent in that breed. Similarly, other experts recommend that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels receive yearly screenings for mitral valve disease. Such monitoring won't prevent either condition, but it can lead to earlier, more aggressive treatment that can improve a dog's quality of life, and may even lengthen it. "With heart disease, it's not just about living longer, it's about living better," says Dr. Fine.
You can help your dog live better too. In addition to aggressive monitoring for early detection, good home care can keep a dog comfortable longer. If heart failure hasn't occurred, "Keep your dog active, maintain a healthy diet and a healthy weight," suggests Dr. Fine. "Excess weight makes the heart work harder."
Treatment Options
Once a dog has been diagnosed with heart failure, treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and the condition's progression. A veterinarian may start treatment by prescribing a diuretic to reduce the dog's fluid level and an ACE inhibitor, which levels blood pressure, to help the diuretic work better. A dog with right-side heart failure may also undergo abdominocentisis, a procedure in which the veterinarian inserts a needle into the abdomen to withdraw excess fluid. A dog with DCM may be prescribed medications to help the heart contract more normally.
Because these conditions aren't curable, owners may question whether treatment is worthwhile. Dr. Fine responds, "I always encourage people to try therapy (treatment) because the medications can help their dogs return to their old selves. Give it a few weeks -- the vast majority of dogs do much better."
About The Author
Susan McCullough is the author of Housetraining for Dummies, Senior Dogs for Dummies and Beagles for Dummies.
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7 Reader Comments | Add a comment
i brought my maltese up to emergncy care and at firts he listend to his heart and he said he had a hart murmur. I brought him him bcasue he was coughing weird and not eating any of his hard food or cookies. He first told me he was taking blood and a few xrays then he cam ein and said his heart wa beating very fast becasue he would not let him take a xray so he wanted to sedate him in which i was concerned of because he is 11 and they gave him 50 mg of morphine. he told me he had to stay over night and of course the bill went from 400.to 900...which is fine if he really needed to stay over BUT i think he just ripped me off for 900 dollars . my dogs blood work came out fine amazinly as he said...Its so sad that they take advantage of pople that are so worried about there animlas
love is anywhear
My Japanese Chin male just died from DCM which he had for over 3 years. He was on a diuretic and increasing doses of an ACE. My boy was 12 years old. DCM is a terrible disease just like it is in humans. I don't know why some get it and others don't but it is universally fatal. You can extend the life of your pet with careful monitoring of symptoms, regular vet care and a healthy diet and activity level. You really need to be in tune with your pet to know when and if he's fatigued, when to adjust doses of medications, etc.
My baby, Britney, is 7 years old and has just been diagnosed with an enlarged heart.She is on meds but I am wondering what her life expectancy might be.I know it will be just a guess but I need to hear something.Thank you.
I adopted a Jack Russell / Bassett Hound mix last year, he is 3 years old now, and was just diagnosed with an enlarged heart. Jax just finished heart worm treatment as he was diagnosed as heart worm positive in February. (the vet believes he must have been biten by something before his adoption, as his test the shelter did was negative, and I had him on preventative for the year!) I took him back to the vet on April 21 for his final heart worm test that was negative, but the tech drew the blood and read the results, as a Dr. was not in that morning. Jax had a small lump on his side that I was concerned about so I asked to have another appt with the vet, we went back on that following Saturday, they believe the lump is from the injection, but in talking to him, I said I was also concerned as he has been getting winded on walks, and still sleeping an awful lot for such a youngster, the Doctor decided to do a chest x-ray which revealed the enlarged heart. I am scared to death for this little one! He started the medication on saturday, and we have to go back for an ultrasound in two weeks, I just would like any info about what his quality of life will be like? and how much exercise is good or bad??? Thank you!
hi i have two dogs one sadlay paste away a year in june the one thates left hase a bade heare two she wase really bade pasing blude in here stool she keeps thinking i will give here a row but she is ill and not here falte we get dogs thay give us love and companionship all there lives so do we not tacke care off them my furst dog jasper paste at15years off age i walk a nuther dog for a laday with altimers she was pout in two a home so jaspe and i took here home with us we hade here for three years but she hade cancer and i hade two get here pout two sleep jasper after thate when i took him out barked till i brot him home all the time so i sed to my frend i will have to get a nuther dog as in his waye he wase telling me he miss her so my pale got me a toy poould as i only have a smalle flate not fair two big dogs the poould oner hade goninto a home as she hade athris mitzy went two three difrent homes as she wase being notay and doing number2think she thot if i am nottay i will be sent home but she came two live with jasper and me insted i did know wate i wase tacking on but it didnt matter two me i understood wate wase rong but now eight years on and nursing two throw this condishon still dusint bother me i have hade grate fun and enyoment from my two companins i still have mitzay some days i think how am i gowing two get this med in here as she is not eating then at three she get to be a difrent dog playing ball and beeng a pup agen so as i sed at the biging threr wase blud in here stool and she wase so fragil looking after a nuther bout dermont the vet sed its about time so my frend how got my mitzay in the furst plase is the one ho dusint want me two do it but to see my we pall go thow it allagen isint beeing fare i have to do it for hir i have two be humain as and strong for mitzay as much as i love her i love hir two much two see hur suffer enay more so if she hase a nuther bout we will see its not esay but woodent we wish the same? janettee go to canda soon and i feel thate we have hade a grate time all off us time is a grate healler and we do find the stren to go no all the veray best tinking off you c ps i have fond three years on med .
My dog Scooter is a 16.5 year old Chihuahua. He's been on heart medication Enalapril for the last 3 years. He'd occasionally have boughts of coughing,which we knew was a result of his condition,but generally had been leading a normal,happy semi active life. About 3 weeks ago however,over a weekend he began to have coughing fit's and his breathing became labored. My husband and I also noticed when we'd carry him that his heart was pounding hard in his chest. I took him to our Vet and he did an EKG and CXR which showed an enlarged heart with a bit of fluid in his lungs. His heart is so enlarged now that he hardly has any lung space left,poor buddy. We've been diligent with regular Vet care and med's,as a matter of fact his last EKG in December showed an improvement. Anyway, his Vet upped his heart medication adding a diuretic to remove the fluid from his lungs. His breathing has improved, although thus far ( 2 weeks in ) he has good days and bad.His heart isn't pouning hard either. His energy level has been way down tho, understandiby so. I'd like to have him on oxygen therepy when he need's it, like they would give a human in this condition. He obviously has reduced oxygen levels so I'm going to present this to the Vet at this weeks appointment,we'll see how that goes over. He does seem much better today, but was eh yesterday so as I said,some day's are good and some not so good, all in all though he's improved since they upped his heart medication and added the diuretic. I love this dog and it's sad to see the change in him. He'll tire easily when I take him out and we usually carry him back inside,He sit's down in the grass alot and seems to take in his surroundings,listening to the birds and watching the bunnies and squrrels dart by. The old Scooter wound bound after them, but not anymore, it's almost as if he know's he's at the end of his life and as I said, is taking it all in.
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