Canine Cardiac Disease

Canine Cardiac Disease is no barking matter! It is a serious condition that affects more dogs than you think and something as common as a heart murmur can be a red flag for this condition! The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine says that a heart murmur is the result of blood that flows from the heart that is abnormal. Just like with children, some heart murmurs are normal and are harmless. However, some that are often heard in aging dogs, may be the sign of some type of coronary disease.

There are three common types of cardiac disease: Congential Birth Defects that are detected when a puppy is young, Degenerative valve disease (heart valve leaks) that mostly affect older or middle-aged dogs, and Loss of heart muscle tissue that is typically seen in young dogs or middle-aged larger dog breeds. Detecting the disease requires you, the responsible pet owner, to be on the look out for certain signs such as difficulty in breathing, coughing, intolerance to exercise, and a swollen abdomen caused by fluid retention. Your vet should be able to diagnose as well as check your dog\'s murmur with a stethoscope. You will need to always make sure you keep your dog going for regular check-ups and alert your vet should you notice any of these early symptoms.

Canine Cardiac Disease (CCD) can also be further checked by information such as breed type, age, chest x-rays, blood pressure measurements, and EKG readings. For a definitive diagnosis, an ultrasound of your dog\'s heart is required. In most cases, CCD can be treated if detected early! If you have a puppy that has a birth defect usually surgery can eliminate the problem. When heart disease is detected later in life, be ready for a whole lifestyle change and overhaul! You will need to make sure your dog maintains a healthy weight, exercise changes(more or less depending on your dog\'s condition), special cardiac diets, and specific medications your vet will give you to give your dog to reduce stress on your dog due to their condition. For dogs that have been caught early can have a great prognosis with successful long term care. However, some dogs are not lucky, because their condition is either severe or their CCD has been detected too late.

Their prognosis can be as little as a few weeks. The healthier foods and exercise and care you give your dog, the chances of them getting Canine Cardiac Disease is lessened. The earlier it is detected the greater chance of them surviving is increased! The more regular check-ups(this doesn\'t mean get paranoid and take your dog every week, regular visits are just fine) or immediate visits should you notice symptoms and your dog\'s over all health is more improved than that of owners who neglect these early signs or ignore regular vet visits. You owe it to your 4-legged friend and yourself to take care of the heart both emotionally and physically!