Pet Heart Health

Heart Health in Pets

Heart disease affects roughly 1 in 10 dogs and 1 in 15 cats during their lifespans.  While congenital heart disease is possible, the incidence of heart disease increases as pets age.  Other risk factors include obesity, dental disease, eating grain free diets, advanced age and breed/genetic risks. Regular veterinary visits are crucial to diagnosing heart disease in our pets, but you can watch for signs of heart disease at home, too.

A heart murmur is one of the first signs of heart disease in pets and is often heard on routine exam.  A murmur does not always indicate serious disease and pets with heart disease do not always progress to heart failure, but knowing your pet has a murmur and knowing what signs to watch for can keep pets feeling good for the long haul.

The most common heart disease in cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in which the heart muscle becomes thickened and does not pump efficiently.  Sadly, many cats with HCM do not have an audible heart murmur or display early symptoms.  Cats with HCM may experience a serious complication in which a clot is ejected from the heart and lodges in the aorta causing blood flow to be cut off from the hind legs leading to hind limb paralysis.  Sudden death from heart disease is also possible. 

Coughing due to heart disease is less common in cats, but

symptoms of heart disease in cats may include:

• Poor appetite
• Difficulty breathing or rapid breathing
• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Exercise intolerance
• Collapsing episodes 

The most common form of heart disease in dogs is mitral valve disease in which the mitral valve within the heart becomes thickened and fails to close properly. A heart murmur is common with mitral valve disease. Dogs can also develop a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy which is due developing a weak, flabby heart muscle.

Symptoms of heart disease in dogs can include:

• Coughing
• Exercise intolerance
• Difficulty breathing
• Weight loss
• Changes in heart rate
• Loss of appetite
• Abdominal distension
• Fainting or collapse

Diagnosis of heart disease may include: hearing a murmur on physical exam, checking blood pressure, chest x-rays, and an ECG reading.  But the definitive diagnostic test is usually an echocardiogram or ultrasound of the heart to look at the heart structure and function.  A blood test called NT-proBNP may also be used to screen for and to differentiate respiratory disease from heart disease by measuring proteins that increase when stretch and damage to the heart muscle occurs.

Many forms of heart disease can be treated with a variety of medications to improve heart function and reduce pulmonary edema. Early detection and regular veterinary visits are key to making sure your pet stays healthy for as long as possible.

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://www.cvcavets.com/blog/10-signs-of-heart-disease-in-dogs-and-cats

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/pets-get-heart-disease-too