Heart Disease
There are several common breed related heart problems in dogs. They generally occur later in life and can be well treated. Signs that may indicate your dog has a heart problem include; exercise intolerance, coughing, in-appetence, weight loss, drinking more, collapsing, abdominal distension and difficulty breathing.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
This is a condition mainly seen in large breed dogs including Labradors, Great Dane's, Irish Wolfhounds, Dobermans and Bernese mountain dogs. Unfortunately the form seen in Dobermans can be severe and rapidly fatal in fairly young dogs of the breed. Recent genetic research and breed tests are trying to eliminate the disease from the breed.
The disease results from an enlargement of the heart chambers, which in turn reduce the pumping ability of the heart. Long term changes lead to a heart that fibrillates - it struggles to contract enough to push blood through the body and so eventually fails. Again it can be treated and a prompt diagnosis gives a much better long term outlook.
The most common symptoms include; an unwillingness to exercise, episodes of collapse, coughing, in-appetence and abdominal distension.
Diagnosis is by Clinical examination, ECG recording, Cardiac ultrasound and X-rays.
Treatment is to slow the heart, improve contractility and reduce remodelling of the heart. The most commonly used treatments include;
- Frusemide - a water tablet that will remove any excess fluid from the body and reduce the load on the heart.
- Spironolactone - again a tablet that will help reduce the load on the heart and stop it remodelling.
- Vetmedin - will help the heart contract.
- Digoxin - again used to help the heart contract well
- ACE inhibitors to redue sodium retention and reduce the load on the heart.
A heart diet will also be beneficial as it will have a restricted salt content.
Mitral Valve Disease
This is most common in small breed dogs such as Shi Tzu's and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
What happens? The valve on the left side of the heart becomes thickened by a degenerative process which causes the blood flow through the left side of the heart to become turbulent. It can occur on the right side also and as the heart changes to cope with this turbulent blood flow heart failure will result.
How is it treated?
Treatment involves reducing the amount of pressure on the heart and increasing its pumping power. To reduce the load on the heart we use Frusemide which reduces the amount of blood volume there is and can also help remove any build up of fluid in the chest or abdomen. Your Vet may also prescribe an ACE inhibitor such as Benazepril (Fortekor), this, acts on the kidney to help reduce blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and reducing sodium retention. Dependent on the stage of heart failure another drug called Pimobenden (Vetmedin) may be used. This increases the pumping power of the heart and also has some effect to dilate blood vessels and reduce the load on the heart.
