Some pet owners are quite familiar with it but most don’t even know that it’s such a big issue with pets. I’m talking, of course, about heart problems (sometimes also called cardiac disease).
Pets can get a variety of heart diseases. They can be born with heart problems (congenital heart disease) or develop heart disease as they age. The problem can be due to one of the heart valves malfunctioning, infections or a problem with the heart muscle itself.
Symptoms will vary depending on the underlying problem, but commonly include:
• Slowing down - an inability or lack of desire to exercise
• Breathing heavy or being "short of breath" with normal activities
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Many pets will lose weight
Figuring out what exactly is going on with your dog’s heart seems overwhelming, but several tests can be done to help determine the underlying problem. Some of the tests include:
• General physical examination with emphasis on stethoscope examination (auscultation) of the heart and lungs
• A chest radiograph (X-ray)
• Measurement of blood pressure
• An electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Ultrasound examination of the heart (echocardiogram)
If you see any of these signs in your dog, please call your veterinarian immediately.
Wed Apr 17, 2013 4:51 pm
