Vet speak By Alison Laurie-Chalmers: Important to get to the heart of a very serious problem
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“Bunty” was a beautiful, gentle, six-year-old Newfoundland dog. She was brought into the clinic for a check-up as her owners had noted her lagging back on her usual walks, and she was becoming more and more breathless.
On her examination, I noted that her heart sounds were clearly abnormal, she had a chaotic heart rhythm, her heart sounds were also muffled, and her lungs sounded harsh. Poor “Bunty” looked miserable and exhausted, her gums were paler in colour than normal, and she was panting excessively. I advised that she have some urgent tests and a heart work-up, to establish the cause of these findings.
The heart is the “pump” that transports blood which is rich in oxygen and nutrients to the cells and organs of the body and so provides them with the energy that they need to function properly, healthily, and efficiently. If your pet’s heart is not working properly, then a general poor blood circulation will result, and the whole body can then be seriously affected.
Heart disease is commonly encountered in dogs. There are many potential causes of canine heart disease, and, depending on the severity of the disease, any form of heart disease can ultimately lead to heart failure.
Heart disease in dogs can be congenital or acquired. Congenital heart disease is present at birth, and it may or may not be inherited from the pup’s parents. Acquired heart disease occurs most often because of “wear and tear” on the heart structures, due to disease and a weakness of the heart muscle and may also occur because of injury or infection. Middle-aged to older dogs most often suffer from acquired heart disease.
There are several types of heart defects that can cause congenital heart disease, which is present from birth in puppies. These are often found in puppies that do not grow or thrive as expected. If you feel your pup is not growing well, or he is quiet and not keen to play or interact normally, then do take him to your vet for a check-up.
Acquired canine heart disease can take many forms. Valvular heart disease can affect any breed of dog, but this is particularly common in small breed dogs, and is predilected in certain breeds e.g., Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The mitral valve is the valve most affected, but other valves of the heart may be affected as well. Myocardial diseases, also known as cardiomyopathies, affect the muscle of the heart. Cardiomyopathies are commonly diagnosed in large breed dogs. Cardiac arrhythmias are abnormal heart beats or heart rhythms. These arrythmias result from disease that affects the electrical system that regulates the heart and makes it beat properly. Pericardial disease affects the pericardium of the heart, which is the sac that surrounds the heart. When the pericardium becomes diseased, it can restrict the heart resulting in the heart being unable to beat properly. Injuries to the heart, infections, and cancers of the heart can also cause acquired heart disease.
Many of these causes of heart diseases can have very similar symptoms. If your dog has heart disease and heart failure, he may display one or more of the following signs: Breathlessness (shortness of breath, rapid breathing, laboured breathing with increased effort, panting more); Coughing (generally described as a “retch” or a “gag” - type cough); Exercise intolerance (a reduced ability to exercise /lagging back on walks or sitting down on walks); General lethargy and tiredness; Weight loss despite a normal food intake; Pale gums ; An enlarged distended abdomen ; Fainting or collapsing episodes on exercise or when excited.
If you feel that your dog has a poor exercise tolerance or if he has a retching cough or breathlessness during or after play or exercise, please do contact your vet for an appointment for a heart check, as there are some medications which may help your pet, particularly if he does have acquired heart disease. Ideally, a proper diagnosis is necessary to treat heart disease adequately and correctly. After definitive tests and a confirmed diagnosis, in certain cases specific tailored treatments can improve blood circulation, correct an over accumulation of fluid in the lungs and body, improve the contraction of the heart and protect the heart and blood vessels and body systems against further damage that poor heart function can cause. It is also recommended that heart patients avoid any intense physical effort, are protected from heat and stress, and avoid any excessive weight gain and are fed an appropriate, advised diet. Your Vet will be able to advise you on any changes in his lifestyle ahead.
Sadly lovely “Bunty” was diagnosed with an acquired heart condition called Dilated Cardiomyopathy, or DCM which had affected her heart muscle. She would need regular check-ups and daily medications to stabilise her. These vital medications would be continued for the rest of her life now, to assist her heart function and allow her to breathe more easily and hopefully have the energy now to have a reasonable quality of life.
If you are at all concerned about your dog and you think that he may be displaying one or more of these noted clinical symptoms of heart failure, then do contact your Vet for an initial consultation and a general examination and heart check -up.
If cardiac disease is diagnosed and can be treated appropriately, your dog will hopefully have a better quality of life and a longer time with you.
• Alison Laurie-Chalmers is a senior consultant at Crown Vets.
