Owner’s Guide To Dog Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure is a life-threatening health problem. This disease occurs because something is wrong with the function or structure of your dog’s heart. Here is everything you need to know about dog congestive heart failure.
Forms
Failure comes in two forms. In some cases, the walls become thicker. Thicker walls causes the heart to pump less efficiently. The other form is characterized by the muscles that form the walls stretching thinner. This causes the heart to enlarge.
The left side of the heart will pump blood less efficiently when this happens. The heart will have to work harder to make up for reduced blood pumping efficiency. Once this compensation is no longer enough, dog congestive heart failure results.
Signs
While your dog’s heart is still able to compensate for reduced efficiency, he will show no signs of a problem. The early stages can last for a few months or years. As the disease progresses, he will begin to drool excessively and get tired very easily. He may pant and cough a lot after exercise, or even while resting. The appearance of a bluish tongue and gray membranes in the mouth are common symptoms of heart failure in canines.
Diagnosis
This condition is diagnosed via an electrocardiogram. Any abnormalities in the heart will be detected through the electrocardiogram. Since this condition causes the heart to enlarge, an ultrasound will also be useful. An x-ray of the chest is also commonly done.
Treatment
You will need to limit your dog’s sodium intake and exercise if he is diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He will also need to take medications to increase calcium in the heart muscles. This will help increase pumping efficiency and reduce the heart rate.
Dogs with this condition will also need diuretics. This is due to the fact that the reduced blood flow may cause buildup of fluids in the lungs and abdomen. ACE inhibitors will also help increase efficiency by tightening the blood vessels.
Dogs can be affected by many illnesses in canines. Fortunately for you, you can learn about a wide range of these conditions at dog-illnesses.com. So, stop by today to learn about a wide range of these conditions.
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