One of the leading causes of heart failure in dogs is a condition known as chronic valvular disease. This is followed in prevalence by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, heartworm disease, and congenital heart disease.
Chronic valvular disease affects 20-40% of dogs and it is most often seen in the toy and smaller breed dogs like Miniature and Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas, Lhasa Apsos, Yorkshire terriers, Schnauzers, and Cocker spaniels.
This disease is characterized by degenerative changes in the valves of the heart with the most commonly affected valve being the Mitral valve. The valves becomes thickened and distorted so it can no longer work effectively and essentially the blood can flow freely between different chambers of the heart. This results in the heart not being able to pump blood efficiently. This results in an enlargement of the heart and loud murmur over the chest.
Clinical signs of this condition include a dry hacking cough, exercise intolerance, lethargy, becoming easily tired, and fainting spells.
This condition is most commonly diagnosed by the use of x-rays, ECG, and echocardiograms. The veterinarian can also listen with a stethoscope to hear a heart murmur as well.
Most dogs with this condition will not show any symptoms for many years until this condition has progressed. Treatment is ideally started when the dog starts to show the first clinical signs which are coughing and easily tiring.
The prognosis for this disease is guarded and depends greatly on the general health and the age of the dog and how the dog responds to medical treatment.
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