- \n
- Cough<\/li>\n
- Labored breathing<\/li>\n
- Blue gums and tongue<\/li>\n
- Fatique and lethargy<\/li>\n
- Poor exercise tolerance, tires easily<\/li>\n
- Weight loss<\/li>\n
- Reduced appetite and increased thirst<\/li>\n
- Bloated abdomen<\/li>\n
- Fainting<\/li>\n
- In anemia: pale gums, or yellowing of gums and whites of eyes, fatique, black feces, blood in urine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Congenital Heart Defect<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
Sometimes a puppy’s heart does\u2028 not develop normally in the womb, \u2028leading to congenital defects (present from birth). One of the most common of such disorders is called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Before a puppy is born, its blood bypasses the lungs through a channel (called the ductus arteriosus) running between the pulmonary artery and the aorta.<\/p>\n
In PDA, the channel does not close as it should soon after birth, and normal circulation is disrupted. The defect is heard through a stethoscope as a murmur, or \u2028blurring of the clear “lub-dub” sounds of a normal heartbeat.<\/p>\n
PDA is confirmed with radiography, ultrasound scanning, and ECG; in most cases the problem can be surgically corrected.<\/p>\n
Heart valve defects also give rise to murmurs. It is not always possible to correct such defects surgically, and congestive heart failure may develop later.<\/p>\n
Congestive Heart Failure<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
In this
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disorder, the heart fails to pump efficiently. A common cause of congestive heart failure in old dogs is a diseased heart valve. Your vet may detect a murmur before a problem becomes apparent, and might not happen in your dog’s lifetime.<\/p>\nEarly signs of congestive heart failure are typically a reduced ability to exercise, with panting and breathlessness. In the later stages, a cough develops, often at night and early in the morning, and the dog loses weight and has a reduced appetite but an increased thirst.<\/p>\n
His abdomen may swell with fluid, making him look pot-bellied. Diagnostic tests for congestive heart failure include ultrasound scan, X-rays, ECG, and blood tests.<\/p>\n
Treatment includes drugs, a prescription diet, and weight management, and surgery for an underlying cause may be possible.<\/p>\n
Dilated Cardiomyopathy<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
This condition especially affects Boxers<\/em><\/span><\/a>, Dobermans<\/em><\/span><\/a>, and Great Danes<\/em><\/span><\/a>. The heart is unable to contract properly and there may be a disordered heart rhythm, resulting in weakness, difficulty breathing, a cough, fainting, loss of appetite, and weight loss.<\/p>\n
Blood Disorders<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
Dogs can be affected by various blood abnormalities, one of the most common of which is anemia. In this condition, the blood has a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity because of either insufficient red blood cells or a low concentration of the oxygen-carrying pigment hemoglobin.<\/p>\n
Types of anemia include an immune system disorder called immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, and iron-deficiency anemia, which could be caused, for example, by bleeding from a stomach ulcer, and is indicated by a dog passing dark feces. Treatment of anemia depends on the underlying cause.<\/p>\n
Clotting disorders are often inherited, but can be an effect of eating rat poison.<\/p>\n
Caring for a Dog With Heart Condition<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n
The key to caring for a dog with a heart condition<\/em><\/a> is to let him take life at his own pace, avoiding undue stress\u2014which may mean leading a quieter life yourself. Exercise should be short and gentle, perhaps in the yard, so that he can stop and rest when he wants.<\/p>\n
