Are there different types of heart disease in dogs?
There are many types of heart disease but the two commonest forms in dogs are: 1) a dog’s heart valves lose their ability to close properly, causing abnormal blood flow, or 2) the muscular walls of a dog’s heart become thinned and weakened. Both of these types develop gradually over time and can result in the same serious condition called heart failure. Heart Failure This is a major threat to your dog’s health and results from the heart’s inability to pump blood at a rate required to meet the body’s needs. While continuing to work harder to pump blood, further heart damage can occur. It is estimated that thousands of dogs in the UK suffer from acquired heart disease at any one time. What are the signs of heart disease in dogs? Although some of the early stages of heart failure in dogs have no visible signs, heart failure can often be diagnosed through a clinical evaluation by a veterinarian. Dogs with mild to moderate heart failure typically experience heart enlargement, with signs of
