What Causes Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs?
Treatment of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in dogs is usually best with a prescribed cocktail of medications. These prescribed medications may include digitalis, diuretics and ace inhibitors. Digitalis, when prescribed, will increase the calcium concentration located in the cells of the dog’s heart and forces cardiac contractions while slowing the dog’s heart rate. Diuretic, when prescribed, will remove fluids that have collected in the dog’s lungs and abdomen when there is a sluggish blood flow. Ace inhibitors, when prescribed, will decrease chemicals responsible for the tightening of blood vessels, which allows the dog’s blood to flow more smoothly and the dog’s heart to pump this blood more easily and efficiently. Also, the vet may prescribe Mexiletine to treat the dog’s irregular or abnormal heart beat. The dog may also be put on a low sodium diet as part of its treatment.
