Heart Valve Problems In Dogs
Diagnostic tests will help determine what stage your dog is at and can help guide treatment.
Heart valve problems in dogs. Congestive heart failure chf is not a disease itself but rather a stage in the development of other canine heart problems especially chronic valve disease. Heart disease can affect one side of the heart or sometimes both sides. The earliest sign of a leaking mitral valve is normally a heart murmur and eventually congestive heart failure develops. Congenital means that the dog was born with a heart defect.
Valvular heart disease vhd is a condition caused by the breakdown and thickening of the valves of the heart. It is more common in small dogs than large breeds. These signs include tiring quickly increased breathing rate or effort for the level of activity excessive panting and cough especially with activity. In order to understand the impact of this disease we need to look at the anatomy of your pooch s heart.
It is estimated that degenerative valve disease accounts for approximately 75 percent of all heart disease in dogs. One of the most common types of heart disease seen in dogs is degenerative valvular disease where the heart valves become thickened and start to leak causing blood flow to back up. Most dogs with heart failure caused by degenerative valve disease show signs of left sided congestive failure. Your dog s heart like yours is a four chambered pump made of muscle.
It can progress slowly and may take years to spot. Heart disease may lead to congestive heart failure.