Dog Heart Problems

The most common of the dog heart problems is congestive heart failure.

If your dog is coughing, is having trouble breathing, tires easily or is restless, take him to the vet for an exam. The vet will check his color (gums and tongue), listen to his heart and thoroughly give him a physical.

Congestive heart failure has no cure, but it can be managed with diet, medications and rest.

If your dog is obese, this can increase the risk of the disease so diet is a very important part of the treatment.

Heart murmurs are a condition where the valves of the heart are diseased or worn out.

They can be a result from a birth defect or heredity in young dogs. Sometimes the murmur cannot be detected until the dog is 7 years old or older.

Murmurs can cause a condition known as mitral valve disease. It is caused when the valve begins to leak.

It can be caused by infection to the heart or a deformed valve from birth.

Again, your pet may have trouble breathing and a x-ray can show fluid build up in the lungs.

Your vet may prescribe water pills to get rid of the congestion and fluid and medication to strengthen the valve contractions. Also a low salt diet may be in order.

Modern medicine has made great headway in the treatment of heart disease in dogs.

Pacemakers are being used to help dogs with weak hearts. They are used just like human pacemakers and will give the pet years of life with his family.