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How does the
heart work
?
The heart is a muscle which
pumps blood around the body.
It contracts to pump blood out
from the heart, to the lungs, to
collect oxygen for delivery to
the rest of the tissues within
the body. There are valves
within the heart that ensure
the blood moves in the correct
direction.
What is heart
disease
?
There are several conditions
which make the heart work
less efficiently. The most
common can be divided into
the following 2 groups:
l
Disease
of the heart muscle,
causing it to beat less
effectively.
l
Disease
of the heart valves,
causing them to leak.
Commonly in practice, small
breed dogs are more likely to
develop leaky heart valves due
to degenerative changes.
Whilst cats and large breeds of
dogs are more likely to develop
disease of the heart muscle
(i.e. muscle dysfunction).
Heart disease in animals can
further be described as either
congenital (they are born with
it) or acquired (develops due
to an underlying cause).
Congenital disease is more
commonly seen in younger
animals; whereas acquired
heart disease is generally seen
in older animals.
Acquired heart disease can be
caused by trauma, infection or
degeneration. You may also
hear your vet talking about
congestive heart failure. This
term means that the diseased
heart begins to lose its ability
to pump enough blood to
meet the needs of the body.
Some animals can have very
mild heart disease and are
able to live their whole lives
without any symptoms.
small
talk
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Spotting the
symptoms of
heart disease:
l
Coughing (especially at
night), breathlessness or
difficulty breathing
l
Reluctance to exercise,
lethargic
l
Lack of appetite
l
Gum colour is not the
“normal” pink and may
be white or even blue
l
Swollen abdomen
l
Collapse or hind-limb
weakness
If your pet is showing any
of these symptoms you
should contact your vet
without delay.
By
Petra Ronnegard-Hewitt BVMS MRCVS
Armour Veterinary Group
Treatment options for
heart disease very much
depend on the diagnosis.
There are many treatments
available which each focus
on the underlying cause of
the disease. It is important
to tailor the treatment plan
to the individual animal to
give them the best quality
of life possible.
What happens
next
?
Heart disease is often diagnosed
with radiographs (x-rays),
electrocardiogram (ECG),
echocardiogram (ultrasound of
the heart), as well as a thorough
clinical examination by your vet.