Heart Disease in Dogs

Heart disease in dogs doesn’t mean a single disease of the heart. Instead, it refers to different congenital and acquired heart diseases in dogs. The two most common heart diseases in dogs are mitral valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Other less common heart diseases include pericardial disease, arrhythmia, heartworm disease, cardiac shunts, and stenosis. These heart diseases lead to congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs.

In this article, I’ll guide you about the types, causes, signs and symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and best treatment options available.

Heart Disease in Dogs

The heart is one of the most important organs of the body. If the heart gets any disease, it becomes unable to pump the blood to the body effectively, which can lead to many other issues. Some heart diseases are congenital (transferred from parents), and their signs can even appear in puppies and young dogs. While many of the acquired (developed during lifetime) heart diseases usually affect old dogs.

Some of the heart diseases are curable, while many of them are not completely curable. In many case, only treat the symptoms of dogs to help them live a healthy and happy life for months to years. Some dog breeds are more prone to heart diseases, and specific dog foods have also been linked to heart diseases in dogs (more on that later).

What Causes Heart Disease in Dogs?

There is no single cause of heart disease in dogs. Aging is one of the most common reasons for dog heart disease. Overweight dogs are also at a greater risk of heart disease.

Other causes of heart disease include congenital, breed predisposition, diet, and parasites like heartworm. Let’s have a detailed look at each one of these.

Congenital

Many heart diseases, such as patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect, pulmonic stenosis, subaortic stenosis, and mitral stenosis, are congenital (acquired by birth). Genetics plays a significant role in heart diseases related to dogs. You should always buy a pet from a responsible breeder who tests the dogs for genetic heart conditions. However, many congenital heart issues can be corrected by surgery in dogs.

Breed

Some dog breeds are at a greater risk of heart disease. For example, heart valve disease mostly affects small dog breeds that are five years or older. Dog breeds at a greater risk of heart disease include Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Miniature and Toy Poodles, Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, golden retrievers, and Miniature Schnauzers.

Heartworm Parasite

Adult heartworms can cause heartworm disease in dogs. This disease can be prevented and is curable. However, it can disturb your dog’s quality of life because even after treatment, the signs of this disease may not go until six weeks after treatment.

Diet

Diet is also an important cause of heart problems in dogs. Studies show that dogs who are fed taurine (an amino acid) deficient diets are at a greater risk of reversible dilated cardiomyopathy. Some breeds, like golden retrievers, require more taurine in their diet.

Another study shows that there could be a link between dilated cardiomyopathy and boutique, exotic-ingredient, and grain-free diets. However, it needs more research.

Lee&Pol offers the best treats for your dog’s heart health by combining dried pollock, rich in amino acids beneficial for the heart, with beets that support cardiovascular health!

Types of Heart Disease in Dogs

There are two main types of heart disease in dogs: one is congenital (any abnormality by birth), and the other one is acquired. Let’s have a look at different heart diseases in dogs:

1. Heart Valve Disease

Valvular diseases are the ones in which the heart valves leak and do not function properly, leading to other issues for dogs. There are four heart valves in the dog’s heart. When a dog is born with an abnormality in a heart valve or heart valves become damaged, the blood flow through the heart becomes turbulent. This results in heart murmurs and leads to congestive heart failure (reduced ability of a dog’s heart to pump blood to the body) in the long run.

One of the most common heart diseases in dogs is mitral valve degeneration, which generally affects small dog breeds and senior dogs.

2. Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Another most common heart disease in dogs is dilated cardiomyopathy. This is a disease of the heart muscles in which the heart muscles degenerate and become thin. This decreases the heart muscles’ ability to contract and pump blood throughout the body.

Dilated cardiomyopathy also leads to congestive heart failure in the long run. This disease is irreversible but can be managed with medications. Dilated cardiomyopathy is common in Doberman Pinschers, Boxers, Great Danes, and German Shepherds.

3. Pericardial Disease

The pericardium is a sac around your dog’s heart that provides lubrication and prevents the heart from injury when it moves. When the pericardium gets filled with too much fluid, it’s called pericardial disease. This increased pressure due to fluid buildup decreases the ability of a dog’s heart to pump blood effectively.

The pericardial disease causes swelling of the jugular veins and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Your dog may experience increased respiratory rate, vomiting, and weakness.

4. Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia means the abnormality of the rate or regularity of the heart rhythm. A too-slow, too fast, or irregular heart rhythm makes it difficult for a dog’s heart to pump blood effectively to different organs, including the brain, and may result in sudden death. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is required to determine the cause of arrhythmia. Arrhythmias are usually common in older Miniature Schnauzers.

5. Heartworm Disease

Heartworm disease is a fatal but treatable and preventable heart disease in dogs. Heartworm larvae are transmitted through infected mosquito bites, and they grow into adult heartworms in the host dog. Adult heartworms reside in vessels serving the lungs and heart, and sometimes, they even reside in heart chambers. They inflame the vessels and sometimes block blood flow.

Signs of the heartworm disease include fainting, coughing, nose bleeding, exercise intolerance, blue discoloration of the gums, spitting up blood, and the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

Heartworm treatment can kill the heartworms, but dead heartworms are also an issue. Dead heartworms can cause severe respiratory problems, including coughing, spitting up blood, rapid breathing, lethargy, lack of appetite, and fever.

So, I recommend reduce dog’s activity after heartworm treatment, as it can help reduce these symptoms. These post-treatment issues occur until six weeks after treatment.

6. Cardiac Shunts

Cardiac shunts are the abnormal openings between the chambers of the heart. There might be some extracardiac shunts in some dogs that allow abnormal blood flow between the body and the lungs.

There are two types of cardiac shunts: patent ductus arteriosus and ventricular septal defect. Both are congenital.

7. Stenosis

Another congenital heart disease in dogs is stenosis, which means being born with narrow valves. Stenosis in dogs includes pulmonic stenosis, subaortic stenosis, and mitral stenosis. Medications and surgeries are used to treat stenosis.

8. Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs (CHF)

Heart failure means the decreased or inability of a dog’s heart to pump blood effectively to the body. Congestive heart failure occurs because of different underlying heart diseases. Heart failure and congestive heart failure are two different things. In heart failure, the heart becomes unable to supply enough oxygenated blood to the body. In congestive heart failure, blood usually dams up in the lungs but can also accumulate in other body organs. This leads to swelling of that congested organ and results in its abnormal function.
Usual causes of heart failure include dilated cardiomyopathy, valve diseases, pericardial disease, patent ductus arteriosus, and ventricular septal defect. Heart failure is treated with a combination of drugs, a low-sodium diet, and surgical procedures to remove accumulated fluid from the abdomen.

Congestive Heart Failure Symptoms in Dogs:

• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Increased resting respiratory rate
• Exercise intolerance
• Fainting
• Loss of appetite
• Fluid buildup in the abdomen, chest cavity, liver, and limbs
• Sudden back leg paralysis

What to Feed a Dog with Heart Problems?

Diet is of great importance if your dog is diagnosed with heart disease. Dogs with heart disease have varying nutritional requirements depending on the specific cause of heart disease. Usually, dogs with heart disease need to restrict sodium, salt, and potassium intake.

Some dogs develop diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy. Diet-related DCM can be completely reversed by administration of taurine amino acid. Omega 3 fatty acids are also beneficial for heart disease in dogs.

Best Foods for Dogs with Heart Disease

Here are the best foods for dogs with heart disease:

1. Dried Pollock (Omega 3 Fatty Acids)

Dried pollock is an excellent food for dogs with heart disease. Make sure it is salt-free. Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial for dog’s arrhythmia and reduce inflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids can also reduce muscle loss in dogs with congestive heart failure.

Lee&Pol’s dried pollock is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, reduced in sodium! Strengthen your dog’s heart!

2. Taurine

Taurine is an important amino acid for dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. If your veterinarian suspects that your dog might have diet-related dilated cardiomyopathy, he will measure plasma and whole blood taurine levels. If there is a deficiency of taurine, then you may be advised to use taurine supplements.

3. L-Carnitine

For example, boxers with dilated cardiomyopathy have been diagnosed with L-carnitine deficiency. L-carnitine supplements may be recommended to help with energy production in the heart muscles.

Dangerous Foods for Dogs with Heart Disease

Here are some dangerous foods for dogs with heart disease:

1. High Sodium and High Potassium Diets

High sodium or sodium chloride (salt) is bad for dogs with heart disease because it retains the excess water. Retention of water is bad because dogs with heart disease already have fluid buildup in the lungs, chest, and abdomen. Here is a list of low-sodium diets by the Cummings Veterinary School of TUFTS University.

High-potassium diets are also not recommended for dogs with heart disease. Heart medications (spironolactone or an ACE inhibitor) cause the body to retain potassium. Excess dietary potassium can result in hyperkalemia (too much potassium), which is not good for heart patients.

2. Other Dangerous Foods

Here are some other detrimental foods for dogs with heart disease:

• Fatty foods (meat trimmings, cream, ice cream)
• Baby food
• Pickled foods
• Bread
• Pizza
• Ketchup, soy sauce, barbecue sauce
• Ham, corned beef, salami
• Rotisserie chicken
• Potato mixes, rice mixes
• Canned vegetables
• Potato chips, crackers
• Chicken, beef, or fish broth from the store
• Soups

Signs of Heart Disease in Dogs

Symptoms of heart disease in dogs are usually similar for different types of heart disease. The common heart disease symptoms in dogs include:

• Persistent cough
• Difficult breathing
• Fainting or collapse
• Exercise intolerance
• Abdominal swelling (Bloating)
• Sudden back leg paralysis
• Sudden weight loss
• Bluish or pale gums due to less oxygen

If you observe any dog heart disease symptoms in your four-legged friend, you should contact your veterinarian immediately for an early cure to help your dog live a long, healthy, and happy life.

Diagnosis of Heart Disease in Dogs

Heart disease is usually diagnosed using the following things:

1. Physical Exam

A physical exam of your dog is the first step in diagnosis of heart disease. Physical exams include listening to your dog’s heart and lungs with the help of a stethoscope to check for abnormalities. Your vet may also feel your dog’s heart to find out any abnormalities like increased size. Your dog’s blood pressure may also be checked.

2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

ECG can be done to check for abnormal heart rate and rhythm. ECG measures the electrical activity of your dog’s heart and is a perfect way to detect an arrhythmia.

3. Chest X-Ray

A chest x ray can be used to detect structural changes and assess the heart size as well as assess fluid buildup in lungs.

4. Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of your dog’s heart. It is considered a gold standard for diagnosing heart disease in dogs. This test can evaluate and measure the heart valves and muscles and observe the effectiveness of heart contractions.

5. Blood Tests

Blood tests are helpful in detecting the presence of heartworms and measuring certain proteins that increase in heart disease. For example, a less common blood test called NT-proBNP is useful for diagnosing arrhythmia in dogs.

Treatment for Heart Disease in Dogs

Early and proper treatment of your dog with heart disease can help him live a longer and healthier life. Treatment of dog heart disease usually involves medications but can also include diet changes, surgeries, and weight loss.

Medications

Different types of medications are used for heart disease in dogs for different purposes. Some medicines used include:

• Injections of melarsomine to eliminate the heartworms
• Enalapril and pimobendan for more efficient blood pumping
• Furosemide to eliminate excess fluid from the body
• Atenolol, propranolol, and digoxin to normalize heart rhythm

Surgeries

Some specific heart problems like arrhythmias can be corrected with surgery or a pacemaker. Surgery is also a treatment option for shunts, stenosis, and pericardial disease.

Diet

Some dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy require a nutritional supplement like taurine. Weight loss is necessary for some heart diseases, so your veterinarian may advise you to change your dog’s diet based on specific conditions.

A low-sodium diet is helpful for dogs with congestive heart failure because it helps reduce fluid retention.

Lee&Pol’s dried pollock undergoes a thorough salt removal process, so it’s low in sodium and low in calories too—making it the perfect choice!

Conclusion

Heart disease in dogs can be congenital as well as acquired. The two most common heart diseases in dogs are mitral valve disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Heart disease symptoms in dogs include persistent cough, labored breathing, fainting, tiring easily, abdominal swelling, back leg weakness, weight loss, and bluish or pale gums. If you observe any of these signs, visit your veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment of heart disease because there are many different types of heart diseases in dogs that may be causing these symptoms.

Diet is an important factor to consider if you want to prevent heart disease in dogs. Research is still being done, but studies have shown that a diet with taurine amino acid deficiency contributes to heart disease. Boutique, exotic-ingredient, and grain-free diets are also linked to heart disease in dogs. Also, feed your dog a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids for a healthy heart.

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