In dogs, heart failure is a pathological condition, which is most often characterized by the fact that the cardiac system is not capable of providing a normal level of blood circulation. As a rule, this pathology is observed in large and old dogs.
Causes and development of the disease
Causes of the disease can be a variety of diseases, such as myocarditis, myocardial infarction, cardiosclerosis, heart disease, pericarditis, cardiomyopathy, hypertension and others.
Heart failure worsens the blood supply of tissues and organs, which leads to stagnant phenomena and, accordingly, to the appearance of pathologies in the myocardium. Thus, a kind of vicious circle turns out, when deterioration of cardiac function, ultimately, leads to the fact that deterioration is increasing.
There are breeds that are particularly strongly predisposed to heart failure. Of course, this does not mean that the dog of this breed will certainly suffer from heart diseases. Simply, these breeds are more likely to experience heart failure, and at a much earlier age. However, this does not mean that other breeds are completely devoid of the risk of developing heart failure.
The group of risk includes, first of all, dogs of giant breeds, that is, St. Bernards, Great Danes, Newfoundlands. In most cases, problems with the cardiac system can arise from them because of too much physical exertion or vice versa, from lack of movement.
Unlike dogs of large breeds, small and dwarf dogs (pinschers, dwarf poodles) suffer much more often from emotional stresses and overloads. Everyone who has got himself such a dog, knows what they are hysterical and nervous. Most often it is because of this that they may have problems with the heart system. They are very cowardly, jealous and sensual. They are not designed for long walks and exercise. They spend most of their lives in the hands of the owners and this is understandable - there is hardly a better place for them.
Clinical signs
They vary depending on the cause of the failure.
Left ventricular congestive failure caused by mitral defects is most often accompanied by shortness of breath, tachycardia, elevated venous pressure and pulmonary wheezing.
Left ventricular congestive failure caused by aortic stenosis, left ventricular weakness or hypertension may be accompanied by fainting, tachycardia, decreased cardiac output, dyspnea.
Right ventricular congestive failure caused by exudative pericarditis or tricuspid valve malformation can be manifested by swelling of the liver, ascites, swelling of the jugular veins, swelling of the subcutaneous and extremities of the animal, oliguria.
Right ventricular congestive failure caused by the weakness of the right ventricle, pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary artery stenosis, can manifest itself in the form of dyspnea, characterized by worsening circulation of blood on a small circle of circulation.
Diagnostics
Diagnosing heart failure is easy on the basis of clinical symptoms. The dog quickly gets tired, behaves sluggishly. When the load appears tachycardia and shortness of breath. In the lungs, wet and dry wheezing is heard. Appears ascites, swelling of the submaxis and limbs. In some cases, the heart grows in volume. The main thing is not to be confused with pneumonia, kidney failure, cirrhosis of the liver.
Treatment
For the beginning it is necessary to reduce the physical load as much as possible. Heart glycosides are prescribed for life. If the animal has an arrhythmia, then the dose of the drug decreases or it can be completely canceled. To activate metabolism in the myocardium, it is recommended to take vitamin preparations, potassium preparations, quarantil. If there is cachexia, then phenoboline or retabolin is administered intramuscularly, as well as hepatoprotectors. If heart failure is in acute form, then a solution of camphor, sulphocamphocaine, intramuscular cordiamine is injected subcutaneously.
Preventive treatment should be directed to work with the underlying disease.