Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

Symptoms of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

• Unproductive coughing, especially during the night or first thing in the morning
• Difficulty breathing; increased panting and puffing
• General fatigue and lethargy
• Intolerance of exercise
• Appetite and weight loss
• Fainting
• Distended abdomen
• Gray or bluish gums

Types of Heart Disease in Dogs

• Bacterial Infections
  Bacteria from the mouth (due to diseased teeth and gums) can enter the blood stream and attach to the heart valves, cause inflammation in the lining of the heart or in the valves, resulting in initial mechanical obstruction and possibly damage to the valves themselves. It is therefore important to regularly brush our dog's teeth to prevent dental problems that may eventually lead to heart disease.
• Heartworms
  Heartworms can mechanically block the valves, and if a dog is heavily infested, the heartworms can clog an entire heart chamber!
• Canine Parvovirus
  Canine parvovirus often infects the heart muscles, and the resulting death of the heart muscle cells can sometimes cause acute heart failure in dogs.
• Hormones
  Hormones, especially of the thyroid, also affect heart function and performance. For example, a dog with hypothyroidism usually has a slower than normal heart rate.
• Nutritional Deficiencies
  A lack of Vitamin E or selenium is known to cause damage to the heart muscles.

Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

• take the pulse of the dog;
• inspect the gums;
• feel for enlarged or swollen internal organs.

• A stethoscope - to listen for irregular sounds, such as heart murmurs, slowed or quickened heart rate, lung congestion, etc.
• Chest x-rays - for observations of the heart's physical characteristics, including its shape and size.
• An electrocardiogram (ECG) - to detect irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
• Echocardiograms - to measure the strength of heartbeats, detect irregularities, and reveal congenital birth defects.
• Blood and urine tests - to check the function of the kidneys, liver and other organs for their involvement in the heart failure process, and for the presence of other diseases.
• Heartworm tests

Treatment for Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

• The underlying heart disease
• The severity and progression of the disease
• The age and general health condition of the dog

• a type of drugs called ACE inhibitors to reduce blood volume and pressure so as to relieve stress on the heart and to slow the deterioration of the heart muscles;
• a diuretic to stimulate the kidneys to remove excessive fluid that is often built up in the lungs and abdomen;
• a digitalis-type drug to control an excessively fast heart rate;
• a low-sodium diet with supplements;
• regular exercise.

Natural Remedies for Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs