6 signs your dog may have heart disease
Early diagnosis could help your older dog live a more comfortable and longer life.
Heart disease is common in dogs, particularly in senior pets.
While heart disease is serious and can seem scary, most heart conditions can be managed, helping your dog keep living their best life for as long as possible.
Common types of heart disease in elderly dogs
There are two types of heart disease seen most commonly in dogs:
- Mitral valve disease: Particularly prevalent in smaller dogs, this condition is where the valve between the two left hand chambers of the heart degenerates. This leads to blood flowing the wrong way and reduced cardiac efficiency.
- Dilated cardiomyopathy: More common in larger breeds, dilated cardiomyopathy means the heart muscle has become weak and enlarged. This means it struggles to pump blood effectively.
Most heart conditions cause no outward symptoms in the early stages. Often, the first sign is a murmur (abnormal noise) that can be heard with a stethoscope. This may be detected during a routine check-up such as a vaccination appointment.
As the changes in the heart develop and become more severe, dogs will enter what is known as congestive heart failure. This is when the heart is not able to pump enough blood around the body. Although most heart disease is not curable, early detection and treatment can significantly delay the length of time the heart copes before going into heart failure.
Certain breeds are more likely to develop heart disease than others. For example, mitral valve disease is very common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. However, having a dog of a more susceptible breed doesn’t mean they will automatically get heart disease, but might make regular check-ups more important.
Signs to look out for in your elderly dog
Common symptoms of heart disease to look out for are:
- Tiring easily when exercising or playing
- Excessive panting
- Coughing
- Faster or laboured breathing
- Swelling of the abdomen
- Loss of appetite
If you see any of the above symptoms in your dog, book an appointment with your vet
It is common for there to be no symptoms at all until a dog develops congestive heart failure. This is why it’s so important to go for regular checks with your vet, particularly as your dog ages, to catch it as early as possible. Joining our Healthy Pet Club is a great way of staying on top of regular check-ups, with consultations included in your membership.
Treating heart disease for older dogs
While heart disease is worrying, there are many forms of treatment that can help your dog to still have a good quality of life and slow down the disease progression.
Medicine
Several types of medication can help improve the symptoms of heart disease, which your vet will be able to provide as and when needed.
These include diuretic therapy, which uses a drug called Furosemide to reduce fluid accumulation, or Pimobendan, used to improve heart function. There is also a category of drugs called ACE-inhibitors which help protect the rest of the body from the effects of heart failure (e.g. Benazepril).
Diuretic therapy can impact other areas of the body such as electrolytes and kidney enzyme levels, so regular blood tests are recommended to keep on top of any other health effects.
Diet
Some diets, particularly those marketed as “grain free” can increase the risk of heart disease. Your vet may recommend a diet change based on your dog’s needs, though heart disease is not generally managed via diet. If your dog is overweight, putting them on a weight loss programme can help reduce pressure on the heart .
Helping your dog at home
There are also many ways you can help your dog at home.
- A heart murmur doesn’t mean you have to stop exercising your dog, but always g their and allow as many rests as they need. Avoid high-energy active running. Check with your vet for specific advice, as some dogs may be advised not to go for walks. Count your dog’s respiratory rate to monitor one breath). Multiply this by four to get a respiration rate per minute. An average healthy dog takes less than 30 breaths per minute. If you repeatedly count over 40, or see a steady increase over several days, contact your vet. The smartphone app “Cardalis” can also help with monitoring and recording respiratory rates.
- Offer fun toys that stimulate their brain. While they may want less exercise than before, engaging your dog with brain teasers like puzzle games can help keep their mind and their body in shape.
For some early diagnosed forms of heart disease, the only treatment necessary will be to keep coming back to the vets for regular check-ups. These regular vet visits are paramount, helping you to know how the heart disease has progressed, and any changes you can make to react to their progressing condition.
Inevitably, many dogs will get some form of heart disease as they age, particularly certain at-risk breeds.
If you have any concerns about your senior dog’s health, book a vet appointment and our team will perform a thorough review.
In the early stages of heart disease it is usually safe for your dog to continue with regular exercise. If they can’t manage their previously usual level of walking, split up that length of walk into multiple walks throughout the day that are shorter, with plenty of time to recover. Allow rests during the walk if your dog needs it: you need to go at their pace.
In certain cases, we may tell you to stop encouraging running or chasing behaviours. Even when this is the case, exploring a garden at their own pace on going on gentle walks is typically still advised.
Dogs in heart failure may be advised not to go for walks, or to only have very gentle exercise. This will depend on your dog’s individual case, so always check with your vet for their recommendation.
If your dog is diagnosed with congestive heart failure, but responds well to treatment, the prognosis is typically around one year. Sadly, some dogs do not respond well to treatment so not all dogs will survive this long, though a small number may live longer.
Dogs with mild and early signs of heart disease can live for many more years with careful management of their conditions and regular check-ups.