Earlier this month we discussed Breath Better September and its impact on our pets’ health. Staying focused on the chest, we talk about hearts in honour of World Heart Day on September 29th.
Heart Checks for Pets
As part of your pet’s annual health check, the vet will always check their heart. Sometimes, we detect a murmur. Some murmurs are physiologic, meaning there is nothing to be concerned about and often related to stress. Other times there may be a more concerning murmur, or the heart doesn’t beat in a nice steady rhythm. Your pet may appear perfectly healthy and active, so this abnormality may come as a bit of a surprise. If we find an abnormality, further investigation will be recommended based on our findings.
What is a Heart Murmur?
There are valves in the heart and blood vessels. Their job is to ensure blood flows one-way in a certain direction. What we hear as a murmur, is blood flowing the wrong way through these valves.
Signs of Heart Disease
While regular health checks help us pick up abnormalities early, unfortunately some heart disease cannot be picked up physical exam or heart conditions may develop between visits. Signs of heart disease in pets include:
- Exercise intolerance
- Weakness and/or collapse
- Weight loss
- Coughing, especially at night
- Difficulty breathing
- A bloated belly
If you notice any of these symptoms, please call us.
Heart Ultrasounds
At Halifax, we’re extremely fortunate to have Todd as part of our vet team. He has completed additional training to be able to ultrasound hearts, help make a diagnosis and recommend treatment plans. A scan (like a pregnancy scan but of the heart) is performed, where Todd looks at various structures and blood flow and takes measurements to allow a diagnosis to be made. A lot of the time no treatment or interventions are needed apart from monitoring, other times we start on medication to help protect the heart.
X-Rays
We often perform chest x-rays alongside ultrasound to get a complete picture of your pet’s heart and lungs. For example, a coughing dog with a heart murmur may have bronchitis as the cause of the cough rather than heart disease. X-rays help us understand the full situation.
ECG
Additionally, electrocardiograms (ECGs) monitor your pet’s heart rhythm, which can help detect and diagnose irregular heartbeat. If irregularities are hard to detect during a short ECG, we may use a Holter monitor. This is a special vest your pet will wear for 24-48 hours; it records the ECG tracing over this period. We then send the tracing to a specialist veterinary cardiologist for review.
Are Some Pets More Prone to Heart Disease?
Yes, certain breeds are more prone to heart disease:
- Cats: Pure bred Ragdoll and Maine Coone cats are more prone to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
- Dogs: Mitral valve disease is commonly seen in small breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, Chihuahuas and Miniature Poodles. Large breed dogs can suffer from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). This is less common than mitral valve disease in the smaller dog breeds and unfortunately, can be harder to detect.
Genetic testing can help predict heart disease in some breeds, allowing for proactive monitoring and treatment.
Can Heart Disease Be Treated?
In young puppies and kittens, some heart defects can be surgically repaired. However, most heart conditions in older pets cannot be reversed. Fortunately, there are many medications that can help relieve stress on the heart and slow disease progression.
Prognosis
This depends on the type of heart disease, what signs we see at diagnosis and the response to treatment. Early detection and appropriate care are the key to maintaining a good quality of life.
Phillipa Bagnall and The Halifax Team
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