Heart Disease - Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs and Cats |
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What is heart failure? Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a term that refers to the heart's inability to pump blood to the body. While there are many causes of CHF in dogs and cats, the two most common are mitral valve insufficiency (MVI) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Clinical signs vary depending on whether the dog or cat has left or right-sided heart failure. The most common symptoms are decreased stamina, coughing and difficulty breathing. How do you tell if it's right or left-sided failure? Right-sided congestive heart failure causes poor venous return to the heart. The valve between the chambers has become weakened and when the heart contracts, the valve doesn't close tightly enough to prevent blood from flowing back into the Atrium instead of into the lungs for oxygenation. Since this blood can't be cleared from the systemic circulation, the heart becomes "congested" and fluid backs up into the veins leading into the heart. The symptoms of right-sided congestive heart failure include abdominal enlargement; distension of the veins in the body, (Fluid may also leak from veins.) Fluid accumulation may occur in the abdomen or chest. Fluid accumulates in the sac around the heart or underneath the skin. The legs may swell, (peripheral edema). This fluid retention can lead to weight gain. Fluid retention in the body interferes with the function of the organs in these areas. When CHF involves the left ventricle, the blood is not pumped into the systemic circulation and builds up in the lungs. Fluid can then seep back into the lung tissue, resulting in pulmonary edema. This causes shortness of breath, rapid, shallow breathing, difficulty resting comfortably at night, and coughing. Left sided heart failure is the most commonly seen form of CHF. Weight loss is sometimes seen in dogs that do not retain fluid. (They sometimes feel nauseous and have difficulty eating.) Some animals show signs of reduced blood flow to tissues. This will include pale or bluish mucous membranes, and cold feet and legs. If abnormal heart rhythms are present or if the heart's output is seriously blocked, there may be fainting. What causes CHF? The most common cause is valvular insufficiency. It has been estimated that 80% of the canine CHF cases are caused by Mitral valve insufficiency (MVI). There may also be many other causes for Congestive Heart Failure. Some of these are:
What should I watch for? Congestive Heart Failure usually results in coughing, ascites, exercise intolerance, general laying around (lethargy), weakness and weight loss. The normal pink color of the lips and tongue may become a pale or bluish color. How will my veterinarian diagnose CHF? Diagnosis will involve several tests:
Do you have to run all of these tests? There is a wide selection of drugs and treatments that we can use to treat congestive heart failure. We need an accurate diagnosis to guide us in determining the correct treatment regimen. Without these tests, we are unlikely to provide the best care for your pet and may inadvertently do more harm than good. With the correct treatment, many dogs are able to live a normal life for months to years. If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact us at 309-685-4707 We would be happy to discuss your questions or concerns. | |||||||||
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The term cardiomyopathy means "sick heart muscle." Dilated cardiomyopathy happens when the heart muscle has become thin and weak. It no longer contracts correctly and can lead to congestive heart failure.