Although heart problems are found more often in older pets, these conditions can affect pets at any age. Heart disease is usually a life-threatening condition, but early diagnosis and appropriate therapy can extend your pet’s life. If caught soon enough, some forms of heart disease can be cured.
Heart disease can lead to congestive heart failure (CHF), which occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood effectively. If an animal is suffering from CHF, fluid usually accumulates in and around the lungs and sometimes in the abdomen. Congenital heart disease (animals born with a heart problem), valvular heart disease (abnormalities of the heart valves), arrhythmias (rhythm disturbances), and heartworm disease can all lead to CHF.
Call us if your pet starts breathing rapidly or coughing, loses his or her appetite, tires easily, seems weak or has trouble exercising. We can discover many heart problems during a physical exam. Additional tests, such as an electrocardiogram (ECG), radiographs (x-rays), and ultrasounds, are usually needed to identify the cause of the heart disease or failure accurately.
Local board-certified specialists consult with us at PawSteps Veterinary Center. They can provide detailed abdominal ultrasounds and echo-cardiograms to our patients in our hospital, limiting the need for your pet to travel to an emergency center. Our staff can assist these specialists, giving you the peace of mind that your pet is in the trusted hands of people you know and have worked closely. During these procedures, both our doctors and specialists can discuss your pet’s care face-to-face to come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan.