Chronic valve Disease
Valve disease is the most common heart disease of dogs. It leads to congestive heart failure and is a major case of death in many pets. It can be managed with rest, low-sodium diets, diuretics, aceinhibitors, calcium channels blockers and other medications to improve cardiac function.
The valves don't close properly and blood is ejected bac through the valve instead of going to the lungs or body. The heart enlarges in an attempt to compensate for the overload of bloof in the chambers of the heart. These changes take months or years to develop. Pets with chronic valvula disease often hace congestive heart failure with fluid accumulation in the lungs, abomen or both.
The cause of chronic valve disease is unknown.
Diagnosis:
The staff or Doctors at Dolores Pet Hospital may detect a heart murmur with a stethescope in your pet years before congestive heart failure develops. The mumur is caused by regurgitation of blood through defective valves. Abnormal pulses can be felt with finger tips. x-rays of the chest and abdomen are often taken to detect heart enlargement and fluid build up. EKG's can assess arythmias. Ultrasound (ecchocardiograms) can further identify specific heart diseases and progression. Blood tests, including tests for heartworms, and urinalyses are commonly performed to assess the effects of heart failure in other organs. A specific test for heart disease can detect heart disease before your pet becomes sick and treatment can extend the length and quality of your pets life.
Treatment: Treatment for chronic valve disease is not curative, but can relieve the clinical signs of congestive heart failure in most patients. Some treatments can extend the quality and quantity of life. The overload of vlood that the heaet must pump can be
Valve disease is the most common heart disease of dogs. It leads to congestive heart failure and is a major case of death in many pets. It can be managed with rest, low-sodium diets, diuretics, aceinhibitors, calcium channels blockers and other medications to improve cardiac function.
The valves don't close properly and blood is ejected bac through the valve instead of going to the lungs or body. The heart enlarges in an attempt to compensate for the overload of bloof in the chambers of the heart. These changes take months or years to develop. Pets with chronic valvula disease often hace congestive heart failure with fluid accumulation in the lungs, abomen or both.
The cause of chronic valve disease is unknown.
Diagnosis:
The staff or Doctors at Dolores Pet Hospital may detect a heart murmur with a stethescope in your pet years before congestive heart failure develops. The mumur is caused by regurgitation of blood through defective valves. Abnormal pulses can be felt with finger tips. x-rays of the chest and abdomen are often taken to detect heart enlargement and fluid build up. EKG's can assess arythmias. Ultrasound (ecchocardiograms) can further identify specific heart diseases and progression. Blood tests, including tests for heartworms, and urinalyses are commonly performed to assess the effects of heart failure in other organs. A specific test for heart disease can detect heart disease before your pet becomes sick and treatment can extend the length and quality of your pets life.
Treatment: Treatment for chronic valve disease is not curative, but can relieve the clinical signs of congestive heart failure in most patients. Some treatments can extend the quality and quantity of life. The overload of vlood that the heaet must pump can be