Heart failure, often brought on by valvular disease, is one of the most amongst small breeds like the Chihuahua, Maltese, and others as they approach their twilight years. Here鈥檚 what you need to know about this disease and what you can do if you receive a diagnosis for your dog.
What Is Valvular Disease?
First things first. Valvular disease is a complicated condition, with different stages and levels. The stages range from very mild to very severe. Only a veterinarian can make a diagnosis, and, once it is made, there are treatment strategies that are tailored to the individual dog鈥檚 needs. Small breeds are especially prone to developing valvular disease.
鈥淪mall dogs get chronic degeneration of their heart valves, particularly two valves,鈥� says , a cardiologist at Animal Medical Center in New York City. 鈥淭he mitral and tricuspid valves are most commonly affected. By the time some small dogs are 8 or 10 years old, you have some degree of that, although most of them don鈥檛 go on to heart failure.鈥�
When the weaken, they no longer close properly. When this happens, around the valves and causes the heart to strain. 鈥淚t鈥檚 undoubtedly genetic, but no one knows what the genetics of that are,鈥� says Dr. Fox.
Symptoms of Valvular Disease
Dr. Fox explains that many dogs have no symptoms because, in most cases, the degeneration doesn鈥檛 result in heart failure. 鈥淥therwise, dogs would be gone in three generations,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been around since before the Egyptians. So a small percentage are affected.鈥�
But if your dog does have valvular disease, some signs and symptoms can include:
- Weight loss
- Becoming weak or tired
- Losing the ability to exercise
- Fainting with excitement or during exercise
In advanced cases, the lungs can fill up with water (also called pulmonary edema), or fluid can build up in the dog鈥檚 chest or abdominal cavity. Dogs can also experience a heart murmur that starts soft and gets louder as the years go by. This refers to an unusual sound heard when blood flowing through the heart is turbulent or abnormal. Often, there are no symptoms exhibited until the condition becomes advanced.
What Can You Do to Help Your Dog?
Dr. Fox says that small-breed dog owners should take their pets to the veterinarian annually for a checkup. If the veterinarian hears a heart murmur or an irregular heartbeat, don鈥檛 panic. There are treatments available.
From there, the vet can run additional tests including an X-ray or echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) to determine the degree of severity of the valvular disease. Dr. Fox adds that pet owners should feel free to seek a second opinion. In some cases, that may mean referral to a specialist.
For some dogs that have advanced valvular disease, but no symptoms, there are medications that the vet may prescribe for your dog. These include pimobendan, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and spironolactone.
With advancing valvular disease, the body tries to compensate, which provokes physiologic changes in dogs. Some of those are useful, but at times, the body overproduces these physiologic changes, which can become problematic. The medications work in different ways to try to blunt or reduce adverse effects from what we would call excessive or abnormal physiologic changes.
Considering Nutrition and Diet
There are nutrition and dietary considerations, too. But those recommendations are highly specific and should come from a vet. For instance, some vets may recommend a reduced-sodium diet. The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine of Tufts University provides a list of for pets with heart issues.
鈥淣utrition and diet are very important, as it is with all conditions,鈥� says Dr. Fox. 鈥淒iet should play a role in a discussion concerning heart health. There is a role in good nutrition, and it has to be coordinated with each individual鈥檚 pet circumstances.鈥�
When it comes to exercise, Dr. Fox says, in general, normal activity is okay (whatever 鈥渘ormal鈥� might mean for your dog). But seek advice from your vet first. Above all, Dr. Fox says, don鈥檛 panic if your dog is diagnosed with valvular disease. 鈥淔ind those remedies that put the pet in the best circumstance to prevail,鈥� he suggests.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.