HEART HEALTH IN PETS

By Elizabeth Racine, DVM

Just like people, our pets can get a variety of heart conditions, including valve disease, cardiomyopathies, and congestive heart failure. Some heart diseases are congenital, meaning the pet is born with the condition, while others may come on later in life. The best way to monitor your pet’s heart health is by seeing your veterinarian regularly for examinations, as many heart diseases are first detected by the veterinarian during an annual wellness visit.

Some pets with heart disease have no symptoms. Unfortunately, heart disease is sometimes only detected when it becomes severe or when a pet dies suddenly. When pets do display symptoms of heart disease, they may include signs such as: • Coughing • Lethargy • Exercise intolerance • Rapid or irregular breathing • Weight loss • Abdominal swelling • Syncope (fainting) • Weakness • Loss of appetite • Collapse If you suspect your pet has symptoms of heart disease, see your veterinarian for an examination right away.

In many cases, heart disease is first detected by the veterinarian on a routine physical examination. The veterinarian may discover a heart murmur or abnormal heart rhythm during the examination that prompts further workup. Your veterinarian may recommend diagnostic imaging of the heart, such as radiographs (x-rays) of the heart and lungs or an echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound to assess the structure and function of the heart. In some cases, an EKG to measure the electrical activity of the heart may also be recommended. Prior to starting cardiac medications, your veterinarian may recommend baseline blood work and urine testing as well.

The treatment for heart disease varies depending on the type of heart disease that is present. Some types of heart disease may be treated with surgery to correct an underlying structural defect in the heart. More commonly, heart disease is treated with medication. Medications cannot cure heart disease, but they can slow the progression of heart disease and alleviate the associated symptoms. Medications commonly used in the treatment of heart disease in pets include:

Diuretics. In patients with congestive heart failure, excess fluid accumulates in the chest or abdominal cavity or in the lung tissue due to increased pressure in the heart. Diuretics like furosemide (Lasix) remove excess fluid from the body by acting on the kidney to increase urine production.

inhibitors. ACE inhibitors such as Enalapril are often prescribed to patients in heart failure to induce vasodilation, or the opening of blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and improves circulation, reducing the workload on the heart.

n Pimobendan (Vetmedin). This drug is an inodilator, which is a class of heart medications that help the heart pump more efficiently. Pimobendan works by dilating the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart, which reduces the workload on the heart, and by strengthening the muscle contractions of the heart.

n Spironolactone. Spironolactone is a weak diuretic that is used to treat fluid accumulation due to congestive heart failure. It acts on the kidney to increase urine production, but does so by a different mechanism of action compared to other diuretic agents like furosemide. Because of this, it can be used in combination with other diuretic agents. Clopidogrel (Plavix). This is an antiplatelet medication used to reduce the risk of blood clots in patients with heart disease. It is most often prescribed in cats with heart disease to prevent feline aortic thromboembolism, also known as saddle thrombus.

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Although some factors influencing the development of heart disease are genetic, there are also some factors that you can control. To help reduce your pet’s risk of heart disease, follow these guidelines:

Maintain a healthy lean body weight. Pets that are overweight or obese are at greater risk of developing heart disease than their healthy weight counterparts. A healthy diet and good portion control are essential to keep your pet at an ideal body weight.

Feed a complete and balanced diet. A diet that is complete and balanced contains all the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that the body needs to function. A diet that is deficient in these essential nutrients may put your pet at risk for developing heart disease.

Get regular exercise. Just like humans, pets need regular exercise to support their cardiovascular health. Aim to get at least an hour a day of active play time for your pet’s health and mental well-being.

regularly. Regular checkups with your veterinarian can detect potential problems early, so you can intervene before they become progressive issues.