heart disease in dogs
· Heart valve defects - The most common heart defect
· Heart asthma caused by lung backwater
· Heart muscle damage and heart rhythm disturbances
· Heart worm disease is an exotic rarity
valvular (heart failure)
The heart valves are the valves of the heart muscle that regulates the blood stream. There are 2 different heart valves: the so-called atrioventricular valves (atrioventricular or AV valves) control the flow between the two atria (atrium) and the main chambers (ventricles) of the heart. The semilunar valves regulate access to the main artery (aorta) and pulmonary artery (pulmonary artery).
by infecting the endocardium (endocarditis), but mainly by age-related wear and tear causes scarring and hardening (fibrosis) of the heart valves. These will be tight. Such a malfunction of the valves in the heart causes a reverse current in the flat direction. This creates hissing noise, which recognizes the doctor with a stethoscope. The pressure loss compensated by an increase in the heart of the heart chamber.
symptoms of heart failure
suspected a heart defect, if the following symptoms:
Permanent cough that occurs with exertion and excitement, especially (so-called cardiac asthma), and fatigue and is difficult, mainly in muggy heat and atmospheric pressure (eg hair dryer).
result in worst cases, so-called edema: liver congestion and ascites lead to pot-bellied, also include swelling of the legs and possible on the lower breast. Nocturnal restlessness and occasional fainting spells of the quadruped are indicative of a severe heart defect.
diagnosis of heart valve defects
The experienced physician detects a valvular audible through the stethoscope to the sounds that cause leaky valves. Together with the mentioned symptoms then the diagnosis is usually clear. X-ray shows the exceptions enlarged heart shadow and the deformation of the heart. This gives the doctor a good view of the size of a heart valve insufficiency. Also can be visible on lung or liver congestion significantly account for more or less affected side of the heart. An ultrasound examination makes the precise motion and flow conditions on the heart valves significantly. When a suspected heart muscle damage needs to pass an ECG can be made.
therapy for heart failure were
For decades, the so-called cardiac glycosides (digitalis) to strengthen the heart action in the foreground of all cardiac therapies. Digitalis is one of the oldest, longest known and used drugs, which is still produced today from the "white foxglove". An overdose of the drug, such as when an animal eats the plant, leads to cardiac arrest. In the right dose, by the way the dog is 3-5 times the amount required for humans, it is still one of the best heart-strengthening agent. In the homeopathic dilutions, however, is largely ineffective. Especially the example of digitalis is clearly an important rule: the effect of a medicine is defined primarily on the proper dosage and not only on the active ingredient contained therein.
Senior human and veterinary medicine administer digitalis still often too early. The returns to its positive effect, unfortunately: Frequently it is overworked even the heart and reduces its lifetime achievement!
to gentler treatment of a minor heart defect, the administration recommends a vasodilator agent, called ACE inhibitors. This is the last 10 years in humans and animals, the treatment of choice: ACE inhibitors reduce blood pressure and help the heart as the "pumped" against the circuit significantly.
come at additional Stauungssymptomen in lung or liver in the next stage of treatment used water pills. This stimulates the kidney to increase urine output to.
only at very advanced heart failure with a very high Pulzfrequenz are you still Digitalis to strengthen the heart and stimulate the pulse.
must be complementary with very high heart rates Beta-blockers and other frequency-lowering drugs are given. A low-salt diet, which is an extra help for high blood pressure is recommended for heart patients as well.
What is left-and right-heart failure?
A leaking left AV valve (mitral regurgitation) caused an enhancement of the left atrium and a backflow of blood into the lungs. So is lung water, which is associated with dyspnea and cough heart.
The right-heart failure is enhanced by a faulty right AV valve (tricuspid), the right atrium. About the vena cava there is a backlog in the abdomen.
enlarge the respective main chambers of the heart in heart failure to the higher pump power to accomplish. In the dog heart valve defects are as humans think from both sides - when failure is unilateral in 75% of the cases affected the left side.
blood is a special juice!
Blood supplies the body with all vital substances. It is half of cellular constituents, the red and white blood cells. The red blood cells are responsible for the transport of oxygen, the white blood cells responsible for defense against infections. The other half is composed of blood plasma. This includes proteins that play an important role in the diet globulins, which are involved in the body's immune and blood sugar as energy.
Which dogs get heart valve?
The life expectancy of dogs with heart disease has improved significantly through the differential diagnosis and therapy, especially by the ACE inhibitor. It should also enforce that age-based heart valve defects occur in 70 to 80% of all dogs. Small to medium size breeds such as poodles, dachshunds, schnauzers, Spitz and Terrier seem to be mostly affected.
heart muscle damage and heart rhythm disturbances
heart muscle damage occur mainly as a result of severe infections. Can you, such as lead in the parvo-virus infection in young dogs with acute heart failure. But many other infections sometimes go with a heart muscle inflammation (Mycocarditis) along which leads to permanent damage to the heart muscle. Also constant overload with an unrecognized heart valve defects caused in the long term permanent damage to the heart muscle and its lovely conducting system. This then often result in heart rhythm disorders that can be recognized as an amateur at irregular heartbeat and pulse.
symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of heart muscle damage
The dog is dull and weak, and occasionally vomiting. The mucous membranes are pale, and staggering gait, and dizziness are often observed.
The underlying disease (infection, poisoning, chronic valvular heart disease, etc.) must in any case be dealt with first. For heart therapy itself Digitalglykoside to be cordial, diuretic used for drainage and ACE inhibitors. Depending on the type of Arhythemie whether or congested with fast pulse pulse, different Antiarhythmika used.
All heart disease with heart muscle and conduction disturbances usually occur only at advanced stages of heart failure. They are difficult and rarely treated successfully in the long run.
myocardial infarction in dogs
An infarct in dogs is an extremely rare and even more rarely diagnosed complication. When it comes to a heart attack, acute obstruction of the coronary vessels that supply the heart muscle itself with oxygen. An acute myocardial infarction is associated with sharp pain radiating from the chest down the arm or in the extremities. Unfortunately, this is not the four-legged friends also in less severe cases (angina pectoris) symptom . Mediate Many seemingly acute collapse of a dog is well-especially in sultry summer heat due to a heart attack.
Congenital Heart Defects
connect Compared to the previously discussed "acquired" the heart disease congenital heart defect in dogs much less frequently (etwa5% of all heart diseases). Certain breeds are particularly affected.
narrowing of the arteries to the heart
A narrowed pulmonary artery leading to the expansion and enlargement of the right Herhälfte. This has a backlog on the vena cava in the abdomen result. Preferably, it occurs in Boxer, English Bulldog and Beagle on.
a narrowed aorta causes an enlargement of the left heart and pulmonary congestion has a consequence. It occurs predominantly in boxers.
There are several treatment options: In both vessel constriction approach usually help cardiotonic agents, but also vasodilator ACE inhibitors. In Stauungssymptomen come in lung and liver as in heart failure in addition to the use of water pills.
With a very complicated surgery on the open chest with ventilator-pulmonary stenosis can be extended if necessary. Some teaching hospitals have the operation now in the repertoire. The extension of aortic stenosis is further complicated because one needs to operate on an open heart. This makes the use of a heart-lung machine is required, that is, this intervention except for experimental purposes in animals not made practical.
vascular malformations of the heart
cause malformations of the embryo very rarely wrong connections between the vessels near the heart.
Persistent (permanent) ductus arteriosus
Immediately behind the heart is formed in the embryonic development of the dog, a vascular connection between the main artery (aorta) and the pulmonary artery (pulmonary Artera). RECOURSE this connection there is, after the birth of low-oxygen and oxygen-rich Mixed blood. There is persistent weakness, dizziness and permanently increased cardiovascular stress. Often, thus providing for additional vascular malformation, the so-called persistent aortic arch is associated. This mean no more continuous vascular strand narrows the esophagus in the base of the heart.
These two abnormalities can be corrected by a very complicated surgery.
3.Atrium, respectively. Ventricular septal defect
These embryonic malformation resulting in holes or larger holes in the partition between the halves of the heart. It has a mixture of oxygen-rich blood with oxygen-poor result. The
Operational Fixed a septal defects in dogs is theoretically possible. Although the procedure has been in exceptional cases, already been carried out successfully, it is one of the very rare OP `s. This disease occurs in certain Linen large breeds most frequently, such as Neapolitan Mastiff
heartworm disease
They are predominantly in dogs diagnosed, which in southern countries such as Africa, Central America, southern United States, but also Mediterranean or the Canary Islands are. Mosquitoes transmit the larvae of the worm. In the bloodstream, the microfilariae develop into 15cm-long worms. A spaghetti-like worm clusters can then right side of the heart become blocked. Dying worms cause lung densities, embolism and pulmonary infections as demonstrated by bloody cough. Therapy in advanced stages is nearly impossible.
Prevention is therefore the most important precautionary measure. It is recommended that a four-legged friend, to accompany his master or mistress in the south, protected by a syringe. The effect lasts 4 weeks long. The same product now exists as a spot-on. This helps the same time against roundworms and fleas, it is recommended so much if you want to take his charge to the South.
heartbeat and pulse feeling
The heartbeat is best to feel by the heart's apex on the left Siete the chest. Keys to the lower third, just behind and slightly above the elbow. The cardiac apex is formed by the contraction of the two main chambers that drives the blood into the body and the lungs. A little time delay, but in a healthy heart in perfect synchronization, the pulse is felt. As the pulse is defined as the over the vessels of the body spreading pressure wave of blood flow. He is the best feeling in the femoral artery. Keys to the inside of the thigh, midway between knee and bar, with gentle pressure on the vessel. The correct assessment of the Pulse is the expert while listening to the heartbeat, the most important information about a healthy or diseased cardiovascular system. The pulse rate is in the dog, depending on the size of 90-120 beats per minute
