Dogs Heart and Circulatory System Articles

Keep your dog’s heart and circulatory system in the best shape possible, a healthy diet and exercise is your number one defense against a number of conditions and diseases. Some of the most common conditions that may affect the dog heart and circulatory system include heartworms, heart attacks, and aoritic stenosis, to name a few. There are a number of effective treatments for dog heart conditions that can be administered by your veterinarian. In some cases, medication may be enough to treat a heart condition while surgery may be required in others. Learn more about the dog heart and circulatory system, diseases and conditions of, symptoms, treatments, and prevention below.

• Vascular Ring Anomaly

  Vascular ring anomaly constricts the esophagus. This is a situation in which the fetal blood vessels are still present when they should not be.

• Understanding Chronic Valvular Disease in Dogs

  Congestive heart failure in dogs is a very common, progressive condition in which the heart valves become thickened and malfunction.

• Treating Dog Heartworm Infection With Caparsolate

  Heartworms are parasites which are transmitted from one dog to another by way of mosquito bites. Heartworms can obstruct the blood vessels and chambers of the heart impairing circulation of the blood. This may result in damage to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys and in rare instances cause sudden death.

• Treating Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs With Vetmedin

  Despite a diagnosis of congestive heart failure, dogs can live long happy lives. Today's medications aid heart health for years. With dietary changes and prescription medications like Vetmedin, your dog can remain energetic and comfortable.

• Thrombocytopenia and Platelet problems

  The disorders that most commonly induce thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency) are drug reactions (cephalosporins can cause these), cancers, infectious illnesses --- especially ehrlichiosis , systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and von Willebrand's disease. It is important to consider all of these possibilities in a dog thrombocytopenia.

• The Surgical Treatment of Canine Heart Disease

  Canine heart disease is a serious, life-threatening condition that affects a significant number of dogs. Any of a number of ischemic heart diseases may cause...

• The Canine Heartworm Antigen Test Explained

  Canine heartworm can cause a very serious infection that could lead to death if left untreated. Early detection is crucial, so consider getting your dog tested to ensure that he is worm-free.

• Symptoms of Canine Heart Disease

  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 3.2 million dogs in America will develop canine heart disease each year. It is the leading cause...

• Symptoms of Canine Congestive Heart Failure

  Canine congestive heart failure happens when your dog's heart is no longer able to pump blood to the rest of his body as efficiently as it ought. As your dog's heart weakens, the amount of blood entering the heart becomes greater than the amount of blood exiting the heart, and blood begins to leak from the blood vessels and build up in the chest cavity.

• Reducing Canine Heart Failure Risk With a Low-Salt Diet

  Canine heart failure is a health problem that mostly affects older and overweight dogs, but can occur in dogs of all sizes and breeds. A diet high in salt leads to fluid retention, which puts added pressure on the heart and forces it to work harder.

• Preventing Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs Through Exercise

  Congestive heart failure in dogs can be the result of parasitical heartworm infection, or even caused by congenital deformity. However, obesity can also put your dog at risk for congestive heart failure.

• Preventing Canine Heart Disease Through Weight Reduction

  Canine heart disease is a serious, life threatening illness. If your dog is obese, he may be at risk. Here are some tips to help you prevent canine heart disease by helping your dog lose weight.

• Panting and Excessive Panting in Dogs

  I’m a VetInfo subscriber who has a 140lbs, neutered male Alaskan Malamute named Doc who’s 8.5 years old. 

• Managing Symptoms of Heart Murmur in Dogs with Lasix

  Lasix is a medication used to treat dogs suffering from heart conditions such as heart murmur. A heart murmur is often diagnosed during routine vet checks, as many pets appear healthy despite symptoms of heart murmurs.

• Liver Shunts and Vascular Anomalies

  Some dogs with portosystemic shunts can be maintained long term with dietary therapy, combined with lactulose and an antibiotic such as neosporin or metronidazole. However, surgery is still considered to be the best option for most dogs with this problem.

• IMHA - Looking for Answers

  Discussion of possible drug related causes of IMHAjavascript:void(0);

• Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

  Dilated cardiomyopathy is one of the leading causes of congestive heart failure in dogs. Although it primarily affects larger breeds, it may strike at any time and in any animal.

• Hemangiosarcoma

  Hemangiosarcomas are a form of cancer which originates in the endothelium, which is the lining of blood vessels and spleen. As might be expected of a tumor arising in the blood system they are highly malignant and can be found almost anywhere in the body since blood vessels are necessary in almost all body tissues.

• Heartworm Treatment

  Heartworm treatment should be much safer for dogs now that a new medication, Immiticide (rx), is available to veterinarians. This medication has fewer side effects and kills a higher percentage of heartworms than Caparsolate (rx), which has been the only medication available until now.

• Heartworm Disease in Dogs

  Heartworms are contagious, but not directly from an infected dog to another dog. In all cases, baby heartworms must be transferred to a mosquito, then injected into the next dog (or back into the same dog) by the mosquito, before they can grow into adults. So dogs acquire heartworms from being bitten by a mosquito who is carrying heartworms from an infected dog.

• Heart Tumors and Cancers in Dogs

  Thank you, Dr., I’ve asked for a further clarification as some Dr.’s feel it was more likely a chemodectoma rather than a pheo.  They feel you can’t call it a pheo if the adrenal glands were not examined.

• Heart Murmur in Dogs

  Heart Murmur, heart problems, Heart Murmur in Dogs, Heart Murmur in canine, heart problems in canine, heart problems in dogs, canine heart murmur, dog heart murmur
  

• Heart murmur

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• Heart Failure in Dogs: An Introduction

  Heart failure can occur in dogs of any age or breed, though it's true that the giant breeds, such as the Great Dane, may be more prone to cardiomyopathy.

• Health Implications of Heart Murmur in Dogs

  A heart murmur in dogs can sometimes be of no concern as the condition may not have significant consequences to their health. However, a canine heart murmur can be severe and cause many health implications.

• Early Signs of Congestive Heart Failure In Dogs

  Canine congestive heart failure is the result of an underlying heart disease the dog either acquired (via infection or disease) or was born with (such as atrial septal defect, cardiomyopathy, dextrocardia and mitral dysplasia).

• Dog Heartworm: What Is It and Why Should I Prevent It?

  Dog heartworm is a parasitic roundworm spread by mosquitoes. Heartworms can affect cats and other animals as well as dogs. These parasites are referred to as heartworms because they infest the right atrium of their hosts heart when they become adults and enter the reproductive stage of their life cycle.

• Dog Heart Murmur Diagnosis

  Although the condition affects a small percentage of pets, a dog heart murmur is a serious health problem that requires immediate veterinary attention. Each case is different, and some heart murmurs may not significantly influence your pet's life, while others may be linked to fatal heart conditions.

• Dog Heart Murmur

  A dog heart murmur is an abnormal beating of the heart. The typical "thump, thump" of a normally beating heart is not what you will hear if you listen with stethoscope to a dog with a heart murmur.

• Dog Heart Failure: Identifying Possible Symptoms

  Dog heart failure is a serious, life threatening condition with a number of causes. You need to know how to identify the symptoms.

• Dog Heart Attack Symptoms

  Dog heart attack can occur in all breeds. Genetic predisposition, underlying medical factors and abnormalities of the heart can increase the dog's risk of having a heart attack. In order to deal with pets suffering from a heart attack, it's necessary to understand and identify the symptoms of the attack when it's underway.

• Diagnosing Dog Heart Disease

  Dog heart disease is common, but it's also a silent killer for dogs. Heart disease left untreated can be fatal.

• Diagnosing Canine Congestive Heart Failure

  Canine congestive heart failure is a leading cause of death among older dogs. It's a condition that arises as the heart ages and deteriorates over an extended period of time, and it's characterized by a weakening of the heart muscles and subsequent lack of proper blood flow throughout the body.

• Detecting Heartworms in Dogs With a Microfilarial Concentration Test

  Heartworm in dogs is a parasite that, if allowed to go unchecked, can ultimately lead to congestive heart failure. While a microscopic examination of a blood sample can confirm the presence of offspring (microfilaria), it isn't sensitive enough to totally rule out heartworms if the microfilaria aren't visible.

• CHF: Understanding Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

  Any age-group or breed of dog can develop congestive heart failure (CHF), but it typically strikes over-weight dogs approaching their senior years. Other times it is caused by a hereditary weakness or heartworms.

• Causes of Canine Heart Murmur

  Canine heart murmur is caused by problems with your dog's heart valves and can indicate a serious problem, which can result in heart failure. If you notice a heart murmur, consult your veterinarian immediately.

• Cardiovascular Disorders in Dogs

  Symptoms and treatment for cardiovascular disorders in dogs including heart disease and Heartworm disease info.

• Cardiomyopathy in Dogs

  When dogs develop cardiomyopathy associated with Cushing's disease they do usually improve once the Cushing's disease is controlled. Other heart disease is possible, such as failure of a heart valve or an arrhyrthmia from another cause but the cardiologist should be able to help determine exactly what the problem is and be able to give you a better idea of the prognosis. There are treatments for this condition.

• Canine Heartworm Treatment with Merial

  This heartworm treatment is used if your dog tests high-positive for heartworms. He will need monthly injections to his lumbar region (back muscles). It's best to have your veterinarian perform these complex injections.

• Canine Cardiomyopathy Symptoms

  Canine cardiomyopathy refers to a group of conditions related to a weakening of the heart muscles. Cardiomyopathy symptoms are used to diagnose the condition, but often appear only when the pet is in late-stage heart failure.

• Can a Dog Heart Murmur Be Treated?

  A dog heart murmur is caused by a problem with heart valves that affect communication between the left and right side of the heart. If left untreated, this could lead to complete heart failure.

• Blood pressure monitoring

  It is harder to measure blood pressure in dogs and cats than it is in humans because of the variances in size, anatomy and willingness to sit still and allow the process to take place. There are three methods for obtaining reasonably accurate blood pressure measurement.

• 10 Symptoms of Canine Heart Murmur

  A canine heart murmur is caused when the blood flows abnormally in a canine heart. The abnormal change in the dog heart can cause the right side of the heart to not communicate well with the left side, sometimes affecting a dog's health.

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