Congestive Heart Failure in Pets – Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Pets getting diagnosed with any kind of disease is terrifying, more so when it’s Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). It progresses gradually and might be difficult to diagnose in the early stages. Keep on reading to get an insight into the disease, its symptoms, diagnosis, and possible treatments.

Congestive Heart Failure is a very common disease among animals, especially dogs. The condition of CHF occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump sufficient amount of blood in the body. And when the heart cannot pump properly, the blood flows back into the lungs, causing the fluids to accumulate into body cavities, usually abdomen or lungs.

The first and foremost sign of CHF is change in respiratory rate in pets. The ideal respiratory rate is less than or equal to 30 breaths per minute while resting. So, if you want to check manually, see that the pet is sleeping comfortably, and then record his breathing rate.

Main signs of Congestive Heart Failure

• Lethargic
• Bloated
• Not indulging in activities
• Dizziness
• Coughing·

There Are Two Types of Congestive Heart Failure

Right-Sided Heart Failure – Where the fluid accumulates into abdomen, resulting in swelling.

Left-Sided Heart Failure – This is more common among dogs. It happens when the fluid seeps into the lungs tissue, causing ‘pulmonary edema.’

Diagnosis

Whenever the pet shows any of the mentioned symptoms, the first step should be to consult a vet. They will do a primary diagnose and check for any disturbance in the pet’s breathing rhythm using stethoscope. Along with normal heart beats, there will be an additional noise, something like murmuring, which is the sound of fluids around the lungs. That noise indicates the danger of CHS.

These symptoms can be of any underlying heart disease, so it’s crucial to do a proper diagnose. Chest X-Ray is done to study the working of the heart, and to check if any fluid has accumulated in or around the lungs. As a heart has to put more effort in pumping blood around the body, its size will also change, which can be detected in an X-ray.

Electrocardiogram (ECG) test is conducted to measure the electrical activity of the heart. This will record the pattern of heartbeat, so if there are any changes in breathing, this will reflect the abnormalities.

Echocardiogram is an ultrasound which provides pictures of the chambers and valves of the heart and helps in evaluating any heart contractions.  

Treatment

While there is no cure for CHS, many different treatments are available which eases the symptoms and prevents it from spreading or becoming life-threatening. The treatment for CHS is different for every animal as many things are taken into consideration. So, ensure that your vet knows the medical history of your pet.

One of the most common treatments is diuretics. It increases the excretion of water from the body and helps remove the accumulated fluids. This strengthens the heart for as long as you use the treatment. Low salt diet is also incorporated to prevent edema after treating it.

From years of research, doctors have found that Vitamin E is very beneficial for the pets with heart condition. Medicines are temporary treatments, its effect will cease when you stop using them. Vitamin E prevents the formation of excessive scar tissue, which is the main cause of CHS. In some conditions, the pets may have to be treated with medicines, but if you want to prevent the disease, giving a diet consisting of Vitamin E is suggested.

A change in lifestyle has also shown a considerable amount of progress in pets suffering from CHS. Discussing the diet with vet would be the best option, as they will recommend food with low sodium. You will also have to ensure that the dog lives in a stress-free environment. It’s important to take care of their mental health as it is directly related to their heart functions.

Prognosis

As there is no cure for this, you will have to rely on treatments to sustain with this disease. Taking care of your furry companion and providing necessary treatment is the best you can do. Preventive measures could also be taken so that your pet doesn’t have to suffer from such deadly disease.

This is indeed a life-threatening disease if left untreated. Always ask your vet for advice, even if it’s a small thing, it’s better to run it by a vet and follow the given advice. These are very sensitive cases, so you should always seek a help of a professional. We always wish that our pet remains healthy, though sometimes we have no control over things, so it’s better to be prepared and take immediate actions.

https://discountpetcare.com.au