Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare heart disease in dogs.It occurs when The muscular walls of the heart suffer from thickening and increase their stiffness.As a consequence, blood circulation is diminished, since the heart cannot pump enough blood during the systole and neither receives enough blood during the diastole.This cardiomyopathy usually leads to insufficiency.Congestive heart disease.
If your dog suffers from this disease, it will be essential that you go to a veterinarian as soon as possible to offer you a diagnosis and start the relevant treatment.
If you need more information, in the Expert Expert article we will explain in general what you need to know about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs-Symptoms and treatment .
Causes, risk factors and symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs
For starters it is essential to know that the causes of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs are unknown.However, it is thought that it may be related to genetics because it occurs in this modem in humans and other animals.
Dogs young males and puppies are more likely to suffer from this cardiomyopathy.The disease has also been reported more frequently in the following breeds : Boston Terrier, Dalmatian, German Shepherd and Rottweiler.However, it should be clarified that it is not a high incidence, since this disease is rare in dogs.Most dogs that suffer from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy do not have symptoms.When they show symptoms, these are:
- Exaggerated agitation
- Accelerated breathing
- Difficulty breathing
- Frequent panting
- Heart murmur
- Arrhythmia
- Pulmonary edema
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Lack of ape tito.
- Exercise intolerance
- Vomits
- Fainting from intense exercise
Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs
The diagnosis of canine hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is difficult because there are often no symptoms and because when they exist they are very similar to those of other heart diseases.The initial exams are auscultation and the physical examination.Then, electrocardiograms, radiographs or echocardiograms can be done, as determined by the veterinarian.
X-rays can show the presence of pulmonary edema and ventricular enlargement in some cases, but in many cases not They provide useful information.Similarly, sonographic electrocardiograms to detect arrhythmias, but not all dogs with hypertrophic cardiomyopathies have arrhythmias.
The only reliable test to diagnose this disease is echocardiography , or ultrasound of the heart.Lastly not available in all veterinary centers, so many times the diagnosis is made by discarding other conditions s similar.
Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs
The treatment for dogs that do not have symptoms is to restrict exercise and maintain a low sodium diet .Generally these dogs do not need further treatment , although it is necessary to do periodic veterinary checkups to control the disease.
Dogs that already have symptoms are at a more advanced stage of the disease and, in addition to care mentioned, they may require different medications for their treatment.Diuretics are usually used to reduce the accumulation of fluids, medications to regulate cardiac contractions in dogs that have arrhythmias and vasodilators.As the doses, they depend on each case and should only be prescribed by the veterinarian.
The prognosis is good for dogs that do not have symptoms.However, the prognosis of symptomatic dogs will depend on what advanced than this disease.For the latter, Many times the prognosis is unfavorable.
Prevention of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs
There is no way to prevent hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs, since the specific causes and factors that cause their appearance are unknown.Maintain a healthy lifestyle , do not force To the dog to exercise excessively and avoid food for humans that can not eat the dogs are some useful tips that we can follow.Obviously in case of any symptoms of discomfort it will be important to go to the veterinarian.
This article is merely informative, at Animals and Pets Online we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis.We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case you present any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in dogs-Symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Cardiovascular Diseases section.
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