Canine Heart Murmur and Congestive Heart Failure
Canine congestive heart failure is defined as a condition that is the result of an abnormality in the performance and construction of the the walls and chambers of the heart. There are two primary types in which this disorder shows itself in. If the heart chamber walls are thickened, the capacity to pump blood is decreased and blood flow is also decreased. In addition, your dog’s heart becomes bigger when the walls are stretched thin; also causing decrease in the effectivity of the organ to pump sufficient blood.
While the dog’s heart may, for a while, work harder to make up for the decrease in function; eventually it will weaken considerably – sufficient to cause canine heart failure. Symptoms of this include increased drooling, a bluish tongue, and a grayish hue around the mouth area, coughing, labored breathing and becoming easily tired. Unfortunately when these signs show themselves, the ailment is likely in its latter stages.
Your vet may confirm findings of cardiovascular abnormailities or an enlarged heart via chest x-rays and ultrasound. It is important that you do because if you misdiagnose the dog’s condition, administering inappropriate drugs can prove to be fatal. Verify the report and take the essential steps that will hopefully help extend your pet’s life.
One of the most caring things you can do to help your pet is to give him the correct meals that consist of healthy and nutrients enriched food. This includes lean meat and vegetables like pumpkin, beets, zucchini, yams and carrots. Mix the vegetable and meat together and chop it into small pieces that your dog can easily eat.
Supplements such as L-Carnitine, Taurine, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin # and Omega-3 should be incorporated in the dog’s food intakemeals. Research have shown that the right amount of these nutrients have many times, decreased mortality rates and significantly enhanced cardiac health.
Once dog heart failure is diagnosed, the first thing your vet will probably recommend is medications that will constrict the blood vessels so that the blood will flow better. Diuretics also help in improving blood flow. It flushes out excess fluids in some of the canine’s organs; this also helps in the management of canine heart murmur.
Heart murmurs in dogs are occasionally found during a puppy’s formative years. If you have your dog checked earlier, the doctor would have been able to identify it easily. Instead of short, quick beats; the animal’s heartbeats will sound like having softer and longer thumps in his chest. Heart murmurs are sometimes caused by anemia and inborn cardiac abnormalities, however there are treatments that will help this condition not to become worse than it can be.
Other than a nutritional diet and regular exercise, herbal and homeopathic tonics are said to fight the degenerative effects of canine heart murmur. Kalium phosphate, calcium fluoride and arnica montana are other effective ingredients that help support the general health of the dog’s blood pressure and cardiovascular system.
Canine congestive heart failure is an unfortunate fact some pet owners will need to face. No pet owner wants that on any person of course but you can choose to not let this sickness rule your dog’s life. Extend the life of your pet and make it as easy as you can for him – if health is a consequence of happiness and love, then make it a goal to give your pet its very best health every single day of its life.
