Dog Health Questions - Canine Heart Disease Causes
Dogs rarely have Heart Attacks but tend to get diseases of the valves of the heart which can result in heart murmurs. The heart valves can lose their ability to close properly, causing abnormal blood flow or the muscular walls of the heart become thinned and weakened. Causes include the following:
- Congenital disorders some of which are due to genetic factors,
- Infections
- Parasites
- Diet Deficiencies
- Obesity will aggravate the condition
Different Types of Canine Heart Disease
- CVD - Heart valves can lose their ability to close properly, causing abnormal blood flow - Chronic Valvular Disease (CVD)
- DCM - The muscular walls of the heart become thinned and weakened - Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
- Heart Failure - DCM and CVD can result in the same serious condition - heart failure Canine heart failure is caused by one side of the heart being required to do more than it is physically able causing the muscles to fail
Heart Failure
- Heart Failure happens when the heart cannot pump enough blood around to meet the needs of the dog's body
- Continuing to work harder to pump blood, further damage can occur
- Blood pressure increases