Heart disease is the 2nd biggest canine killer after cancer. Research shows that the incidence of heart disease in dogs aged 5-8 years is as high as 10%, which means that 1 out of every 10 dogs suffer from heart disease. Breeds like Pug, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Dachshund, Labrador, Golden, and Teddy, have always had a high incidence of heart disease.
Causes of disease
The cause of heart disease in dogs may be congenital or acquired.
1. congenitally formed. From a genetic point of view, there may be abnormalities in the heart structure in certain places, poor development, and the blood does not flow properly.
Depending on the location and degree of congenital heart disease, the age of exposure to symptoms may vary. Mainly.
2. Acquired. Dogs heart momentarily overburdened, is the most common cause of acute heart failure, such as long-term leisure of the sick dog, sudden strenuous exercise; treatment of disease, too fast or too much infusion, especially the strong stimulating drugs for the heart muscle, and an easy to ignore is the dog obesity, transitional obesity will cause the burden of heart beat, heart muscle thinning, and finally lead to heart failure.
Symptoms
Dogs who suffer from heart disease usually have the following symptoms.
1. Shortness of breath
This is perhaps the most well-known sign of heart disease. When the heart loses pressure to pump blood to various parts of the body, the lungs are forced to work at high capacity to seek more fresh oxygen and more blood flow.
If your dog is panting at “odd” times, such as when he is not very hot, not just after exercise, or when he is sleeping or resting, you need to pay attention!
2. Loss of appetite
Many diseases that cause discomfort in dogs can lead to loss of appetite, including heart disease. Because of health changes, the dog will lose interest in food.
3. Weight or weight gain
Pets with heart disease do not lose weight immediately and sometimes even gain weight despite a loss of appetite. But the heart disease to the advanced stage, the weight will drop down again.
Weight gain is also different from other obesity, and is more likely to be a bulging and distended belly. This is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen due to poor circulation caused by blocked blood flow.
4. Easily fatigued
Because of the low efficiency of the heart, it is difficult for the heart to provide oxygen and other nutrients to other parts of the body, resulting in the dog’s lack of energy and easily become fatigued.
5. Behavioral changes
Dogs with heart disease may also behave differently. They may prefer to be alone, be depressed, or not be interested in toys that they previously enjoyed.
6. Fainting
If your dog suddenly falls or faints, you need to seek immediate medical help. This can often be the result of some serious health problem, such as a heart attack.
7. Coughing
A cough caused by a respiratory infection can usually be cured in a few days with simple treatment. This is not the case with coughs caused by heart disease, which usually occur after your dog exercises, or at night.
Treatment
Most heart disease cannot be cured, but proper diet and nutritional modifications can help the heart function, reduce symptoms and slow the progression of the disease, which is why it is so important to start making food changes early.
Dietary management of heart disease.
1. Strengthen the heart’s heart muscle
The heart muscle is responsible for the contractile movement of the heart. Nutrients such as: levotrimethyl tibiatin? Beet salts and taurocholine can improve the performance of the heart muscle. The amount of potassium and magnesium contained in food should be carefully adjusted. Too high or too low levels of potassium in the body can affect the heart rate. The amount of magnesium, on the other hand, is closely related to the energy of the heart muscle exercise. Complex antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, taurocholine and lutein) can also slow down the deterioration of the disease.
2. Reducing water retention Low-salt foods combined with medications can reduce water retention. This will reduce the stress on the heart and the risk of high blood pressure.
3. Maintain weight
Dogs with advanced heart disease often lose weight due to a decreased appetite. This loss of appetite is often caused by discomfort and the side effects of medications. Weight loss, in turn, has a negative effect on the dog’s overall body condition. Therefore, the food prescribed for dogs with heart disease must taste good and provide enough energy, and must contain enough protein, which is important for the body’s immunity and for maintaining body muscle.
4. Limit excitement and exercise. Usually control the dog exercise time, reduce the factors that cause excitement, in the summer high temperature and low pressure weather and the New Year firecrackers to avoid going out.
Heart disease prescription food.
1. Vascular support: polyphenols play an important role in maintaining the process of vasodilation and also assist in neutralizing free radicals.
2. Early renal support: Considering the cause of chronic renal failure, heart disease prescription food is low in phosphorus.
3. Electrolyte balance: Limiting sodium content reduces the workload of the heart. Potassium and magnesium levels are adjusted to the clinically optimal levels.
4. L-carnitine and taurine: taurine and L-carnitine are indispensable elements to maintain the function of heart muscle cells, and they can also enhance the contractility of the heart.
Sudden first aid
1. Heart attack is very sudden and no signs, but in fact, the dog will have subtle convulsions before the attack, so when the family dog suffering from heart disease as his master should always observe the dog’s normal state, please before his attack to pull out the fast-acting (these fast-acting drugs are best to consult a doctor to buy), quickly pick open the mouth to fill the medicine, try to press the drug under the root of the tongue. At this time, no matter how he resists, you must be firm, and even forcefully cover your mouth to let the medicine roll into the esophagus. Because of the great taste of quick-acting, the dog will vomit again after a while, but it does not matter, as long as there is a little taste into him to save (because the principle of quick-acting is a strong cardiovascular expansion, so that the heart’s blood quickly alive). Almost a 2-3 seconds, you can hear the dog began to pant and gradually even.
2. Pet the dog well and let it pant out, while this gives him comfort psychologically. Now that the most dangerous step has passed, you can have time to open the window to let the air circulate, but do not move the dog, let him slow down in place and let him choose his most comfortable posture. Next he is willing to drink water to give some warm water.
3. It is recommended to keep a few oxygen bags at home, that is, the kind used by mountain climbers for a few hours to fill any. It is best to give some pure oxygen after the attack, when he is already in a calm situation.
4. go to the pet hospital (if the doctor treatment will also recommend you to use) to buy F5 such professional pet heart disease maintenance drugs. This medicine first aid is not as effective as the quick-acting, but the maintenance effect is very good. You can give your dog one before you leave home to be on the safe side.
For older dogs, it is important to control the amount of food and feed more vitamins. There are also dogs that lose weight instead due to the decline of kidney function. However, the activity should be properly reduced, sleep should be properly increased, and the food fed should be soft. For years has formed the eating, sleeping and activity habits, but also continue to implement, do not destroy its normal comfortable life. Older dogs have declining eyesight and hearing, and delayed reactions. Dog owners are better off directing it with petting or hand signals, not shouting at it, and not forcing them to play with children and puppies. Dogs kept indoors should be moved to a kennel close to the fixed point of urination and defecation, in order to facilitate the old dog to urinate at night. Some dogs get old and have heart disease, and many dogs have asthma due to heart disease. Dogs go out to avoid overheating and overcooling, when the weather is hot, appropriate to turn on some air conditioning to them, but not too low temperature. Do not take a shower or bath immediately after returning from a walk.
Attention
Give your dog a physical examination at least once a year, and twice a year for older dogs, so that early detection and treatment.
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