Heart failure or heart failure can present a variety of symptoms in a dog. These are caused by the dog’s heart pumping too little blood into the circulatory system, resulting in an undersupply of oxygen in the body.
The symptoms of heart failure in dogs do not usually show up overnight, but are just as insidious as the disease develops. You should pay attention to these signals.
Heart failure: exhaustion and bad condition
If a four-legged friend falls ill with this dog disease, his general condition deteriorates. His resilience decreases and he quickly becomes out of breath when playing. You can also tell that they are in poor condition when they go for a walk: instead of romping around, the dog often stops and can hardly be persuaded to keep going.
He may cough or breathe unusually fast (hyperventilation) during and after exercise. He lies down and sleeps a lot, always seems tired and probably eats less than usual. The further the disease progresses, the more drastically the exhaustion becomes.
Physical Symptoms of Dog Disease
A dog with heart failure often shows bluish mucous membranes due to the lack of oxygen. It also includes fainting spells, which sometimes last only a few seconds. The reason for this is the poor blood circulation in the brain. The dog with heart failure may lose weight due to the lack of appetite. However, accumulation of water in the legs and under the abdomen can also lead to an increase in body size.
Veterinary examination for heart failure
If you suspect heart failure, you should see a veterinarian as soon as possible. He can detect a possible cardiac insufficiency on the basis of changed heart sounds before external symptoms become visible. If there is already an insufficiency, the veterinarian recognizes further symptoms such as water in the lungs or congested veins. He will also likely notice a quieter heartbeat with background noise and a flat pulse.
For an exact diagnosis, the four-legged friend is first listened to; This is followed by an ECG (electrocardiogram), X-ray or heart ultrasound. An early diagnosis and a quick start of treatment are extremely important for heart problems in order to avoid organ damage and to maintain the quality of life of your pet.
