Heart Diseases in Pet

Do pets get heart disease like human also? Yes, they do. The heart disease (cardiomyopathy) is a state when the heart is no longer able to maintain normal capillary pressure, cardiac output and/or systematic blood pressure that make the heart unable to provide and circulate oxygenated blood to the body. Heart diseases can be congenital (i.e. present from birth) or acquired (i.e. occur later in life). Many heart diseases in animals are heritable. The heritable heart diseases can be congenital or acquired.

Heart disease in dogs usually caused by the damage to the valves or stretching of the muscle or known as valvular disease which usually affects small breed dogs of over 5 years old. While for cats, the heart muscle can become abnormally thickened with age. This condition is called as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The thickened walls reduce the capacity of the heart chambers and therefore the volume of blood delivered to the body.

Symptoms of Heart Diseases
Heart diseases in dogs are quite common. The clinical signs of heart diseases depend on the type of the disease and severity and some heart diseases may not have symptoms at all. But usually dogs with heart diseases and heart failure may develop symptoms such as:

fatigue
reduced willingness to walk and exercise
difficulty in breathing
loss appetite
weight loss
distended abdomen
trouble sleeping
coughing

While for cats, they tend to hide a serious illness until it reaches a critical stage. Therefore, most cats that develop clinical signs of cardiomyopathy will appear to have been ill for only a few days. Just prior to the state of heart failure and death, the cat may become:

very inactive
cough
exhibit laboured breathing
poor appetite

How to Diagnose

Initial Physical Exam
The vet listens to your cat’s heart with a stethoscope to detect murmurs, irregular rhythms, or abnormal sounds. They’ll also check breathing rate and look for signs like fluid buildup.
Discuss Medical History
The vet will ask about any symptoms you’ve noticed — such as coughing, difficulty breathing, decreased activity, or fainting spells.
Chest X-rays (Radiographs)
These images help the vet see the size and shape of the heart and lungs, looking for enlargement or fluid accumulation.
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
This test measures the heart’s electrical activity to spot arrhythmias or conduction problems.
Echocardiogram (Heart Ultrasound)
The most detailed test — it uses ultrasound waves to create real-time images of the heart, showing muscle thickness, valve function, and blood flow.
Blood Tests
Bloodwork can reveal underlying issues and measure heart-related biomarkers that indicate stress or damage.
Blood Pressure Measurement
High blood pressure can be a cause or effect of heart disease, so vets often check this during diagnosis.

What to Do if Your Pet is Having a Heart Attack

If you recognize the symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, please seek for medical attention immediately. Heart attacks can be both mild and serious.
If your dog has a serious heart attack, such as one that results in collapse or sudden death, CPR can be performed.
There are also some apps that would help pet’s owners monitor their pet’s health. Check them out to help you improve the life of your pet.

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