Canine Congestive Heart Failure and Your Dog
Friday, November 26th, 2010Canine congestive heart failure is defined as a condition caused by an abnormality in the function and construction of the heart, its chambers and walls. There are two main forms in which this ailment shows itself in. If the heart chamber walls are thickened, the ability to pump blood is reduced and blood flow is also reduced. Also, the heart becomes enlarged when the walls are stretched; 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 compensate for the worsened performance; eventually it will weaken considerably - enough to cause canine cardiac failure. Signs of heart failure include increased drooling, a bluish tongue, and a grayish tinge around the mouth area, coughing, labored breathing and being easily tired. Unfortunately when these signs manifest, the ailment is usually in its more advanced stages.
A good veterinarian may confirm findings of cardiovascular abnormailities or an enlarged heart throught the recommended chest x-rays and ultrasound. It is important that you do this because if you misdiagnose the dog’s condition, administering inappropriate drugs can prove to be lethal to the dog’s system. Confirm the report and take the essential steps that are likely to help extend your pet’s life.
One of the most important things you can do to help your dog is to give him the correct meals that consist of nourishing and nutrients enriched food. This means incorporating 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.
Additional supplements Omega-3, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, Taurine and L-Carnitine should be incorporated in the dog’s food intakemeals. Research have shown that the right amount of these nutrients have in many cases, decreased mortality rates and significantly improved cardiac well-being.
Once dog heart failure is diagnosed, the first thing your vet will probably recommend is medicine that will constrict the blood vessels so that the blood will flow more smoothly. Diuretics also help in improving blood flow. It takes out excess fluids in some of the canine’s organs; this also helps in the management of canine heart murmur.
Heart murmurs are often discovered during a puppy’s formative years. If you have your puppy checked earlier, the veterinarian would have been able to identify it easily. Instead of short, sharp throbbing; 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, but there are treatments that will help this ailment not to become worse than it can be.
Other than a good diet and regulated 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 aid in promoting the general health of the dog’s blood pressure and cardiovascular system.
Canine congestive heart failure is an unfortunate fact of life some dog owners will have to face. No one wishes that on any person of course but make a choice to not let this ailment rule your dog’s life. Prolong the life of your dog 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 dog its best health every single day of its life.