Dog CardioVascular

The commonest heart disease in dogs is Valvular Endocardiosis, where the valves inside the heart become distorted until they are unable to fully close with each heartbeat. This causes turbulence in the blood flow (creating a ‘murmur’ detectable with a stethoscope) and reduces the efficiency of the heart due to valve leakage and backflow of the blood. There are also other forms of heart valve disease where the valve is unable to open fully, therefore also reducing the cardiac output.

Diseases of the heart muscle are called Cardiomyopathies. Certain breeds of dog are prone to a condition known as Dilated Cardiomyopathy, where the muscle of the heart wall degenerates and is unable to beat with sufficient strength to maintain adequate circulation.

As the output from the heart is reduced by any form of heart disease, certain physiological mechanisms kick in to try to compensate. The heart rate is increased to compensate for less blood being pumped forward with each individual beat. The heart frequently starts to enlarge or dilate as a result of the pressure changes within. The blood pressure in the peripheral circulation starts to rise as the blood vessels are constricted in the body’s attempts to maintain circulation to the key organs, the heart and the brain. This increase in pressure unfortunately makes it harder for the heart to push blood around the body, and a vicious circle develops.

At a certain point, the pressure changes in the circulation lead to fluid leakage from the smaller blood vessels and pooling of fluid either in the lungs (causing breathlessness and coughing) or in the abdomen (causing ascites or dropsy). This is called Congestive Heart Failure. As the circulation deteriorates, it may become unable to cope any more and decompensates, at which point the situation may become life-threatening.

What can we do?

- Anti oxidants such as vitamins C and E are a great help. In particular, Vitamin C helps to keep the arteries flexible and encourages the blood vessels to relax, lowering the blood pressure.
- Supplement with Folic acid, vitamins B12 and B6.
- Fish oils or flaxseed oil help to reduce blood clotting, lower the blood pressure
- CoEnzyme Q10 is an anti-oxidant that helps stabilise the heart's rhythm.
- Minerals such as magnesium and calcium help promote vasodilation (relaxation of the blood vessels), aiding the reduction in blood pressure.
- Natural herbs such as hawthorn and gingko biloba have been shown to increase the blood flow through both the heart and brain
- Amino acids L-carnitine and taurine help increase the oxygen flow to the heart.

Dog CardioVascular

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