Heart disease
More than 10% of pets have some form of heart disease.
Cardiovascular diseases tend to develop slowly and insidiously. In general, there is no cure for heart disease, and the purpose of treatment is to slow down progression and to maintain quality of life. Heart diseases can be congenital (present at birth) or acquired (developed over time), so even young dogs may have cardiac issues.
Here are some common heart diseases of dogs and how tracking your dog using a PetPace collar may help with early identification and disease management.
Myxomatous mitral valve disease, also known as degenerative mitral valve disease, is a common heart disease in dogs, causing thickening and gradual dysfunction of the mitral valve, which regulates the blood flow between the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. The condition may progress over time and lead to enlargement of the heart and eventually to heart failure.
In the early stages of the disease, the heart may compensate well, and no symptoms are evident, except maybe for a murmur that your vet will detect during a physical exam. Later on, your dog may show exercise intolerance (tires easily or after little effort), coughing, fast or labored breathing, restlessness, and decreased appetite.
Breeds
Mitral valve disease is seen more frequently in smaller breeds, such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Miniature poodles, Shih Tzu, Maltese, Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Schnauzers, Whippets, Pomeranians, Pekingese, Fox Terrier, and Yorkshire terriers.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system may help in early detection and in disease management and monitoring for deterioration:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased sleep score
Atrial fibrillation (a.k.a A-fib) is a type of arrhythmia or irregular heart rhythm, in which the heart muscle, specifically the part called the atria, is twitching uncontrollably. Symptoms may include exercise intolerance (the dog tires easily or after little effort), coughing, fast or labored breathing, restlessness, and decreased appetite.
Breeds
A-fib typically appears in large breed dogs, such as the Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Doberman Pinscher, Boxer, and German Shepherd.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system may help in early detection and disease management:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased sleep score
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common heart disease in large-breed dogs. With DCM, the heart muscle gradually enlarges and stretches and eventually becomes thin and weak, which leads to difficulty in pumping blood to the body. DCM develops slowly over time and often goes unnoticed by pet owners until the dog goes into heart failure.
Signs of DCM include exercise intolerance (the dog tires easily or after little effort), fast or labored breathing, restlessness and difficulty lying down, cough, weakness, decreased appetite, and fainting.
Breeds
DCM, unlike mitral valve disease, is more common in large breed dogs, such as Doberman Pinschers, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Danes, Boxers, Saint Bernards, Scottish Deerhounds, Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundlands. Some breeds, such as English Springer Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels, and Portuguese Water Dogs, have an inherited trait that predisposes them to develop DCM.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system may help in early detection and disease management:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased sleep score
Congestive heart failure (CHF) happens when the heart fails to pump blood efficiently, which leads to fluid build-up (congestion) in the lungs, abdomen, or both. Many heart diseases can lead to reduced cardiac efficiency and CHF.
Signs of CHF in dogs include coughing, rapid and/or labored breathing, exercise intolerance (the dog tires easily or after little effort), weakness, blue-tinged gums, swollen abdomen, and fainting/collapse.
CHF is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
Breeds
Small breeds have a genetic propensity to valve disease and CHF, including toy poodles, Pomeranians, Dachshunds, and Cavalier King Charles spaniels. Large breeds are prone to developing heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), particularly giant breeds such as St. Bernards, Newfoundlands, and Great Danes.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system can help in the early detection and monitoring of treatment efficacy:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased sleep score
Pericardial effusion occurs when fluid builds up in the space between the heart muscle and the thin membrane that envelopes the heart, i.e. the pericardium. This fluid puts pressure on the heart and diminishes its ability to pump blood, a condition called tamponade. Pericardial effusion is a medical emergency.
Dogs with pericardial effusion are usually very sick, but the symptoms are not specific: lethargy, exercise intolerance (the dog tires easily or after little effort), reduced appetite, rapid and/or labored breathing, vomiting, pale gums, and swollen abdomen.
Breeds
Breeds with a higher risk of developing pericardial effusion include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Boxers, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and American Bulldogs.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system can help in the early detection and monitoring of treatment efficacy:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased sleep score
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a genetic heart disease that is specific for Boxer dogs, although similar symptoms have also been reported in English bulldogs and in cats. Affected dogs have intermittent episodes of irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia) that may result in collapse, fainting, and even sudden death.
How can PetPace help?
The PetPace system can help in the early detection and monitoring of treatment efficacy:
- Increased pulse rate
- Decreased HRV
- Increased respiratory rate
- Decreased activity score
- Changes in posture routine
- Decreased Wellness score
- Deviations from the Health Profile
- Decreased sleep score
