The heart is one of the most vital organs of the body. When it ceases to function properly it can have serious effects on the health of your pet. In order for the body to work effectively it must receive adequate supplies of oxygen and nutrients - both of which are carried in the bloodstream. For these supplies to reach the body the heart must pump the blood.

The heart consists of two "pumps". The right side receives blood from the body and sends it to the lungs where oxygen is added. The left side of the heart receives the oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body.

The signs of a heart problem will depend on which side of the heart is in trouble and where exactly the problem is. Signs to look for include:

- tiring quickly when exercised

- coughing

- difficulty breathing

- swollen abdomen (due to fluid build-up)

- collapse

Heart failure can be either:

1. Congenital - this means that the animal is born with the condition.

2. Acquired - this means that the problem has developed as the animal has got older. This is the most common type of heart problem seen in pets and it is seen most frequently in dogs.

There are essentially five different heart disorders seen in dogs and cats:

Disturbances of cardiac rhythm or arrhythmia

Diseases of the heart muscle

Heart valve disease

Congenital disease

Pericardial disease (i.e. disease of the sac surrounding the heart).

If heart disease is suspected in your pet there are a number of procedures and tests that can be performed to determine exactly what the problem is and more importantly what we can do to help your pet’s heart.

Chest Auscultation - this means listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. We can hear the heart rate, rhythm and any murmurs as well as detect any changes in the sounds of the lungs when the animal breathes.

Chest X-Ray - from this we can determine the shape, size and position of the heart as well as any changes in the lungs that may reflect any heart trouble. In order for a good quality x-ray to be taken it may be necessary to sedate your pet.

Xray showing early heart disease and atrial enlargement.

Electrocardiogram - if your pet is thought to have an arrhythmia then an ECG will be used to tell us about the electrical activity in the heart. This will give us information towards determining what the exact problem is.

Echocardiogram - this involves using our ultrasound machine to "look" inside your pet’s heart and actually see it functioning. We are able to see if the valves are working well and measure the thickness of the heart to calculate if the heart is working as well as it should be.

Blood tests - there are certain conditions that can be detected using blood tests. Sometimes blood tests are also required to ensure that your pet’s other organs, such as the kidneys, are working well. This is important so that we know that the drugs used for the heart condition will not cause any damaging side effects.

Once your pet’s exact condition has been diagnosed then it should be treated. While we are unable to do heart and valve transplant operations in dogs and cats (yet!) we can use a number of different medications to help the heart condition. Your Vet will discuss which medication is best for your animal’s particular needs. Under most circumstances your pet will need to stay on the medication for the remainder of their lives. The modern medications used these days will not only improve the quality of life of a pet with heart disease but will very likely extend that life.