Care and Treatment
Although your dog may have been diagnosed with a heart disease such as mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy, there are many things you can do to help your dog with a heart condition.
On this website you will find some general tips for the care of your dog with a heart condition. However, these tips aren't a substitute to the personalised care your dog receives from your Vet - so always seek professional advice.
It is important to remember that to date, there is no cure for mitral valve disease or cardiomyopathy in dogs. However, there are treatments that not only greatly improve your dog's quality of life, but can also extend you dog's life span.
Medical treatment may consist of some or all of the following:
- Diuretics that remove excess fluid from the lungs or abdomen.
- Medicines that allow the heart to work more efficiently which should help your dog to live longer.
- Medicines that 'open up' constricted blood vessels, so reducing the work your dog's weakened heart has to do.
- Medicines that improve the strength, the rate or the rhythm of your dog's heart beat.
Your Vet may prescribe more than one medication to help treat different aspects of heart failure, and may also need to make adjustments to the treatments (because heart failure can progress over time).
Ask your Vet if you are unsure of anything related to your dog's treatment regime. Understanding the purpose and possible side effects helps you help your dog.
