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Pet Cardiology
Forms of Heart Disease in Cats and Dogs
Heart Disease comes in two forms: congenital or acquired.
Congenital heart disease is diagnosed when a heart defect is present at birth. While most cases begin to present at a young age, some may go undetected for many years. The second form of heart disease, acquired, occurs due to accumulated damages, which results in abnormal heart function. Heart disease can develop as a secondary issue, with the primary problem being in another body system entirely, such as the adrenal glands. It is believed that genetics and lifestyle (weight, physical activity, and diet) play a significant role in the development of heart disease.
Symptoms of Heart Disease
- Intolerance to exercise
- Tiring easily
- Fainting
- Coughing/hacking
- Swollen belly
- Increased respiratory rate
- Difficulty breathing
- Tongue or gums become bluish-gray
- Weight loss
Should your pet begin to experience any of these symptoms, we urge you to contact us and schedule an appointment with one of our Doctors to evaluate your situation.
Diagnosis & Management
Kennesaw Mountain Animal Hospital’s state-of-the-art facility is equipped to diagnose and manage most forms of heart disease. Our team includes doctors with a special interest in the field of Cardiology. We utilize echocardiograms, or ultrasounds of the heart, to diagnose and monitor heart disease in many patients. If your cat/dog has a heart murmur but also needs to have surgery, such as a dental cleaning, echocardiograms are beneficial for pre-anesthetic workups to ensure that the patient is healthy enough to safely undergo anesthesia. Echos are also crucial in the multi-modal management of our geriatric patients, helping to ensure they maintain the best quality of life possible. For highly complex cases, such as congenital issues in young animals, we offer referrals to boarded Cardiologists to ensure they receive the specialized care needed.
Management through proper medications, etc. to offset the symptoms/progression of heart disease can afford you more time with your pet and a better quality of life after diagnosis.
