Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a term that refers to the heart's inability to pump adequate blood to the body. There are many causes of CHF in dogs. The two most common causes are: Show
For further information on these specific causes, please see the handouts "Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs" and "Mitral Valve Disease in Dogs". Clinical signs of CHF vary depending on whether the dog has left- or right-sided heart failure. What is the difference between right-sided and left-sided CHF?Right-sided congestive heart failure (RS-CHF) causes poor venous blood return to the heart. In other words, when the heart contracts or pumps, instead of the right ventricle pushing the blood through the lungs for oxygenation, some blood leaks through the tricuspid valve (the valve between the right atrium and right ventricle) back into the right atrium. This blood backs up into the systemic circulation (the main circulation of the body) and consequently becomes congested. Fluid accumulates in the abdomen, interfering with the function of the organs in these areas. The abdomen may fill with fluid, a condition called ascites. Fluid may also leak from veins in the limbs, causing swelling, known as peripheral edema. In left-sided congestive heart failure (LS-CHF), when the heart contracts or pumps, instead of the left ventricle pushing the blood into the systemic circulation, some blood leaks through the mitral valve back into the left atrium and then it backs up into the lungs. Fluid then seeps into the lung tissue resulting in pulmonary edema. This causes coughing and difficulty breathing. Left-sided congestive heart failure (LS-CHF) is the most common form of congestive heart failure. The classic signs of heart failure, coughing and fluid in the chest, are most commonly caused by LS-CHF. Is CHF due mainly to heart valve disease?CHF is most commonly caused by valvular insufficiency. It is estimated that 80% of the canine CHF cases are caused by MVI. However, there are many other causes. Disease of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), irregularities of rhythm, and narrowing of some of the major blood vessels can also cause CHF. Initially, MVI results in left-sided congestive heart failure. If left untreated, the heart failure may progress to involve both sides of the heart. What clinical signs should I expect?The most common clinical sign of congestive heart failure (CHF) is persistent coughing accompanied by difficulty breathing. This is due mainly to pulmonary edema or the accumulation of fluid in the lungs. The enlarged heart will also push against the trachea, causing irritation that can induce a cough.
"The most common clinical sign of congestive heart failure is persistent coughing accompanied by difficulty breathing." Many dogs with CHF will tire out more easily, have reduced stamina, and do not engage in playing or walking as they once did. Coughing when at rest or sleeping, excessive panting, persistent loss of appetite, a swollen belly, and pale or bluish gums are also signs associated with heart failure. The dog will develop generalized weight loss and muscle wasting due to the effects of CHF on other body systems. If any of these signs develop in a pet with a heart murmur, notify your veterinarian immediately. Do dogs have heart attacks?In humans a heart attack usually refers to myocardial infarction (MI). Myocardial infarction refers to death of the cells in an area of the heart muscle or myocardium. Cell death is usually due to oxygen deprivation caused by obstruction of the coronary blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscles. Heart attacks are rare in dogs but unexpected and sudden death in dogs diagnosed with any form of heart disease is possible. How is CHF diagnosed?As with any heart problem, diagnosis involves several tests: Auscultation or listening to the heart with a stethoscope is the first step in diagnosing heart disease. Heart murmurs are detected by auscultation; the murmur's location and intensity help determine its significance. The heart rhythm is assessed, and if there are concerns, the veterinarian may simultaneously palpate or feel the pulse to determine its strength and rhythm. Finally, the lungs are assessed, looking for evidence of changes associated with heart failure. Chest X-rays are taken to evaluate the size and shape of the heart and look for lung changes such as the presence of fluid. Blood and urine tests are performed to give an indication of any other disorders in the body. Liver and kidney function are often impaired in patients with heart disease. An electrocardiogram (ECG) measures the electrical activity of the heart and allows accurate determination of both heart rate and rhythm. Any abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias or dysrhythmias) can be detected and evaluated.  Ultrasound examination (echocardiogram) utilizes ultrasound waves to evaluate the heart. The size and thickness of each heart chamber can be evaluated, and the effectiveness of the heart's contractions can be directly observed. Measurements can be taken to evaluate the heart's pumping efficiency. Can't you treat my dog without these tests?Accurate diagnosis gives your veterinarian a much better guide to the type and extent of treatment necessary. Today there is a wide selection of heart medications that can be used to treat congestive heart failure and the treatment regime must be tailored for each patient. Without these tests, your veterinarian is unable to determine the optimal treatment for your pet, and may inadvertently cause more harm than good. With proper treatment, many dogs are able to live a normal life for many months to years. Pam Jack Russell Terrier 4 Months 4 found helpful 4 found helpful Has Symptoms My Pam just died an hour ago and I don't know how or why. Mom told that before she left our house, my Pam was still playing with the other dogs... When I got home, all of our 5 dogs(including her) was so excited for having me home. Sat down a bit and my other dog sat down beside me too. I was playing all of them but then in a sudden moment, Pam suddenly paused and then layed down as if she was lifeless. I panicked out of shock. That was like at 5PM. She was vomiting the food she ate earlier(dog food). We thought she was just full but it was something else for me. I reportedly told my mom what happened to Pam then I was holding Pam facing in front of her like a baby. Mom was shocked because Pam suddenly peed like I think she had no control of doing it(shes a good pup). We didnt bother much because we thought, again, she was just full. And then she went out to the yard(Which means that she could still walk that time) for I dont know what reason so I started finding her almost everywhere in our lot because I know that this will happen (her, dying). When I found her, Her body was already a bit cold, her feet, her belly, her ears. I brought her back in the house, making her feel the warmth from me. I was so concerned that when I held her feet, it was too cold, and her belly having only half heat. I checked her mouth for further notice so that I can know if she's still okay. But When I checked her mouth, her gums was already white and dried and I tried giving her ample of water so that she won't get dried up (apparently I thought it sort of worked because she was able to gain saliva in her mouth again). As time was passing by, I thought she was slowly getting better because she was having her own body heat. I placed her beside me on my bed so that I can watch her closely. She still moved. Then I fell asleep within an hour and I felt her twitching like the act of having some seizures. So I quickly placed her on the floor to see what's happening to her and sadly, she looke liked she was having a hard time. Heavy breathing, catching her breath. Later on a bit, she suddenly stopped the heavy breathings. Her breathing was slowly fading but her heart wast still beating for 5 mins. Then I flashed a light on her eyes to see if it still dilates, but it wasn't responsive anymore, her pupil was steadily big. Upon her dying moment, on her heavy breathing, she was able to fart for like 3 times. I thought nothing came out of her butt. But when I picked her up to put her out of our room, she was able to push out a bloodlike colored stool. It wasn't soft or liquid but it looked grainy. Is there any possible connection (her stool) to die like this sudden? Please, I beg you to answer my questions, What could be the possible reason of her death? For that whole 6 hrs (5 PM to 1AM) From a happy active pup, to being lethargic, to vomiting, to twitching, to having bloodlike colored stool, to non responsive pupil (her death) Please, email me at , if you ever notice this... Thanks... 4 Recommendations Whilst I understand that this is a distressing time, I cannot determine a cause of death without performing a necropsy and I don’t want to randomly speculate on a cause; puppies may be affected especially by infection, poisoning, parasites or internal disease. If you’re looking for specific answers, you should ask your Mom to take Pam for a necropsy to give you the answers you’re looking for. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM July 11, 2018 Was this experience helpful? Page 2Bosco nickname: Bubba Chihuahua 11 Years 1 found helpful 1 found helpful Has Symptoms I lost the love of my life, Bubba 11years old, would have been 12 in April. He collapsed one day out of the blue rushed him to the vet, he said it was not a heart attack would have lasted longer.Said it was probably a seizure. Did blood work and x ray, heart was enlarged but pumping well, sounded good. Blood work #'s were good? Said keep an eye on him. He did not think it was serious. He would not eat much after that but a few treats, acted ok though. 3 days later around 9:00 p.m. he walked around in a perfect circle and just sat down. Looked disoriented. Tried to find the vets # but not listed had emergency # but the emergency clinic was 45 miles away in another town. Bubba's tongue was turning blue he walked slowly to the bedroom wanted on the bed (where he felt safe) put him up there but he looked like he was going to throw up, so I put him back on the floor. (I think now it was pain he was feeling) I left him there and kept trying to find a vet but everyone had the same emergency #. I went back into the hall and he had started bleeding out his anus. I picked him up, put him on the bathroom sink to clean him and his little head fell over my arm and he died. I ran to my husband who could not stand to watch him suffer and did not know he was just bleeding out all over my clothing and floor. When I stopped with him and sat on the floor with him in my arms brought his head up a little from hanging over my arm he looked like he was trying to take a breath, then I guess passed away. His eye still open. I say eye because he had to have one eye removed when he was younger from an eye disorder, then about 2 years ago a mass came up on his tail and the vet said the best thing to do was amputate it. He had had anal gland issues through out his life, vet said should do surgery and remove them, but he had been through so much already and did not seem to bother him that much I did not do it. He did get spots around his anus now and again that would bleed, but would heal up. In the past the vet said it was the anal gland finding another way to expel?? Since his heart was pounding normal and strong, and only enlarged, and all the blood work was good, do you think it could have been the anal glands (infection) that made him bleed out? I know a autopsy could tell for sure but too expensive, and don't want to do that to him, had been thru enough. Sorry I went thru the whole scenario but needed to. He was my son, he got me thru my Mother passing 2 years ago. Thank you for listening, and I'd appreciate anything you think it could have been. My vet was clueless about why, but said it sounded like he had a stroke? But why the bleeding?? Thank you so much Kathy. He was a black and white long haired Chihuahua (apple head) Soooo cute, so tough, did not make a sound thru the whole thing. This all went on almost an hour. :-( March 28, 2018 Bosco nickname: Bubba's Owner Dr. Michele K. DVM 1 Recommendations I'm so sorry for your loss of Bubba, that is very sad!! I do not think that his anal glands would cause that kind of bleeding, but it is possible that he had an undetected mass in his colon or rectum that may have burst, healed, then burst again, to explain the two episodes that he had. It is unlikely that there would have been anything that you could have done, even if you had known, if it was that advanced. I am sorry, again, for your loss. March 28, 2018 Was this experience helpful? Page 3Zack Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 12 Years 2 found helpful 2 found helpful Has Symptoms My dog Zack, cavalier king charles spaniel age 12 1/2 has mitral valve disease, typical of his breed unfortunately. Relative to most, we have been lucky. He's not in congestive heart failure yet, at least he wasn't a year ago, his last evaluation by cardiologist. His condition was progressing then, it was his second cardio eval, two years apart. a year ago, heart enlargement was moderate and regurgitation was severe, progressed from two years before. He was still showing no symptoms, sleeping breaths have been 16 per minute since i started measuring in late 2014. Gums/tongue pink. Plenty of energy and eager to run. "why walk when you can run?". The only symptom/problem (until last week) is the cough thought to be from enlarged heart compressing the trachea, which is heart breaking, but not frequent throughout the day, and only lasting seconds each time such that i have not seen reason to give the prescribed cough medicine. It's not persistent and is relieved by 'throat clearing.' Because of the EPIC study on pimobenden (Vetmedin) published in 9/16, his cardiologist said he wanted to prescribe that medication for him a year ago. I got the prescription filled but did not start giving it to him, after first reading abstracts of all the research since this medication first started being studied, i think that was the late 1980s. I was left with some questions about my dog's particular case but there seem to be no answers. This is in regards to about 8% of dogs in every study dying from the effects of the medication. That is a small percent but what i want to know from those who have the data is, which dogs are those? Do they have anything in common? Are they mostly in my dog's breed? Pimobenden works by strengthening the pumping of the heart, making the heart pump harder, to improve circulation of blood throughout the body. The dogs who have died from the medication are thought to have had damage from the increased strength of pumping of the heart. Heart enlargement increased, regurgitation worsened, and the cords attaching the valve ruptured, resulting in death. Because my particular dog apparently had a body that has been compensating for the effects of the mitral valve disease, I am afraid his heart may already be pumping strongly, so that the blood circulation continues to be adequate based on the signs of the breaths and color of the gums/tongue, and his general eagerness for exercise and continuing good quality of life that he always knew. The sad thing though is that the crowding of his airway by the enlarging heart seems to be triggered by certain positions he goes into, especially when he's playing with his favorite toy that he's had all his life--his happy play will be interrupted by the sudden need to cough because, it seems, he can't freely breathe. Again, it only lasts maybe 7 seconds maximum. But i am afraid to exercise him, the vet recommended limiting exercise. So i have for the past year. i simply stopped taking him for walks because of how he runs, i just let him out into the backyard, where he only runs around a little. Last week he had symptoms that i haven't seen before and it scared me a lot. Over a period of a couple of days, he appeared to have increasing difficulty moving, and he would walk a few steps and then lay down on the floor. His tail didn't wag for two days, and his behavior was abnormal. He seemed depressed. i took him to the vet, she thought it was related to arthritis (which he hasn't shown), she said he resisted turning his neck to the left. He had a senior blood panel and everything was normal, urine too, kidneys great she said for his age. By that night, he showed improvement and over the next couple of days he returned to normal. The vet urged me to take him for another cardiology eval which i have an appointment for. The vet said "He can have a heart attack, you know." I hadn't thought of him having a myocardial infarction. I'm not sure what she meant. That's whyi googled heart attacks in dogs. i know that dogs who died on the pimobendan could be said to have had heart attacks if they died from sudden cardiac death caused by cord rupture. I am just not sure what i should be looking for to protect him from a heart attack. I wonder if his unusual symptoms last week might be a heart attack. Of course, his heart was the first thing i thought of but the vet didn't see a relationship. She took his mitral valve seriously. She did X-rays only of the neck and back, not the heart because she knew i was taking him to the cardiologist in the near future, and X-rays would be done there. Feb. 16, 2018 Zack's Owner Dr. Michele K. DVM 2 Recommendations Thank you for your email. Zack is more likely to go into heart failure from his breed related mitral valve disease than to have 'a heart attack'. You are doing everything that you can to manage his heart disease. The appointment with the cardiologist will give you a better idea as to how his heart is doing now, and will hopefully make you feel better. If he responded to medications for arthritis when he has that strange episode, it was probably related to pain more than heart disease. I hope that everything goes well for him, it is clear that you love him very much. Feb. 16, 2018 Was this experience helpful? Page 4If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 5If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 6If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 7If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 8If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 9Bailey Labrador Retriever 13 Years 0 found helpful 0 found helpful Has Symptoms My 13 year old lab passed suddenly three days ago. He was diagnosed with IBD when we adopted him 18 months ago. He also had arthritis in his hips. Just over a year ago he did have an infection that had him hospitalized for a couple days, but he had very little issues after that. The vet prescribed him with tramadol for his pain as needed and we talked about signs and symptoms of when to treat the pain and when to bring him in which was mostly about refusal to eat. There were times over the last year, where he seemed in pain, stumbling, lack of appetite, but all was better after he was given Tramadol. Two weeks prior to his passing he had another episode where he seemed in serious pain, couldn't walk was breathing heavy, but still took food and water when we brought it to him. We gave him his Tramadol and by that evening he was back to normal. The night before he passed he was normal, eating, drinking, ready for a walk, went out potty before bed, even wagging his tail while I was petting him before bed. 3 hours after bed he had a similar episode to the one he had two weeks prior. He couldn't walk well, stumbled, heavy breathing. He went to lie down under a tree in our yard and couldn't get up. My husband carried him in to his bed, we gave him his Tramadol, but he wouldn't take food or water. He was restless on his bed would seem comfortable for a period and then reposition himself, but wouldn't get up to walk. He was breathing heavy,at times, but not gasping. Our plan was to give him another dose of Tramadol 8 hours after the first. Try to get him to drink water, If he still didn't improve then we would take him in. Sadly, only 7 hours after this started he was gone. I am so sad and feel guilty that maybe we should have brought him in to the vet, but it seemed so similar to what he had gone through before, which usually was better with pain pills. Any idea what could have caused his, what I consider, unexpected passing? July 26, 2017 Bailey's Owner 0 Recommendations Firstly it is wonderful to read that you gave Bailey a loving and supportive home in his last months, many dogs are not so lucky. In older dogs, especially with numerous health problems death may occur at times of stress (pain); when an animal is in pain, the heart rate may increase to a point where it may no longer be an effective pump of blood around the body. I cannot say what caused Bailey’s death, only a post mortem can tell. I do not believe there is any fault here on your part, Bailey sadly passed but passed in an environment where he was loved and cared for. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM July 26, 2017 Was this experience helpful? Page 10If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 11If you notice symptoms of a heart attack in your pet, keep calm and carefully wrap the pet in a blanket to calm him. Do not attempt CPR unless you have been professionally trained and know it is necessary. CPR can do more harm than good if it is not needed. Do not attempt to feed or give water in case of vomiting/asphyxiation. Keep young children away from the pet as pain and panic can cause aggressive behavior. Calmly place your palm on the left side of the chest to feel the heart rate. Count the number of beats in 15 seconds and multiply your answer by 4. This gives you the number of beats per minute. Normal heart rate in dogs will be around 60-140 beats per minute depending on their size. Transport your pet to the veterinarian as soon as you can. If your pet collapses, keep calm and carefully wrap her in a blanket and transport her to the veterinary clinic. Try to keep the events leading up to the collapse in your mind so you can report them to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will collect any history as to what led up to the symptoms or collapse event. The vet will listen to the heart for any murmur, irregular pulse, or arrhythmia. Laboratory diagnostics can reveal valuable information as to cardiac function and possible causes of symptoms you are observing.
A Holter monitor or ambulatory EKG is useful to monitor heart health at home. Electrodes are taped onto the chest and the device is strapped on the back for 24 hours. The heart rhythms are recorded and times of rest versus times of exercise or stress are reported by the owner. The recording is analyzed for abnormal heart activity. Top Page 12Jay Dalmatian Collie Around 10 1 found helpful 1 found helpful Hi my dalmatian collie x died suddenly Friday evening. He was fine all day and was not showing signs of illness at all. Then Friday evening we were in bed one minute he was asleep then he all of a sudden flung his head back sqealing in pain and then died all within a minute. Because it was so quick was it an heart attack or could it have been something else. As I said above there was no sign of illness and just the day before he was running around the farm with me and playing with the farmers dog please help. 1 Recommendations I am sorry for your loss; it must be distressing when Jay was apparently in good health. Heart attacks in dogs don’t occur like they do in people. Usually causes of sudden death in dogs is due to an aneurysm or electrical conduction disorder of the heart; without carrying out a necropsy (post mortem) we are unable to know for sure the cause of death. Other causes of death may be due to inflammatory disease, internal bleeding or poisoning. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM July 26, 2017 My dog had a heart attack last night what should i do my cooper has what your 13YO has, he was initially brought in and treated for a cough, after a week of cough suppressants with no relief they did an ultra sound - sure enough Cooper has an enlarged heart pressing on his trachea, left side is not functioning and fluid. He takes 4 medications 2x a day, Vetmdin, Lasix, Hydrocodone, Enacard. Prior to having this heart issue Cooper was diagnosed with Cushings Disease, due to the nature of his heart the vet does not want to treat Cushings any longer. Cooper coughs mostly in the morning and in the evening, he sleeps often BUT overall still a very happy boy who will be 12 on may 18. This sound a bit like how my pup (13 YO small poodle mix) started with her heart condition. Don't worry, she's still alive and doing well. She had a heart murmur for most of her life then around age 11 started noticing coughing and heart enlargement. Cardiologist diagnosed her with heart disease then heart failure a couple months later. She's on Vetmedin, Enalipril (another heart med), Lasix (a diuretic) and Hydrocodone (for the cough). We were so lucky that we caught it early though. I would keep an eye on the enlarged heart and be diligent with the blood work. Heart stuff is no joke. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your beloved pet, Jay. Dr. Turner, I have a question for you, if okay: I just experienced almost the same thing with my 11 year old Shih Tzu. She survived the ordeal. The vet did an EKG and complete blood work. Blood work came back great. She has a heart murmer and somewhat enlarged heart. The vet was not sure if this is what caused the seizure she had with the screaming. She is on Vetmedin for her heart and Omega 3's. Dr. Turner, what else would you recommend I do? Should I have her checked for a possible aneurysm or electrical conduction disorder? Terri On cooper, my son's dog was coughing a lot at night they bought a air purifier (dysons) he immediately stopped coughing. Hi my pomaranian died on the 26th of February i noticed he wasn't doing anything like moving or responding to my calls or eating or drinking at all..so I took him in to see her n they told me he had a heart mumor he died 2 days after I took him..is it possible for that to go unnoticed for years? N all of a sudden ketch up? I am so sad n depressed now ice had him since he was born he was 13 yrs old My Jack Russell was 11 year's old. Last Monday night he was fine I took him for a walk came home 30 minute's later we went to bed I got him on the bed I laid down and he stood up and ran to the end of the bed yelped and died at my feet. I am so heart broken cause I dont know what happend to him. My Shepard has episodes like asthma, her tongue looked a bit grey, what could this be Dr Jay, My chihuahua woke up breathing a fast. She went for a small walk, happy wagging her tail. I dropped by my Vet with my dog, he was not. Staff looked for an open Vets hospital. This new Vet listened to her heart with a stethoscope and made a diagnosis of CHF. He wanted to do an X-ray, and said he had to use Morphine. I told him no morphine and offered to hold and position her. His tech came with a sheet of proposed labs, procedures , I was alarmed, I said no, I wanted my dog, and make sure no morphine. She said too late he gave it. He overdosed my 4 lb dog, did not offer to give narcan, screamed, and yelled because I wanted to take her from there. She died shortly after leaving. Is it protocol to give MS for an X-ray, because it is not in humans. Can a diagnosis of 6/6 Murmer be made with just an X-ray and not a Echo? Can a Vet give MS when asked not to? Besides being terrified for my dog, I feared for my safety. I have issued a complaint with the Vet Board, BBB. How are incompetent, cruel, sadistic Vets disciplined and how can this be reviewed for licenses removal? My four yr old past away last Thursday he was a pittbull he was fine I left dogs outside in the morning and he played when we called them to come in he took two steps and collapsed on the ground I was so devastated and cried my 10 yr old screamed and cried we tried cpr but he was gone he was so healthy and weighed 100 lbs he nvr had health problems at all My 13 year old Chihuahua mix was born with a heart murmur. Yesterday he passed away in the morning. The night before he was breathing a little loud but was walking. He wouldn’t eat or drink. No vomiting or diarrhea. In the morning I heard him cry a little and walked over to him. I petted his back and said he name, he looked up at me and then threw up and died right there!! Do you think he had a heart attack? Could his murmur be the cause? I’m so depressed and upset that he passed this way! Our dog Asher collapsed and died. He was a beautiful husky. We were getting him ready for a walk. He was so excited. When I put the leash on his harness he just collapsed, screamed and passed out. My wife was frantic and all we could do was to rush him to the vet. He had no heartbeat. This was the most bizarre thing I have had to go through. We loved Asher and really miss him, it is so painful. He was only two years old. Cathy C run heart tests on the dog couging could be a sign of CHF catch it early before its too late Dec. 28, 2017 Johnathan M. Was this experience helpful?
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What happens when a dog dies of heart failure
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