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Heart failure in dogs

Heart failure is not a disease in itself: it is the moment when the heart, whatever the cause, is no longer able to perform its pump function despite all its compensation mechanisms. The blood then stagnates upstream of the heart. If it sta...

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Definition Signs Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Complications When to see a vet Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

Heart failure is not a disease in itself: it is the moment when the heart, whatever the cause, is no longer able to perform its pump function despite all its compensation mechanisms.

The blood then stagnates upstream of the heart. If it stagnates on the left side, the liquid passes into the lungs: this is pulmonary edema, which suffocates the dog. If it stagnates on the right side, fluid accumulates in the abdomen or around the lungs.

In dogs, by far the two most common causes are mitral endocardosis in small breeds and dilated cardiomyopathy in large breeds. A birth defect, damage to the pericardium or a rhythm disorder can also lead to it.

Key point

Breathing difficulty is always a life-threatening emergency. Do not wait, do not give medication on your own initiative, transport the dog calmly without stressing it.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Difficulty breathing Rapid breathing Cough Fatigue Reduction Loss of appetite Swelling Pale mucous membranes Shortness of breath on exertion Heat intolerance

Rapid breathing at rest and during sleep: this is the earliest and most reliable sign.

Shortness of breath, noisy breathing, the dog keeping its mouth open and neck stretched.

A cough, mostly at night or after exercise, especially in left-sided forms.

An intolerance to exercise, a dog who stops, sits, refuses to walk.

Pale gums and tongue, turning gray or bluish in severe cases.

A growing belly, rapid weight gain by fluid retention, in straight shapes.

Loss of appetite, depression, nighttime restlessness because the dog cannot find a comfortable position.

Brief discomfort with loss of consciousness.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

A leaking valve, most often the degenerated mitral valve of a small older dog.

A weakened heart muscle, as in dilated cardiomyopathy in large breeds.

A lasting rhythm disorder, which exhausts the heart.

A malformation present at birth, discovered in young dogs.

A buildup of fluid around the heart, which prevents it from filling.

A parasitic infection of the heart by heartworms, transmitted by mosquitoes, present in Mediterranean regions.

More rarely, pulmonary hypertension or damage to the heart by a general illness.

Already known and untreated heart disease, or interrupted treatment.

Advanced age in small breeds, adulthood in large breeds predisposed.

Overweight, which increases the work of the heart.

A diet that is too salty or industrial treats high in salt.

Extreme heat and intense efforts, which can push your heart to the limit.

An associated kidney disease, common in older dogs, which complicates treatment management.

In areas with mosquitoes, the lack of prevention against heartworms.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

In an emergency, the priority is to get the dog breathing: oxygen, calm, handling reduced to a minimum. The examinations are carried out once the dog has stabilized.

Chest x-ray confirms pulmonary edema and measures heart size.

Cardiac ultrasound identifies the exact cause and guides basic treatment.

An electrocardiogram looks for a rhythm disturbance.

A blood test evaluates the kidneys and mineral salts, which are essential to monitor while taking diuretics.

Blood pressure is measured.

Then, monitoring depends largely on you: daily counting of resting respiratory rate is the simplest tool for spotting a relapse before it becomes critical.

Treatment

Emergency treatment combines oxygen therapy, an injectable diuretic to remove fluid from the lungs and strict rest. This is hospital treatment.

The basic treatment, for life, combines, depending on the case, diuretics, an inodilator which helps the heart to contract and relax, and an enzyme converting inhibitor which reduces cardiac work. An antialdosteronic is often added.

Rhythm treatment is added when a disorder is identified.

A diet moderately reduced in salt is recommended, with the elimination of table scraps, cold meats, cheeses and salty biscuits.

Rest is appropriate: short, calm walks, stopping intense games.

The doses are strictly individual and reassessed at each check. Never increase, decrease or stop cardiac medication without veterinary advice: this is a common cause of serious relapse.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

Above all, we prevent the transition to heart failure, more than the heart disease itself.

Have the dog examined at each annual visit, twice a year after a certain age, to detect a murmur.

Treating the underlying heart disease at the right stage: this is what most effectively delays decompensation.

Maintain a healthy weight and limit salt.

Avoid intense efforts and outings during the hottest hours.

Protect the dog from mosquitoes in areas affected by heartworms.

Count the resting respiratory rate once daily in a dog with known cardiac disease.

Possible complications

Massive pulmonary edema, which can be fatal within hours.

Renal failure, caused by dehydration and diuretics: this is the most frequent complication of treatment, hence the need for control blood tests.

Mineral salt disorders, source of weakness and rhythm disturbances.

Effusions in the abdomen or chest, sometimes requiring drainage.

A sudden worsening during a rupture of the valvular cord or a rhythm disorder.

Loss of muscle mass and general weakening in the long term.

When to see a veterinarian

Your dog breathes quickly when resting or sleeping, above thirty to forty movements per minute.

He coughs at night or his cough gets worse.

He refuses to lie down, remains seated, neck stretched, elbows apart.

Its gums are gray, bluish or very pale: life-threatening emergency, go to the veterinarian immediately.

He feels unwell or collapses briefly.

His stomach swells or he gains weight quickly.

He is already treated and stops eating, vomits or becomes very depressed: the treatment must be re-evaluated without delay.

Prognosis

Heart failure is an advanced stage, but it does not mean an immediate end: many dogs return to a comfortable life under treatment.

After a first episode of well-managed pulmonary edema, survival is generally measured in months, sometimes in years, depending on the underlying disease and the regularity of follow-up.

Relapses are frequent and often linked to poorly followed treatment, a salty diet or unusual effort.

Quality of life comes first: the veterinarian adjusts the treatment so that the dog breathes well, eats and enjoys his walks.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my dog is breathing too fast?

When he is sound asleep, count the rises of his chest for one minute. In a dog at rest, we consider that a number lastingly greater than thirty to forty should alert. Note the value every day: it is the evolution that counts as much as the number.

My dog is getting better, can I stop the medication?

No, never. He is better precisely because he is being treated. Stopping a diuretic or cardiac treatment very often causes a relapse within a few days, sometimes serious. Any changes must come from the veterinarian.

Is a special diet required?

A diet moderately reduced in salt is recommended, and it is especially important to eliminate very salty foods: table leftovers, cold meats, cheese, appetizer biscuits, croquettes of uncertain quality. The veterinarian can prescribe a suitable cardiac food.

My dog coughs at night, is it the heart?

It's possible, but not certain. In small, older dogs, a cough can come from the heart, a collapsing trachea or chronic bronchitis. A chest x-ray helps to decide, and the treatment differs completely depending on the cause.