Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs - Causes and Treatments

At Naperville Animal Hospital, experienced veterinarians care for dogs, cats, and other pets. The team at Naperville Animal Hospital draws on an in-depth understanding of veterinary diseases such as congestive heart failure.

1. Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs - Causes and Treatments Naperville Animal Hospital

2. Introduction At Naperville Animal Hospital, experienced veterinarians care for dogs, cats, and other pets. The team at Naperville Animal Hospital draws on an in-depth understanding of veterinary diseases such as congestive heart failure. In dogs as well as humans, congestive heart failure occurs when the cardiac muscles can no longer properly pump blood to the lungs and the distal areas of the body. The malfunction may be on either or both sides of the heart, and it often begins asymptomatically. Once the body can no longer cope with the deficiency in blood supply, however, the lack of adequate flow causes fluid to collect in the lungs.

3. Congestive Heart Failure The process may stem from a variety of causes, including degeneration of the valves and enlargement of the chambers of the heart. Some dogs develop congestive heart failure as a secondary result of diseases like heartworm disease or cancer, while others suffer from it as a congenital condition. If a dog's congestive heart failure stems from another condition, treatment of that condition can often resolve the problem, while congenital heart failure itself can respond to surgical correction of the defect. Other cases are not curable and instead must receive treatment, such as medications and dietary changes, to mitigate symptoms and improve the animal’s quality of life.