Cardiological consultation in dogs and dogs

Author: Veterinary Doctor – Dr. Carmen Voda

When should we go to a veterinary cardiology specialist?

Heart diseases commonly meet in dogs and cats, especially when they age. Some statistics say it heart disease Hit 1 out of 10 cats and dogs From all over the world.

Since the consultation and guidance of a veterinary cardiologist can significantly increase life expectancy in pets with heart disease, the question you have to ask is «When it is the best time to request a cardiologist for my pet?»? Here are the most important reasons that must be determined to bring the small fur to a specialized cardiological advice:

1. with the stethoscope, in a general consultation (routine or necessity). It could be about a breath superimposed on normal heart noiseBy indicating a turbulence of the blood inside the heart, which can be generated in a heart disease, but can be found in other situations, such as in anemia or in the case of chicks that have a physiological systolic breath. In addition, you can listen to stethoscope variations in the heart rate (the number of heartbeat per minute), which can be increased: tachycardia or low – bradycardia, gallop sound or arrhythmias which requires further investigations. It is important to note that in dogs, a physiological rhythmic-arithmic cardiac frequency (influenced by the respiratory phases of the dog) can be identified in dogs) and that Some arrhythmias can be caused by extracardiac problems (For example: splendor tumors, vomiting, diarrhea, gastric dilation, secondary to the administration of drugs, etc.).

(Auscultation of the patient to the general consultation – Fonte own)

2. Clinical signs that can be an indicator of heart disease

– His dyspnea breathe with difficulty It can be given by the accumulation of liquid in the thoracic cavity, around the lungs, mechanically compressing them or loading the lungs with liquid, in both situations the lungs are not able to operate at maximum capacity (the air can no longer enter the same extension in the lungs and the animal no longer receives the need for oxygen,

– syncopa, respectively The temporary loss of knowledge (secondary to arrhythmias or lacking cardiac contractility);

– effort / animal intolerance tired after a moderate or reduced effort;

– In the case of dogs, cough can occur, caused by a large heart of volume that compresses the main trachea and/or the bronchi;

– in case Cats can occur the difficulty of moving a member or both the rear limbs, giving the impression of paralysis (very rarely affected the previous arts), accompanied by Pain to the touch of the limbs and limbs concerned e clamor. It seems secondary to arterial thromboembolism caused by the increase in the volume of the left atrium and by the formation of a clot inside, which leaves in systemic circulation, blocking blood circulation at a certain level;

– hypertension (primary or secondary to another pathology such as kidney failure, hyperthyroidism) can cause cardiac remodeling;

– weight loss (Reduces muscle mass, not body fat, due to the increase in the production of inflammatory cytokines in congestive heart failure (ICC). Therefore, even in overweight cats, significant muscle loss may be present).

(European cat on scale – Fonte own)

3. The predisposition to races for certain heart levels

– in case Dog There are pathologies such as:

• The mixomatous degenerative disease of the mitral valve To which some breeds are prone, such as King Cavalier Charles Spaniel, Cowel, Bichon, Pomeranian, Teckel, Chihuahua, Pekinez, the incidence of the disease increasing with age. Generally these breeds are more inclined to this pathology, but it is a disease that can occur or present clinical manifestations on any small or medium breed (less than 20 kg), very rarely in large breeds, especially after 8 years.
• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) which appears to Big breeds (Doberman, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German shepherd, mythical shepherd, etc.) Usually begins between 4 and 10 years, however, being possible to appear at any age in adults. It meets very rarely in medium -sized breeds (e.g. Spanish cocker) and among the cats (especially in youth).
• THE Bulldog British boxers and breeds can meet Arrhythmogen cardiomyopathy by the right ventricle (Arvc)He rarely hit other breeds or even cats. It is a genetic disease that more commonly causes cardiac arrhythmias that can lead to episodes of syncope/fainting and even sudden death.

This disease affects heart muscle and causes normal heart muscle with fat and fibrous tissue. This change causes electric instability in heart muscle, with consequent arrhythmia.

– in case Dog exist:

• Congenital cardiac hypertrophy (HCM) to which the main Coon, Ragdoll, SPHYNX, British Shorthair, Scottish Fold, Bimese, Siamese, etc., increasingly increasing with age. Even in cats, hypertrophy of the cardiac muscle secondary to supported hypertension, hyperthyroidism or aortic stenosis can occur and in some individuals on stress, when another animal is brought to the house, after crossing a disease and hospitalization). The latter cannot be anticipated, therefore a routine control can prevent subsequent complications that can lead to clinical signs.

(British Shorthair, Siamese, SPHYNX, Chihuahua, German Shepherd, A farpt

4. Pre -aesthetic

– before any surgery (castration/sterilization, remedy for fractures, etc.) To minimize risks Anesthesia and surgery. Even if the age he intervenes is less than a year, it is good to make sure the child does not have a congenital disease to put his life in danger.

What does a specialized cardiological examination mean?

1. Anamnesis, evaluation of the general condition of the patient
– The first phase provides for the collection of information from the owner (historian of diseases, because it has come to cardiological consultation, if it has changes in the general state at home, if tired, cough, etc.) and observing the animal (the way in which it breathes, the presence of the femoral wrist on both rear limbs, the color of the mucous membranes).

(Historical interpretation of patients – Fonte own)

2. Austultation The patient with the stethoscope
-The second phase provides for the identification of the noise and pathological and lung arrhythmias, if applicable.

3. Blood pressure
-The third phase is the measurement of blood pressure, preferably with a more competent device (e.g. Doppler tensometer).

4. ECG (electrocardiogram)
-The fourth stadium is to perform an electrocardiogram for at least two minutes, for the exact measurement of the heart rate, electric axis and the detection of arrhythmias. At least 3 metal calipers are mounted on the animal’s skin in the armpit area and in the inguinal area. It can be done in digital or paper format.

(patient during the digital ECG, cut for the ultrasound cardiac source)

(ECG – 8 -year -old dog with sinus arrhythmia interrupted by a premature ventricular beating, originating in the right ventricle – its source)

5. Cardiac ultrasound
– To see the last stadium is the ultrasound performed at the level of the heart that requires the cutting of the chest on the chest area to have a correct image. Ultrasound helps us to measure the walls and volume of heart rooms and the speed of blood flow through the valves. We can also identify the pulmonary B lines, a lung load indicator (edema, fibrosis, cancer, etc.) and/or free liquid in the thoracic cavity.

(Cat, 4 years old, cardiomyopathy of the hypertrophic phenotype – source of its own)

Depending on the problems identified in heart ultrasound, other investigations such as thoracic radiographs, CT (computer tomographer) could be requested and if you recommend the free fluid in the chest (the drilling with a thin needle to extract the liquid) with the physical and cytological examination.

In conclusion, a visit to the veterinary cardiologist is required at least once a year when we have no clinical manifestations of heart disease, because it can help us identify and treat a cardiac pathology in an initial phase or to prevent its evolution and/or side effects.

Nothing is more beautiful than a healthy heart. Take care of your small fur jam and do not forget that the best treatment is prevention.