Help for Heart Disease in Pets With Our Veterinary Cardiology Services

Pets can either be born with heart disease (congenital) or acquire it later in life. In either case, there are many treatments available, each one designed to focus on the underlying cause of the disease. Medications, surgeries, and other therapies like pacemakers are all options available to help make your pet healthy again.

What Are the Signs My Pet May Have Heart Disease?

There are many symptoms of heart disease that can often be mistaken for other less serious medical problems. If you notice any of the below symptoms in your pet, we encourage you to contact us right away so that we can evaluate your pet and determine the cause of your pet’s discomfort.

• Reduced activity
• Increased sleeping
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Exercise intolerance
• Leg swelling
• Night time coughing

Immediate veterinary assistance is needed if you notice:

• Difficulty breathing
• Sudden collapse
• Progressive coughing

How Do You Diagnose Heart Disease?

At Conrad Weiser Animal Hospital, we use ultrasound, radiographs and ECGs to help us diagnose cardiac problems in our pets. We will often send the images to a board-certified cardiologist who consults with us on a recommended treatment plan.

How Do You Treat Pets with Heart Disease?

Depending on the severity of the disease, we may recommend a variety of medications to treat the problem. We may also recommend nutritional changes to help your pet get healthy, including a diet low in salt, which helps minimize fluid retention in the body. Whatever course of action we determine is best, we will discuss it with you and answer any questions you may have.

When caught early enough, many pets with heart disease can have a good prognosis and live an active, happy life for many years. Sometimes, however, the disease is severe enough that a pet’s quality of life is no longer satisfactory. Early detection is essential, so if you notice any changes in your pet’s behavior, please schedule an appointment right away.