One of the reasons why we here at IndulgeYourPet choose to write about different medical conditions that could one day end up affecting your loved one is because we honestly enjoy taking complex terms like “cardiomyopathy” and breaking them down into easier more comprehensible concepts.
You see…
Since we’re not medical professionals and we’re certainly not veterinarians, we’re not “burdened” with all that scientific jargon that sometimes gets in the way of truly understanding what is happening to our pets.
That said however…
We should also point out, that because we’re not medical professionals, if you’re concerned that your pet may be currently suffering from a medical condition that may need medical attention… QUITE READING THIS ARTICLE and drive to your nearest veterinarian or pet hospital.
Understood?
Good… So now let’s get back to the topic at hand which is Cardiomyopathy. Now in our experiences here at IndulgeYourPet, we find that often times the best way to understand what a particular medical condition is, is to first take apart the word that is used to describe it.
In this case, well want to look at both “cardio” and “myopathy”.
Cardio: Relating to the heart.
Myopathy: Relating to a disease of muscle tissue.
Which is why…
It should come as too big of a surprise that “cardiomyopathy” refers to disease that affect the heart muscle. And when we apply this definition to working with dogs, we generally find that cardiomyopathy is a term that will usually be applied to one of two different conditions:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy,
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,
So now let’s take a moment and briefly examine each of these conditions and see how they may affect the lives of the dogs that they affect.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs is a disease that is characterized by an enlarged heart. With dilated cardiomyopathy, the upper and lower chambers of the heart become enlarged as a result of having to work “harder” than a normal heart would. In most cases, one side of heart (depending on the cause of the abnormality) will tend to become larger than the other upper chamber.
Potential causes of DMC in dogs
Researchers have found that a great many dilated cardiomyopathy cases found in dogs tend to be genetic and have even linked some genetic mutations causing DCM to some dog breeds including:
- Doberman Pinschers
- And Boxers.
Additionally…
Other factors that seem to play a role in the development of this condition include:
- Amino acid deficiencies (taurine deficiency),
- Poor thyroid functioning,
- Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart due to infection),
- Prolonged tachycardia (rapid heartbeat),
Symptoms of DMC in dogs.
Many dogs suffering from DMC may be completely asymptomatic which is why in some cases it is only discovered after a patient begins to suffer from complete heart failure or sudden death.
This is why…
It’s so important to be sure that you pet receives his or her annual check up so that if symptoms such as:
- Fatigue,
- Fainting spells,
- Labored breathing,
- And/or exercise intolerance,
Don’t appear, at least your veterinarian may have a chance of detecting it by noticing an abnormal heartbeat which may trigger your veterinarian to order more extensive testing such as an EKG or chest x-rays which will allow for a definitive diagnosis to be made.
Treatment for DMC in dogs.
Unfortunately, once your dog has been diagnosed with an enlarged heart, there is little in that a veterinarian can do to “cure” the condition. Medications and diet recommendations will often be prescribed and recommended however even these will only have a limited affect on the progression of this disease.
This is why…
Early detection is key in avoiding and minimizing the progression of this condition and is why owners of particularly large dog breeds such as:
Among others should always remain vigilant against the possibility of this condition developing in their loved one.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
Refers to a condition where the heart doesn’t get bigger, instead, the muscle walls that form the heart actually become thicker. As a result, the heart becomes less proficient during the systolic phase of the heart beat (which is the phase where blood leaves the heart and goes to the rest of the body).
Now with…
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) we saw that the right and left atrium were most often affected, with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy it is usually the “ventricles” that will be affected the most particularly the left ventricle often creating left ventricular stiffness as well as mitral valve irregularities as well.
Fortunately…
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare disease affecting dogs, so this is not a condition that many folks will have to deal with. However, for those that do, your dog will likely show clinical signs of their disease which may include:
- Mitral valve regurgitation (mitral regurgitation)
- Chest pain,
- Shortness of breath,
- An aversion to exercise,
- Fatigue,
- Fainting or dizziness,
- Failure to strive.
Diagnosis and treatment.
Diagnosing HCM isn’t always an easy process. Many times, exams that would typically determine that you dog may have a heat issue may come back completely normal. In fact, exams such as EKG and blood pressure readings may show no signs of illness at all.
This is why…
Most dogs diagnosed with HCM aren’t diagnosed until they are actually suffering from congestive heart failure at which point most of their care will be focused on minimizing their symptoms and trying to minimize the workload on your dogs heart.
In cases like these…
Your veterinarian will likely prescribe medications (such as ACE inhibitors and/or diuretics), suggest a healthy diet, and suggest that you avoid any stressful exercise activities.
Which brings us to…
The last thing that we want to discuss in our article here today which is the idea of purchasing a pet insurance policy for your pet. You see, cardiomyopathy is just one of a million different things that could one day affect the health of your loved one. Which is why, for many deciding to purchase a pet insurance policy is a perfect way to protect themselves from receiving any really expensive vet bills later on in the future.
Now will…
Purchasing a pet insurance policy be right for everyone? Probably not, but without at least knowing what one might cost, how can you truly decide if it’s worth it to you?
For more information on who we feel are currently offering some of the best pet insurance policies in the industry right now be sure to check out our Best Pet Insurance article when you get a chance!
