Heart Disease in Dogs and Cats Can Often Be Treated... Get Help Today
Our veterinary cardiologists know how scary it can be if you learn your cat or dog has a heart problem. The fact is, more than 7.8 million dogs in the United States have heart disease, making it almost as common as human heart disease. Cats are equally susceptible, with one out of every ten cats having heart problems. That's why our team is so determined to help pets and families just like yours to help identify problems early.
First, it's essential to know that dog and cat heart conditions can be congenital or acquired. Where dogs are concerned, the most common form of heart disease is endocardiosis. This happens when the heart's valves fail to open and close properly, causing blood leaks back into the atrium or ventricle. It typically affects older dogs. You can learn more about heart disease in dogs here.
Cats, on the other hand, are most commonly affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or HCM. This condition results from a thickening of the heart's muscular wall and reduces blood volume within the heart, while also preventing the heart from relaxing between contractions. Find out more about heart disease in cats here.
As scary as these diseases can be, there is good news—many heart problems are treatable! When you bring your pet to a qualified veterinary cardiologist like we have at CVCA, we'll work with you to keep your furry friend happy, healthy, and to give them as normal of a life as possible.
