show atrial enlargement. Veterinarians treat these cats with calcium channel blockers such as diltiziam, diuretics such as furosemide and perhaps low doses of aspirin or another more modern medication that prevents blood clots. Aspirin must be used with extreme caution in cats – if at all . Do so only under the supervision of your veterinarian. Lower sodium diets might also help – if your cat will eat them. If cat owners are fortunate, a cat with this disease might live an additional year.
Corticosteroid-related Congestive Heart Failure in Cats
The University of Minnesota Veterinary Center noticed an occasional link between heart failure in cats and a recently given dose of a number of corticosteroid medications. Particularly when the product was the injectable form of methyl prednisolone acetate = Depomedrol® aka “Depo”). Of the 160 cats with heart failure that passed through their clinic in a ten year period, at least 8% that developed congestive heart failure had received that or similar medications within the 1-3 weeks preceding their heart problem symptoms. This unique form of heart disease often resolved itself with time. (read here) Corticosteroids are often given to cats with respiratory problems that are believed to be due to asthma. In other cases , they are given for allergic skin conditions or as appetite stimulants.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy Of Dogs:
Read more about this heart problem here. In this condition, as in cats, the heart chambers enlarge to the point where they can no longer pump blood efficiently. It is most common in large breeds of dogs and rare in small breeds. Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers are particularly at risk. The disease is most common in middle-aged dogs, especially males. Usually the cause is unknown, however taurine deficiencies, parvovirus infection and the use of adriamycin® (doxorubicin) have all been suspected causes.
The overly-stretched heart muscle that occurs in this disease is a very inefficient pump. Signs of the disease are those of congestive heart failure: difficult breathing, weakness, coughing and fluid enlargement of the abdomen. These dogs may need oxygen until their medications have time to to work. Lower salt diets as well as supplements that contain taurine, L-carnitine (carnatine) and coenzyme Q might also be helpful. In my experience, dogs do not survive long with this condition.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Of Dogs:
This disease is quite rare. As in cats, the muscles of the heart thicken and become inefficient at pumping blood. The signs of the disease are the signs of congestive heart failure e.g. difficulty breathing, coughing, heart murmurs and exercise intolerance. Their might be a breakthrough in treating this problem. Read about that here.
How Will I Know If My Dog Or Cat’s Heart Medications Are Working?
The most common reason pets with heart problems come to see veterinarians is because of coughing and breathing problems. They tend to breath faster than they should, they tend to be congested and they are emotionally distressed. One can have complicated and frequent tests performed to evaluate if the medications your are giving are doing their job. But monitoring your pet’s breathing rate, freedom from congestion and relaxed attitude at home is just as accurate – perhaps even more so. If the medications are working, your pet will breath slower and easier. When it is at rest and it will show more interaction with you and its environment. If you want to confirm your opinion as to its situation, have your vet run an occasional proBNP test (or Cardio-BNP™ ) to confirm the test levels are dropping or at least holding steady. (read here)
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