{"id":303,"date":"2015-02-06T13:25:02","date_gmt":"2015-02-06T20:25:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/?p=303"},"modified":"2024-07-25T04:38:31","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T11:38:31","slug":"heart-problems-pets-owners-need-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocklinranchvet.com\/blog\/heart-problems-pets-owners-need-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Heart Problems in Pets: What Owners Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/a>February is American Heart Month, and the awareness doesn\u2019t need to stop with you and your two-legged family. Heart disease also affects animals, and pet owners need to understand how to keep their pet\u2019s hearts healthy.<\/p>\n

Heart problems in pets are not uncommon, and part of keeping our dogs and cats hearts healthy is knowing what problems are out there and how to detect them. Learn what all owners should know about heart health and your pet.<\/p>\n

Common Heart Problems in Pets<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n

People are prone to suffering from heart attacks and strokes, however pets are much less likely to be affected by these problems. So what heart problems do affect dogs and cats?<\/p>\n

Heartworm disease<\/i><\/b><\/a> \u2013 <\/i><\/b>This infectious parasite is transmitted by the mosquito. The worms colonize in the heart and lungs of their host, resulting in serious consequences for the pet.<\/p>\n

Valvular disease \u2013 <\/i><\/b>Many pets will experience leaking or malfunction of the valves within the heart, resulting in the inefficient pumping of blood and the buildup of fluid.<\/p>\n

Cardiomyopathy \u2013 <\/i><\/b>In pets with cardiomyopathy there is a problem with the way the heart muscle works. This can result in problems pumping blood and can make the pet more prone to blood clots.<\/p>\n

Congenital heart problems \u2013 <\/i><\/b>These are problems that a pet is born with. If causing a problem, they may require surgical correction.<\/p>\n

How to Identify Pet Heart Disease<\/i><\/b><\/h3>\n

During your pet\u2019s wellness visits we will listen to your pet\u2019s heart and lungs for signs of a problem. However, paying close attention at home can help you to identify problems with your pet\u2019s heart early on in the process. Signs that warrant investigation include:<\/p>\n