Written on 04/14/2014 by Brandy Arnold in Staying Healthy, Vet’s Corner

When it comes to canine heart disease, early diagnosis and timely treatment can make a crucial difference for your pet. It is necessary for pet parents like you to be familiar with the various signs of canine heart disease. This way you can bring any possible health issue to your vet’s attention as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Heart Problems in Dogs

1. Coughing. This is a very frequent sign of many kinds of illness in dogs, one being canine heart disease. Minor coughs rarely persist for more than three days. If, even after a few days, your pooch still coughs or experiences other unusual symptoms, immediately seek veterinary attention.

2. Difficulty breathing. Labored or rapid breathing as well as difficulty respiring because of shortness of breath commonly indicate canine heart disease.

3. Loss of appetite. It is nearly always a sign of something if your dog suddenly displays poor appetite. When accompanied with any other symptom found on this list, it is possible that your pooch has a heart problem.

4. Weight loss/gain. It is commonly an indicator of heart disease if your dog loses weight, though canine weight gain could be a sign as well. More often than gaining weight is a distended or bloated stomach which may give your pooch a pot-bellied form.

5. Weakness. Because weakness is generally seen as a signal for aging, ensure that you have sought for your vet’s attention if your dog’s weakness goes with other unusual symptoms.

6. Restlessness. If your pooch appears to be restless, particularly during night time, it could be characterized as a symptom of canine heart disease.

7. Collapsing/fainting. If your dog collapses or faints at some point, immediately consult your vet. It could be an indicator of various kinds of serious canine illness such as heart disease.

8. Edema or body tissue swelling. If your pooch has a heart problem, he will often display some sort of abdominal or extremity swelling.

9. Behavioral changes. When your dog suddenly tires more easily, becomes less playful, is reluctant to exercise or receive affection, becomes seemingly depressed or withdrawn, you can suggest that he is showing symptoms of canine heart disease.

10. Isolation. Once your pooch begins to isolate himself all of a sudden by keeping distance from you or other pets in your household, it is possible that such sudden loneliness is a heart disease symptom.

Remember, these are only common symptoms. Sometimes, a dog that appears to be completely healthy, showing none of the signs, can be suffering from heart disease while others displaying many of these symptoms simply suffer from another health issue. Regular, proper veterinary care is vital to keeping your dog healthy, living, and loving life.