Having addressed the salient physical/pathophysiological issues associated with the care of heart ailments in elderly dogs, we must emphasise that such needed care has to focus primarily on the reduction/removal of already delineated causes, in order to get the compromised heart to function optimally, even adequately.
BREED CHOICE
Throughout this series on elderly animals, I have referenced the relationship between breeds of dogs and aging. It is not a veterinarian’s desire to advise a caregiver to get rid of a companion animal, which has given much happiness to the family over many years, when that animal’s heart is irreparably failing. Indeed, if you are forward-thinking, you should consult your veterinarian when contemplating acquiring a pet, for a variety of obvious reasons, not lastly as it relates to the breed of the dog/cat being adopted/purchased.
Previously, the Pet Care column extensively documented a series of articles on the considerations associated with the choice of companion animals, which included pure and non-pure breeds. Researchers have been able to identify which breeds of dogs are genetically predisposed to developing various heart ailments. These include Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Irish Wolfhounds (and some other large and giant breeds of dogs). Often, the predisposition is within a familial line, rather than breed-fixated. Let me hasten to add that, in my experience, Dachshunds and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have been presented to the clinic when they are well over a decade old.
The literature rarely refers to enlarged hearts in cats. When documented, Ragdoll cats and Main Coon cats seem to be the breeds exhibiting symptoms of feline heart muscle problems.
TREATMENT
Acute (sudden onset) and Chronic (slow developing) heart maladies in the elderly dog will primarily dictate lengthy discussions between the veterinarian and the caregiver; the focus – not lastly and not only – being to increase the quality and duration of the animal’s life. Within that discussion, the patient’s individual characteristics and habits must be taken into consideration.
In terms of medication, there are, in fact, drugs that can be included in the arsenal of treatment interventions. In the presence of fluid retention, (referred to previously under the heading of “Ascites”), your veterinarian might wish to introduce effective agents for managing this aspect of the overriding expression (symptoms) of the underlying causes. Interventions to support the heart muscle viability may also be included. Steroids, under absolute veterinary supervision, may be introduced at specific dosage rates.
It must be emphasised that visible swellings in the abdomen and extremities and the detection of fluid in the lungs can and must only be treated by your veterinarian.
Recapping the most common symptoms of heart disease
Although I have previously provided the main symptoms associated with abnormal heart conditions in dogs with advancing age, it is important to emphasise that heart ailments can exist without being evident to the caregiver. Symptoms of heart deficiency are often hidden (the technical term is “cryptic” or “occult”). This knowledge should force the caregiver to visit the veterinarian more frequently as the animal ages.
I am therefore reiterating below the most common symptoms, and urging all caregivers to be particularly mindful of them as your pets get older.
* Loss of vigour and activity. The animal shows distinct signs of lethargy, and often sleeps a lot.
* Muscular weakness of the legs. Loss of muscle mass.
* Shortness of breath, even after minimal stress activity (walks, playing with the family members, etc).
* Coughing episodes occur most noticeably at night, or after exercise and/or excitement.
* Being overweight and concomitantly developing diabetes are serious complicating factors in heart diseases associated with the elderly dog on an incorrect diet.
Having dealt with treatment protocols, we shall, next week, commence the discourse on nutrition: diet, composition, frequency of meals. These considerations are paramount to mitigating the impact of heart disease in the elderly animal.
