Rachel Phelps will never forget the urgent call she got from her veterinarian shortly after she dropped off her beloved Westie, named Preston, for minor surgery to remove a lump.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vet was like, \u2018Something happened. We put him under anesthesia, and suddenly his heartbeat plummeted,\u2019\u201d Rachel says. \u201cI was in total shock. I felt like I couldn\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The medical team immediately brought Preston out of anesthesia, but his heart rate remained low. Rachel and her husband raced Preston from their veterinarian\u2019s office to an animal emergency hospital for round-the-clock care. But after a couple of days, Preston\u2019s heart was still only beating at half the rate it was supposed to. \u201cWe were so worried,\u201d Rachel says.<\/p>\n
So, the couple drove Preston from their home in Kentucky to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. That\u2019s where board-certified cardiologist Ryan Fries took over Preston\u2019s care, and Rachel soon learned her dog was one of the millions in the United States to be diagnosed with heart disease.<\/p>\n Heart disease is a general term for any issue that impairs the organ from pumping blood through a dog\u2019s body the way it should. \u201cYou\u2019re just saying there\u2019s a disease of the heart,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cThere\u2019s a whole lot of things that fall under that category.\u201d Congenital heart problems, defects dogs are born with, are rarer than acquired issues, which dogs develop as they get older. \u201cDogs often have changes to their hearts, especially as they age,\u201d Dr. Fries says.<\/p>\n As a dog matures, size might matter, too. Smaller pooches are more likely to develop leaky valves. Larger dogs are more prone to dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle. Both conditions affect the organ\u2019s ability to work correctly and can result in congestive heart failure.<\/p>\n Certain breeds are also at greater risk of heart disorders. Dr. Fries found Preston\u2019s sinus node, the area of the heart that regulates the rate it beats, wasn\u2019t working properly. It\u2019s called sick sinus syndrome and is common in Westies, like Preston, Boxers, Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers and Cocker Spaniels. Often, dogs show no indications of the ailment. \u201cBut once put under the stress of anesthesia, it really manifests,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cWe do see that sometimes; the first real signs of this problem occur during a sedative or an anesthetic event.\u201d<\/p>\n Another common issue is a heart murmur. Veterinarians can often hear the abnormal sound using a stethoscope. \u201cA heart murmur per se is not a disease itself, but rather an indicator that heart disease may be present and signals the need to consider follow-up testing,\u201d says board-certified cardiologist Philip Fox from The Animal Medical Center in New York City. \u201cIt is important to realize that many animals have soft heart murmurs and live normal life spans.<\/p>\n Since most heart maladies develop as dogs age, there are some critical steps you can take to keep your pooch\u2019s ticker ticking.<\/p>\n Test your dog for heartworm each year and keep them on prevention. \u201cHeartworm disease has been documented in all 50 states. It is important, now more than ever, to give heartworm prevention on a year-round basis, even in colder climates where mosquitoes are inactive in winter,\u201d says board-certified cardiologist Michelle Rose from the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota.<\/p>\n If your dog isn\u2019t on preventives, and a mosquito carrying worm larvae bites your dog, foot-long heartworms can grow by the hundreds in your dog\u2019s heart and lungs. (Yup, downright disgusting!) The worms can cause severe damage and, if left untreated, even death.<\/p>\n Be sure your dog eats a complete and balanced diet suitable for their breed, age and medical needs. In 2018, when the FDA launched its investigation into certain pet food ingredients and possible links to heart disease, researchers focused on nutrition and its impact on a dog\u2019s heart health. \u201cDiet is extremely important. It\u2019s huge,\u201d Dr. Fox says. \u201cTalk to your veterinarian about what foods they would recommend.\u201d<\/p>\n Make sure your dog gets sufficient exercise and is not overweight. \u201cIt is also important, just like in humans, to keep dogs in good body condition, as excessive weight places additional strain on the heart,\u201d Dr. Rose says.<\/p>\n One of the most critical things you can do is make sure your dog gets annual checkups. \u201cHeart disease in dogs can often be detected during visits to the veterinarian that include a thorough medical history and detailed physical examination,\u201d Dr. Fox says. \u201cIf a heart murmur, abnormal heart or lung sounds, or heart rate irregularity are detected, particularly if associated with symptoms, your veterinarian can consider a number of diagnostic tests.\u201d<\/p>\n Some dogs may never need a cardiologist\u2019s care, medication or surgery for a heart issue. But if they do need treatment, there are many available that can stop and delay the progression of heart disease. That\u2019s why early detection is so important. \u201cWe can keep some dogs asymptomatic and feeling good for years,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cThere are some interventions we can do that can fix them. It depends on the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Fries considered Preston an excellent candidate to receive a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat. \u201cWe use them for dogs just like people. It\u2019s the same equipment,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Rachel is so thankful high-tech help is available for dogs with heart rate issues. The device will give Preston a new \u201cleash\u201d on life. \u201cThis pacemaker will allow Preston to enjoy his car rides to the pet store, play fetch with his favorite ball, try to chase squirrels at the park that he will never be able to catch and lay on the couch snuggling with us during movie nights,\u201d she says. \u201cBut most importantly, hopefully, it will give us many more years to spend with Preston.<\/p>\n Dr. Fox says to call your vet if you see these signs of heart disease in your dog:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did you know dogs get high blood pressure, too? Your veterinarian can use a blood pressure cuff to perform a reading just like when you go to the doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n High blood pressure is usually caused by kidney disease, endocrine issues, diabetes and, potentially, obesity. \u201cThe heart\u2019s job is to pump blood through all of the vessels. If a dog has high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to overcome that,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cWhenever we see high blood pressure, we want to manage that because it can cause detrimental changes to the heart over time. It can also exacerbate heart diseases we are trying to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n Signs of hypertension include seizures, severe eye problems, circling, confusion, bloody urine and nose bleeds.<\/p>\n Follow Preston & His Adventures:<\/strong><\/p>\n The post Healthy Heart, Healthy Start<\/a> by Mary Schwager<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n The post Healthy Heart, Healthy Start<\/a> by Mary Schwager<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n Rachel Phelps will never forget the urgent call she got from her veterinarian shortly after she dropped off her beloved Westie, named Preston, for minor surgery to remove a lump.<\/p>\n \u201cThe vet was like, \u2018Something happened. We put him under anesthesia, and suddenly his heartbeat plummeted,\u2019\u201d Rachel says. \u201cI was in total shock. I felt like I couldn\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n The medical team immediately brought Preston out of anesthesia, but his heart rate remained low. Rachel and her husband raced Preston from their veterinarian\u2019s office to an animal emergency hospital for round-the-clock care. But after a couple of days, Preston\u2019s heart was still only beating at half the rate it was supposed to. \u201cWe were so worried,\u201d Rachel says.<\/p>\n So, the couple drove Preston from their home in Kentucky to the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. That\u2019s where board-certified cardiologist Ryan Fries took over Preston\u2019s care, and Rachel soon learned her dog was one of the millions in the United States to be diagnosed with heart disease.<\/p>\n Heart disease is a general term for any issue that impairs the organ from pumping blood through a dog\u2019s body the way it should. \u201cYou\u2019re just saying there\u2019s a disease of the heart,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cThere\u2019s a whole lot of things that fall under that category.\u201d Congenital heart problems, defects dogs are born with, are rarer than acquired issues, which dogs develop as they get older. \u201cDogs often have changes to their hearts, especially as they age,\u201d Dr. Fries says.<\/p>\n As a dog matures, size might matter, too. Smaller pooches are more likely to develop leaky valves. Larger dogs are more prone to dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle. Both conditions affect the organ\u2019s ability to work correctly and can result in congestive heart failure.<\/p>\n Certain breeds are also at greater risk of heart disorders. Dr. Fries found Preston\u2019s sinus node, the area of the heart that regulates the rate it beats, wasn\u2019t working properly. It\u2019s called sick sinus syndrome and is common in Westies, like Preston, Boxers, Dachshunds, Miniature Schnauzers and Cocker Spaniels. Often, dogs show no indications of the ailment. \u201cBut once put under the stress of anesthesia, it really manifests,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cWe do see that sometimes; the first real signs of this problem occur during a sedative or an anesthetic event.\u201d<\/p>\n Another common issue is a heart murmur. Veterinarians can often hear the abnormal sound using a stethoscope. \u201cA heart murmur per se is not a disease itself, but rather an indicator that heart disease may be present and signals the need to consider follow-up testing,\u201d says board-certified cardiologist Philip Fox from The Animal Medical Center in New York City. \u201cIt is important to realize that many animals have soft heart murmurs and live normal life spans.<\/p>\n Since most heart maladies develop as dogs age, there are some critical steps you can take to keep your pooch\u2019s ticker ticking.<\/p>\n Test your dog for heartworm each year and keep them on prevention. \u201cHeartworm disease has been documented in all 50 states. It is important, now more than ever, to give heartworm prevention on a year-round basis, even in colder climates where mosquitoes are inactive in winter,\u201d says board-certified cardiologist Michelle Rose from the Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota.<\/p>\n If your dog isn\u2019t on preventives, and a mosquito carrying worm larvae bites your dog, foot-long heartworms can grow by the hundreds in your dog\u2019s heart and lungs. (Yup, downright disgusting!) The worms can cause severe damage and, if left untreated, even death.<\/p>\n Be sure your dog eats a complete and balanced diet suitable for their breed, age and medical needs. In 2018, when the FDA launched its investigation into certain pet food ingredients and possible links to heart disease, researchers focused on nutrition and its impact on a dog\u2019s heart health. \u201cDiet is extremely important. It\u2019s huge,\u201d Dr. Fox says. \u201cTalk to your veterinarian about what foods they would recommend.\u201d<\/p>\n Make sure your dog gets sufficient exercise and is not overweight. \u201cIt is also important, just like in humans, to keep dogs in good body condition, as excessive weight places additional strain on the heart,\u201d Dr. Rose says.<\/p>\n One of the most critical things you can do is make sure your dog gets annual checkups. \u201cHeart disease in dogs can often be detected during visits to the veterinarian that include a thorough medical history and detailed physical examination,\u201d Dr. Fox says. \u201cIf a heart murmur, abnormal heart or lung sounds, or heart rate irregularity are detected, particularly if associated with symptoms, your veterinarian can consider a number of diagnostic tests.\u201d<\/p>\n Some dogs may never need a cardiologist\u2019s care, medication or surgery for a heart issue. But if they do need treatment, there are many available that can stop and delay the progression of heart disease. That\u2019s why early detection is so important. \u201cWe can keep some dogs asymptomatic and feeling good for years,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cThere are some interventions we can do that can fix them. It depends on the disease.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr. Fries considered Preston an excellent candidate to receive a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat. \u201cWe use them for dogs just like people. It\u2019s the same equipment,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Rachel is so thankful high-tech help is available for dogs with heart rate issues. The device will give Preston a new \u201cleash\u201d on life. \u201cThis pacemaker will allow Preston to enjoy his car rides to the pet store, play fetch with his favorite ball, try to chase squirrels at the park that he will never be able to catch and lay on the couch snuggling with us during movie nights,\u201d she says. \u201cBut most importantly, hopefully, it will give us many more years to spend with Preston.<\/p>\n Dr. Fox says to call your vet if you see these signs of heart disease in your dog:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Did you know dogs get high blood pressure, too? Your veterinarian can use a blood pressure cuff to perform a reading just like when you go to the doctor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n High blood pressure is usually caused by kidney disease, endocrine issues, diabetes and, potentially, obesity. \u201cThe heart\u2019s job is to pump blood through all of the vessels. If a dog has high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to overcome that,\u201d Dr. Fries says. \u201cWhenever we see high blood pressure, we want to manage that because it can cause detrimental changes to the heart over time. It can also exacerbate heart diseases we are trying to manage.\u201d<\/p>\n Signs of hypertension include seizures, severe eye problems, circling, confusion, bloody urine and nose bleeds.<\/p>\n Follow Preston & His Adventures:<\/strong><\/p>\n The post Healthy Heart, Healthy Start<\/a> by Mary Schwager<\/a> appeared first on Dogster<\/a>. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11953","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/heart2-600x533.jpeg.optimal.jpeg\")
Heart issues in dogs<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/heart3-450x600.jpeg.optimal.jpeg\")
Your dog\u2019s heart health<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/heart1-600x428.jpeg.optimal.jpeg\")
Preston gets a pacemaker<\/h3>\n
Signs of Heart Disease<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/s36700.pcdn.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/heart-600x400.jpeg.optimal.jpeg\")
![\"❤\"](\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/13.0.1\/72x72\/2764.png\")
Decreased appetite<\/p>\n New cough<\/p>\n Difficulty breathing<\/p>\n Fatigue<\/p>\n Collapse<\/p>\n Weight loss<\/p>\n Swollen abdomen<\/p>\nHigh Blood Pressure in Dogs<\/h3>\n
@prestonspeaks<\/p>\n prestonspeaks.com<\/a><\/p>\nHeart issues in dogs<\/h3>\n
Your dog\u2019s heart health<\/h3>\n
Preston gets a pacemaker<\/h3>\n
Signs of Heart Disease<\/h3>\n
Decreased appetite<\/p>\n New cough<\/p>\n Difficulty breathing<\/p>\n Fatigue<\/p>\n Collapse<\/p>\n Weight loss<\/p>\n Swollen abdomen<\/p>\nHigh Blood Pressure in Dogs<\/h3>\n
@prestonspeaks<\/p>\n prestonspeaks.com<\/a><\/p>\n