Chronic Valvular Disease

Chronic valvular disease is the most common heart disease of
dogs. It leads to congestive heart failure and is a major cause
of death in many pets. congestive heart failure can be managed
with rest, low-sodium diets, diuretics, and medications to
improve cardiac function. The heart has four chambers; two
atria, which are located on the top of the heart, and two
ventricles, which are located on the bottom. There are four sets
of valves in the heart: On e at the top and bottom of each
atrium. These valves function to direct blood through the heart
so no back flow of blood occurs when the heart contracts.

Chronic valvular disease results in shrunken and distorted
valves between the chambers of the heart. The valves therefore
can’t close properly, and blood is ejected back through the
valve instead of going to the lungs or body when the ventricles
contract. The heart enlarges in an attempt to compensate for the
overload of blood in the left ventricle and atrium. These
changes take months to years to develop. Pets with chronic
valvular disease often have congestive heart failure with fluid
accumulation in the lungs, abdomen, or both.

Causes

The cause of chronic valvular disease is unknown.

Diagnosis

Your veterinarian may detect a heart murmur in your pet years
before congestive heart failure develops. The murmur is caused
by regurgitation of blood through defective valves.

Auscultation of the chest (listening to it with a stethoscope)
may reveal heart murmurs and the presence of fluid in the lungs.
Feeling the chest and blood vessels may disclose the presence of
unusual pulses. X-rays of the chest and abdomen are often taken
to detect cardiac enlargement and fluid build-up. EKG’s show
heart enlargement and disturbances in rhythms that need
treatment. Blood tests, including tests for heartworms, and
urinalyses are commonly performed to assess the effects of heart
failure in other organs.

Treatment and Home Care

Treatment for chronic valvular disease is not curative, but can
relieve the clinical signs of congestive heart failure in most
patients. The overload of blood that the heart must pump can be
lessened by low-sodium diets and diuretics, which reduce the
quantity of blood, and by drugs that dilate blood vessels. Other
therapy includes enforced rest and drugs to control arrhythmias
(irregular heart beats) and strengthen and slow the heart.

Home care consists of giving all prescribed medication,
monitoring your pet for the resolution of clinical signs, and
following your veterinarian’s instructions for proper diet and
exercise restriction. Some drugs that you veterinarian uses to
treat heart disease have side effects. Report any abnormal
behavior, such as weakness, vomiting, and diarrhea, to your
veterinarian at once. You will need to return to the hospital
for diagnostic tests that your veterinarian will use to check
the effectiveness of therapy.

Dietary Plan

If your pet has chronic valvular disease, your veterinarian may
suggest a dietary change bases on your pet’s age and body
condition, clinical signs, and on the presence or absence of
disease in other organs and body systems. Many pets with
congestive heart failure benefit from foods low in sodium. These
foods reduce the workload of the heart by reducing fluid
accumulation in the body. Foods with moderate sodium restriction
are useful for managing early heart failure. If clinical signs
of congestive heart failure persist or develop when your pet is
fed a food with moderate sodium restriction, your veterinarian
may recommend a very low-sodium food to help reduce fluid
retention.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.