Acquired heart diseases are those that a dog acquires during its lifetime, usually as a result of normal wear and tear, infection or injury.

Acquired heart disease accounts for 95% of all heart disease seen in dogs, and usually appears after they reach middle age.

By the time a dog shows obvious symptoms of acquired heart disease, it is likely that irreversible damage has already been done. Usually, the earlier heart disease is diagnosed, the better your veterinarian will be able to manage the condition.

So, it's worth asking your veterinarian to give your dog an annual healthcheck regardless. In this way, they'll stand the best chance of picking up any signs that you would not be able to spot yourself.

If your dog is diagnosed with an acquired heart disease, the outlook is not necessarily all bad. With the latest drug therapy, he may be able to live a comfortable life for some time to come.

Please click on the links below to find out about the more common acquired heart diseases:
 

• Chronic Valvular Disease
  when the valves within the heart degenerate with age and start to leak.
   
• Myocardial Disease
  when the heart muscle itself weakens, causing the heart to enlarge.
   
• Pericardial Disease
  when the protective sac that surrounds the heart fills with fluid, preventing it from pumping efficiently.
   
• Arrhythmias
  a failure of the electrical system which tells the heart when to beat.