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Treatments
It's important to distinguish between heart disease and heart failure. Heart disease is the underlying condition. It can rarely be cured per se. Heart failure is the consequence of heart disease.
Heart failure is rarely a sudden cessation of the heart's function, but a slow complex process in which its decline affects the performance of almost every part of the body. Unlike the underlying disease, heart failure can often be managed with drugs that improve and extend the dog's life.
Chief amongst these are ACE inhibitors. First used in man, ACE inhibitors reduce blood volume and pressure, thereby relieving stress on the heart. They are also thought to slow the deterioration of the heart muscles.
There are many other drugs, diets and surgical techniques used to treat heart disease or manage heart failure. A special exercise regime for your dog will also be very important. You can learn about these by clicking on the links below.
Bear in mind, though, that every case of heart disease is unique, and it is not possible for this website to make any recommendation as to which treatment, or combination of treatments is appropriate for your dog. We do hope, though, that the information we provide will give you a better understanding of any treatment that may have been recommended, and why.
Surgery
Heart surgery for dogs will only be appropriate for the relatively small number of dogs that have very specific, usually congenital heart problems. However, where appropriate, the success rate is very high, and your dog should benefit from a markedly improved quality and quantity of life. It is worth noting that surgical intervention in the cardiac case is almost always best performed by a specialist cardiologist, although some GP's are able to carry out a pericardial drainage.
Procedures
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (keyhole vs traditional surgery).
For those dogs with PDA, traditional surgery to seal the blood vessel has a very high success rate. However, relatively new keyhole techniques are less invasive, and generally offer a quicker recovery.
Pacemakers
First developed for people, the technique of inserting a pacemaker has now been successfully applied in the veterinary world. A dog fitted with a pacemaker has every chance of living a long and healthy life.
Balloon Valvuloplasty
This technique involves the insertion of a balloon tipped catheter into the constricted area of the heart, and inflating to reduce the constriction. About 85% of animals show an improvement in health following the treatment, but it is not without risk. 5-10% of animals will not survive treatment.
Pericardial Drainage / Pericardiectomy
Pericardial drainage involves the insertion of a catheter into the pericardium to drain excess fluid and thereby relieve pressure on the heart. In some cases, the problem of fluid build-up is recurrent, and surgery to remove up to half of the pericardium may be called for.
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It's great to do things together, but heart failure in dogs can affect their quality of life and lifespan.
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