As the ranks of animals in US households has grown, so has the ranks of canines and felines with grave heart conditions.
Relatively new to veterinary medicine is the veterinary cardiologist, responsible for diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in canines and felines. If your veterinarian diagnoses a heart condition, you may be referred to a cat or dog cardiologist for more tests.
The field of dog cardiology has made a number of advances in recent years, developing treatment options for many cardiac problems in dogs such as canine heart murmur.
Cat conditions, such as arterial thromboembolism in felines, are also being studied and solutions are being developed.
How do heart problems develop in canines and felines? And what can you do prevent the conditions?
Research suggests that although quite a few of the conditions seem to have a foundation in genetics, there are steps to be taken to prevent heart conditions in our canine and feline friends. To begin, ensure your pet is not gaining weight. The larger your pet, the more the heart has to work. The added strain of that added weight might cause problems. Ample activity is also vital to maintain heart health. A schedule for playtime and walking are good for both dogs and cats.
Scheduled veterinary appointments are another way to ensure your pet stays healthy. Also ask about necessary vaccinations with your vet to prevent many diseases that could create cardiac issues.