Can diet affect my dog’s heart health? - Animal Hospital of Statesville
That's a great question. Recently, studies show that feeding your dog a grain-free diet can cause problems and lead to heart disease, whereas that pet would have not previously been susceptible to that.
What is dog cardiomyopathy? - Animal Hospital of Statesville
Cardiomyopathy is a condition of the heart muscle.
What is a dog heart murmur? - Animal Hospital of Statesville
A dog heart murmur is turbulent flow. The heart is just a big pump, so the heart should pump blood in one direction. And whenever there is abnormal blood flow or blood flow in two different directions, you hear that in the stethoscope. And that is what a heart murmur is.
What are the most common heart diseases in dogs? - Animal Hospital of Statesville
Good question. The most common heart disease is broken apart into the type of dog. So our smaller breeds traditionally have mitral valve disease, which is a valve on the left side of the heart. And some of our larger breeds can have various problems, such as chamber enlargement or other conditions like that.
Do I need a cardiologist to diagnose heart issues in my dog? - Animal Hospital of Statesville
We do rely on our board-certified cardiologists, and we offer that referral. But we can detect many problems, and by doing the limited echos here, we can provide a lot of information on why the pet has heart disease, what type of heart disease, and start the medication to help improve that quality of life.
What is a board-certified cardiologist? - Animal Hospital of Statesville
A board-certified cardiologist is a veterinarian that is specialized in cardiology. So they have gone to school a few extra years, and they have passed a test that certifies them in that specialty.