How do you treat an enlarged heart?

If it is an enlarged chamber, we may put them on medication to help that heart squeeze better. If it were due to an enlargement around the heart, such as pericardial effusion, we could run specialized tests to relieve that pressure.

The first step in treating an enlarged heart is getting x-rays, ideally followed by an ultrasound from a cardiologist. There are several medications available that can help the heart not to work so hard, reduce any fluid buildup, and provide general support.

While we can't reverse an enlarged heart, we can support its function with medication. This can help slow down the progression of the disease. Unfortunately, unlike in humans, we don't have the capability to do heart transplants in dogs at this time.

That depends on the cause. In hypertrophic cardiomyopathies, we're trying to make sure that we're getting medications on board that increase the ability of the heart to pump and decrease the resistance the heart has to work against. In dilated cardiomyopathy, where we're seeing that taurine-deficient cause, we're recommending a diet change to supplement that taurine.