Visit our Diagnosis page for more information. A special blood test to check for a substance called NT-proBNP (or sometimes just called BNP) may help your veterinarian determine the severity of your dog’s mitral valve disease. Your veterinarian may also recommend bloodwork and a urine test to ensure your dog is healthy enough for medications. For information on finding a veterinary cardiologist to perform an echo, visit the Find Vet Specialists website. The echo will help your veterinarian determine the severity of your dog’s mitral valve disease and determine the best approach to disease management. An echo will allow the veterinarian to see the thickening of the mitral valve, evaluate the amount of blood leaking through the mitral valve with each heartbeat, and measure the degree of enlargement of the heart. Echoes are best completed by a veterinary cardiologist or someone with similar advanced training in cardiology. Your veterinarian may recommend chest radiographs (x-rays) to look for an enlarged heart or to search for evidence of fluid buildup in the lungs (congestive heart failure).Ī veterinary cardiologist can perform an echocardiogram to determine the severity of degenerative mitral valve disease.įurther testing may include an echocardiogram (echo). They will also note the breathing rate and effort, listen for abnormal lung sounds, and check the color of the gums (they should be pink!). In addition to listening to your dog’s heart murmur, your veterinarian may hear other abnormalities such as an arrhythmia or a mid-systolic click (see below). Diagnosis & TestingĪs part of the diagnosis for mitral valve disease, your veterinarian will begin with a complete physical examination. (below) Heart murmur from a dog with mitral valve disease.Įxcessive coughing, difficulty breathing, and fainting all can be emergencies that may require urgent veterinary care. Your veterinarian may suspect mitral valve disease based on listening to the heart with a stethoscope and finding a new heart murmur. Mitral valve disease is a slowly progressive disease that your veterinarian may diagnose before there are any symptoms. Nearly all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will eventually develop mitral valve disease. Common breeds include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Dachshund, Cocker Spaniel, miniature and toy Poodle, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Chihuahua, and many other small to medium size dog breeds. Small-breed dogs of middle to older age are most commonly diagnosed with mitral valve disease, although large-breed dogs can also develop the disease. The condition goes by many names including myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD), chronic valvular heart disease, or just “mitral regurgitation”. The blood leaking from the left ventricle backwards into the left atrium shows up as a multicolored blue, green and red speckled pattern. Your veterinarian can answer specific questions you have about your dog’s condition.Īn echo with color Doppler from a dog with a leak at the mitral valve. Diagnosis and treatment will be specific for your dog. However, because every dog is unique, your dog may not show the typical symptoms, or your dog may have a less common disease that is not listed here. The information included in this section covers the most commonly diagnosed heart diseases in dogs.
This disease is more common in certain parts of the world, especially in warmer regions. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos and can affect cats and dogs. Some of the most common heart conditions in dogs are degenerative mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and pericardial disease.Īnother condition affecting the heart is heartworm disease.
Other heart conditions develop as the dog ages. The most common congenital heart defects in dogs are patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), subaortic stenosis (SAS), pulmonic stenosis, and ventricular septal defect (VSD). Some heart conditions are present at birth (called congenital heart defects). The heart is an important and complex organ, and heart disease in dogs can show up in a variety of ways affecting specific parts of the heart and body.
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