» »

Heart Health

hearthealthbaner

heartpaw Mitral valve disease is the most common form of heart disease in the dog and is responsible for 75% of canine heart disease.

During Mitral Valve disease one or more of these valves "leak," allowing blood to be pumped backwards. This backward flow creates a slight whooshing noise, called a murmur, which your veterinarian can usually hear with a stethoscope.
Mitral Valve disease is more common in male dogs than females and occurs more frequently in small- to medium-size dogs.
Symptoms include a cough, increased blood pressure, lethargy, reluctance to exercise, and in some cases fainting. Treatment options will depend on how far the disease has progressed.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the second most common form of heart disease in a dog.

DCM is caused by a failure of the heart muscles to pump effectively. The contractions of the heart are weak and blood is not pumped through the body efficiently.
DCM usually occurs in medium- to large-breed dogs
Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, excess panting, exercise intolerance, collapse, abdominal distension, lethargy, reluctance to lie down or inability to rest comfortably, loss of appetite. Treatment options will depend on how far the disease has progressed.

Quite often it can be difficult for veterinarians to get an accurate heart rate for dogs. Dogs may be agitated when they arrive at the clinic -- they've driven in the car, seen new people and come into contact with new smells. As a result, their respiratory rate is often falsely elevated, preventing their doctor from gathering accurate, real-time information.

The Resting Respiration Rate, a free app designed by Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. for Apple and Android users, is the most effective way to monitor your dog’s heart health. By tracking your dog’s resting respiration rate at home and communicating values to your veterinarian, she can better assess and understand the true state of your dog's cardiovascular health.

With early diagnosis of heart disease and appropriate treatment and management, you increase your dog's opportunity to live a happy and comfortable life.

The AKC Canine Health Foundation has approved research grants that will enable early, cost-effective diagnosis of canine heart disease. Learn about our cardiology program area and the work you can support.

Canines & Cocktails

Help Future Generations of Dogs

Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.