How The Canine Heart Works
The heart is a muscular pump divided into four chambers; two on the left and two on the right.
Heart disease in dogs often leads to heart failure. That's not to be confused with heart attacks experienced by people. Dogs generally have what is called congestive heart failure (CHF), a relatively slow worsening of symptoms, also suffered by people. This occurs as the heart struggles to compensate for whatever defect or disease is present. As the condition develops, it will affect all other organs in the body that rely on the efficient supply of nutrient-rich blood.