Treatments
It's important to distinguish between heart disease and heart failure. Heart disease is the underlying condition. It can rarely be cured per se. Heart failure is the consequence of heart disease.
Heart failure is rarely a sudden cessation of heart function, but a slow complex process in which its decline affects the performance of almost every part of the body. Unlike the underlying disease, heart failure can often be managed with drugs that improve and extend a dog's life.
Chief amongst these are ACE inhibitors. First used in humans, ACE inhibitors reduce blood volume and pressure, thereby relieving stress on the heart. They are also thought to slow the deterioration of heart muscle.
There are many other drugs, diets and surgical techniques used to treat heart disease or heart failure. A special exercise regimen is also very important. You can learn about these by clicking on the links below.
Remember, every case of heart disease is unique. It’s not possible for this site to make recommendations about which treatment or combination of treatments is appropriate for your dog. This information aims to give you a better understanding of any treatment that may have been recommended by your veterinarian.
ACE inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are the mainstay of treatment in nearly all cases of dog heart failure. ACE inhibitors work at a number of levels, primarily suppressing the body's compensation system to relieve stress on the heart. There has been no other drug group in the history of veterinary cardiology that has undergone such extensive clinical testing to prove its value.
Diuretics
Diuretics are usually used, often long term, to stimulate the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body.
Other drugs
Nitroglycerin is used short term to dilate the veins throughout the body. This redistributes fluids and eases pressure on the heart and lungs. Nitroglycerin is only effective for a day or two, after which the body builds a tolerance. It is usually administered by a veterinarian.
Digitalis is primarily used to control an excessively fast heart rate. It must be prescribed with care as it’s relatively easy to overdose. Concurrent regular blood testing is often recommended to reduce overdose risk.
Inodilators directly stimulate the heart muscle and are used when heart muscle fails, i.e. in dilated cardiomyopathy or in end-stage valvular disease.