lundi 4 novembre 2013

Canine Congestive Heart Failure Treatments: Helping Your Pet Live Longer

By Geraldine Dimarco


There are few things that pet owners dread more than hearing the words 'canine heart disease'. When left on its own, it will hasten the dog's life and lead to his death. There are still no cures for animals that have inherited heart problems; however, canine congestive heart failure treatments are offered to extend the lifespan and improve the dog's quality of life.

First of all, what exactly are canine heart diseases? This is basically when the heart of the dog fails to function properly. The heart is made up of four chambers, each operating together with a set of valves. Heart problems set in when certain parts of the organ cease to work and the rest will have to compensate by exerting more effort. While dogs don't necessarily experience heart attacks, these complications lead to congestive heart failure when left unchecked for too long.

Symptoms of canine heart disease include coughing, labored breathing, fainting, being easily fatigued, and having bluish, gray gums. Also, because of the blood pressure, fluid will begin to leak out of the canine's blood vessel. Fluid build-up then gathers in the tissues and other vital organs, settling in the abdominal cavity. So you must also watch out if your pet has a distended tummy.

Unfortunately, because the symptoms usually seem mild and harmless, the pet owner doesn't sometimes realize that their pet is already suffering from a heart problem. It is vital that you continue to have regular visits to the vet to be able to detect and correctly diagnose any health concern that your pet may have.

If your pet has been diagnosed with some form of heart disease, do not fret. Continuous studies on canine congestive heart failure treatments are being done to find out how to best improve the condition of the dog.

Most likely your options will be medications that will correct defects in the proper functioning of the heart. Specialized drugs focus on fixing the canine's ability to reduce fluid build-up, repairing irregular heartbeats, and increasing the quantity of blood pumped by the heart. For some dogs, surgery is recommended. After an initial rest, resume regular exercise regimens for the dog.

Herbal supplements are excellent tools that can be used to improve heart function. Crateagus oxycantha strengthen artery walls; Calcium fluoride, Kalium phosphate and Arnica Montana support good blood pressure; mistletoe and valerian root are valuable support to the canine's cardiovascular health.

Your pet's health can be greatly helped by providing him with a nutritional diet rich in nutrients that promote cardiac health like Calcium, Vitamin E, Taurine, L-carnitine and Omega-3 fatty acid should be served. Include yams, squash, beets, broccoli, carrots and cucumber in the meals that you serve him.

Of course it's never easy to learn about some potentially critical disease your pet has. However, instead of focusing on the problem, let us look at what can be done about it. Your dog still has an opportunity to have several more years ahead of him - make those years count.




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