Cardiomyopathy, also often referred to as dilated cardiomyopathy, is a disease affecting the muscles of the heart. The disease can cause the valves of the heart to malfunction, and can even cause problems in the contraction and expansion movements of the heart. Giant breeds as well as breeds like Doberman pinschers, Great Danes, and Boxer dogs are genetically predisposed to this disease.
Cardiomyopathy is one of the most common causes of heart failure in dogs larger breeds. On rare occasions, this disease can also affect spaniels.
The buildup of the disease is usually caused by the accumulation of toxins and infections.
These infections weaken the heart muscles, causing the muscle action to malfunction. When blood has been circulated in the entire body and returns to the heart, faulty muscle functioning causes a delay in the pumping of the blood back into the system. The blood pumped by the heart, as a result of this, is not enough to meet the rising demands of the tissues in the body.
In dilated cardiomyopathy, the heart muscles undergo changes mainly due to the dilation of the heart chambers, which cause the muscles to become thin and weak. The contraction action of the heart muscles therefore becomes weak, and the heart has to work much harder to compensate for the lower amounts of blood than it is able to pump. Eventually, this leads to congestive heart failure, and finally, death of the animal.
In this condition, there is a chronic buildup of fluid in the lungs and abdominal cavities. The dog may appear weak and could start to shy away from any physical exercise. Often, the dog may have difficulty in breathing and begin to lose weight rapidly. Since the blood flow would have decreased considerably, the mucous membranes become pale and may even appear bluish in color. Due to the decrease in the blood flow, the limbs may become extremely weak and cold.
The doctor may ask for urine and blood tests; however, they will not able to give much information about the functioning of the heart. Chest radiographs may be taken to look more closely at the lungs. The shape and size of the heart are also examined to find out whether significant dilation has taken place. Other tests that are ordered for dogs are ECG tests, EKG tests, ultrasound examinations, and sonograms.
There are various stages in the treatment of cardiomyopathy in dogs depending on the dilation of the chambers of the heart. However, the disease is not yet curable.
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