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Managing
Congestive
Heart Failure
in Your Dog
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
The term ‘Congestive Heart Failure’ (CHF)
is used when the pumping mechanism
of the heart becomes compromised or
defective leading to a back-up of blood in
the vessels, resulting in ‘congestion’. This
causes fluid to build-up in the lungs and/
or the abdomen, the kidneys to retain
sodium and water, and blood vessels
to constrict.
What is the difference between Heart Disease and Heart Failure?
Heart disease refers to abnormalities in the
structure and/or function of the heart. Heart
failure refers to patients whose bodies can no
longer compensate for these abnormalities
and develop clinical signs of the disease.
Is there a cure?
There is no cure for heart failure that doesn’t
involve expensive and highly specialised
surgery, but there are several effective
medical management options.Your vet will
most likely prescribe medications to help to
minimise this congestion, improve the clinical
signs of the disease and to help improve the
quality of life for your dog.
My dog has been diagnosed. What happens now?
Depending on the underlying cause of your
dog’s heart issues and the level of progression
of disease, your vet may have prescribed one or
more medications.
What if my dog is not showing any signs of heart failure?
Even if your dog is not yet showing signs of
heart failure, your veterinarian may have
prescribed medication to delay the onset of
clinical signs of heart disease. In these cases it is
just as important to administer the medication
every day.
Why should I administer the medication that the vet has prescribed?
Treatment with heart medications have been
shown to improve longevity and quality of life
of dogs with heart disease by reducing the
associated signs of the disease.
How important is it to keep administering the medication?
Medications prescribed for heart disease will
need to be administered to your dog for the
rest of their life. Short periods without the
prescribed medications may cause your dog
to become seriously ill as the body is unable to
compensate for a failing heart.
Keep an eye on your dog’s health
Signs of Heart Failure:
Increased respiration rate,
panting or difficulty breathing
Reluctance to exercise,
decrease in physical activity,
or generalised weakness
Coughing
Enlarged abdomen
Muscle wasting or anorexia
Episodes of collapse
EVEN IF YOUR DOG IS NOT EXHIBITING ANY OF THESE SIGNS, MEDICATION MAY BE PRESCRIBED TO PROLONG THE TIME BEFORE ONSET OF THESE CLINICAL SIGNS
Treatment
Each product plays a different role in
the management of heart failure, so it
is important to be aware of what each
medication does:
CorMedin®
CorMedin can be used to treat canine
congestive heart failure. The active ingredient
is pimobendan, which has a dual action to
both strengthen the heart’s contractions,
and dilate blood vessels helping to reduce
resistance to blood flow around the body.
Frudix®
Frudix is a diuretic that is used to reduce
fluid retention. Frudix is usually prescribed
in conjunction with one or both of the other
medications (CorMedin & VetACE). Diuretics
increase thirst and urine production so your
dog may drink more and may need to go
to the toilet more frequently, particularly
at night time. Always ensure there is plenty
of fresh water available if your dog is on
diuretics.
VetACE®
VetACE is an angiotensin converting enzyme
(ACE) inhibitor, and works by decreasing
pressure on the heart by reducing fluid
retention and limiting blood vessel
constriction.
Staying on top of your dog’s medication is
crucial to improving the longevity and
quality of their life. However, with our busy
lives, staying on top of everything without
missing a beat can be a challenge.
That’s why we’ve created the
Beats – Heart Health for Dogs App
to assist you in remembering to administer
your dog’s medication every day.
App Features
Dosing Reminders
Handy reminders about when to give your dogs medication.
Medication
Access to information about your Jurox cardiac medication.
Resting Respiratory Rate Monitor
A resting respiratory rate monitor for you to use at home and share these details on request with your Vet.
Clinic Information
Clinic Information
Clinic contact information for quick re-prescription.
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