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A Short And Helpful Guide To Dog Heart Murmur

Nov 24th, 2010 by Jemma Reynolds | 0

What is dog heart murmur? Basically, a heart murmur is a condition that occurs when the there is an abnormal activity in the blood flow of the canine. This will cause irregularity in the heart beat. Instead of the short and regular beats, you will hear the dog’s heart emit prolonged and soft throbs.

Heart murmurs can be caused by high blood pressure, birth defects or a heart complication. Symptoms of this include difficulty in breathing, coughing, a bluish tinge in the mouth and gums and a general weakening of his body. It is critical that you have your pet examined by a vet when you see these symptoms happening because when it is left unchecked and untreated, it can lead to congestive heart failure in dogs.

Congestive heart failure in dogs is not like the human’s equivalent to a heart attack or a heart disease. Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart muscles progressively deteriorate and this consequently affects the functioning of the other internal organs as well. It may take years before the serious effects of this become apparent but when it does, the result is often critical to the weakened animal.

Therefore it is very important to make sure you treat your dog’s heart murmur as soon as it is diagnosed. The treatment for it is highly dependent on the canine’s age, severity of the condition and past medical background so keep your vet updated on your dog’s health status regularly.

There are several medications that are available to cure canine heart conditions. Diuretics are sometimes prescribed to reduce fluid-build up that result from heart murmurs. These are acceptable treatments but I strongly recommend that you consider holistic remedies before anything else. These are safer alternatives that have been known to effectively treat humans’ and dogs’ health problems.

Give him supplements that enhance cardiovascular health like Coenzyme Q10 (increases oxygen levels in the cells), Arnica Montana, Kalium Phosphate, and Calcium Fluoride (improves blood pressure), Crateagus oxycantha  or Hawthorne (develops artery strength), L-Carnitine and Taurine (facilitates heart function and heartbeat as well as guards the heart from too much calcium).

Of course with these supplements come a healthy diet and lifestyle. Provide him meals that are high in vitamins and nutrients. Aim to promote better immunity against disease and infections. A healthy serving of fatty acids is also said to significantly lower the animal’s blood pressure.

Do not neglect the importance of your dog’s regular physical activities. Maintaining a light, exercise regimen improves blood circulation and more than that, help keep your dog’s ideal weight. Obesity in dogs is another big factor in heart disease that you can avoid with exercise. Bring him to daily walks around the block or take him swimming for a few minutes regularly.

Dog heart murmur is unfortunate, but it does not have to be the end of the world for you and your dog. Look for a good holistic vet in your neighborhood and discuss possible alternative treatments that your pet can use.

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