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Mitral Valve Disease in Dogs
Recovery and Management of Mitral Valve Disease Mitral valve disease may or may not progress to the extent that it needs to be medically managed. It is important that if a murmur is identified, it is monitored regularly by your veterinarian, with referral to a cardiologist for echocardiograms and additional recommendations if needed. New dietary research is exploring the benefit of diet in preventing the progression of this disease. Dogs with heart disease need adequate protein in their diets and should not be obese, as this increases stress on the heart. Diets containing omega-3 and medium chain triglycerides, magnesium, and vitamin E are shown to provide much-needed nutrients to overstressed heart muscle. Mitral valve disease is considered a managed disease, with monitoring and treatment done to prevent the dog’s condition from advancing to the next stage. Mitral valve disease is not considered curable in dogs at this time. The prognosis varies widely, and some dogs will remain in Stage B1 and their lifespan will not be shortened. Other dogs progress steadily into advanced stages. Once a dog has progressed into Stage C (congestive heart failure), the prognosis is guarded. Featured Image: iStock.com/AzmanJaka,References Buchanan JW. Chronic valvular disease (endocardiosis) in dogs. Advances in Veterinary Science and Comparative Medicine. 1977;21:75-106,What Is Mitral Valve Disease in Dogs? To understand valve disease in dogs, think about the heart as a pump. The left side of the heart pumps freshly oxygenated blood from the lungs to the rest of the dog’s body. The mitral valve is a regulator of the blood flow between the two left chambers, the atrium, and the ventricle. When it is working correctly, the mitral valve prevents any backflow of blood from the ventricle back into the atrium when the heart muscle contracts. With mitral valve disease the valve will not function as well, and some blood may leak in the wrong direction when the muscle contracts. A small amount of backflow is not an issue, but often, over time, the valve becomes thicker and stiffer and the volume of backflowing blood increases. As a result, the heart becomes a less efficient pump. The heart muscle will try to compensate by getting thicker, which increases the overall size of the heart. In some dogs, mitral valve disease will progress enough so that fluid begins to accumulate in the lungs simply because the heart cannot keep up. Accumulation of the fluid in the lungs is known as pulmonary edema. Its presence indicates the dog is in congestive heart failure. Two other names for mitral valve disease in dogs: Degenerative mitral valve disease Canine myxomatous mitral valve disease
Fanconi Syndrome in Dogs
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