Dog Health

There are many substances that a dog cannot consume. Alcohol is one of them. Alcohol is a danger to humans, but is designed for human metabolism and body size. Understanding the dangers alcohol...

Heart failure in small breed dogs, such as the Pomeranian, occurs when the mitral valve fails, allowing the blood to wash backward in the heart, causing it to enlarge and become less efficient.

Congestive heart failure is common in older dogs, but younger dogs can develop the disease if they have a history of it in their family. Congestive heart failure in dogs is similar to the people...

Measuring a dog's heart rate is a useful and necessary skill for all dog owners. Knowing your dog's normal resting heart rate can help you determine whether or not your dog is in need of...

Knowing how to measure your dog's vital signs is an important skill for pet guardians. Some dogs are stoic when in pain and will not let you know they are hurting. Others will hide their illness...

A diagnosis of an enlarged heart in your dog typically comes after specific symptoms have become apparent. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms are obvious, a significant amount of damage has...

If you're a dog owner, you may be interested in determining your dog's heart rate to check for fitness or illness. An adult dog's resting heart rate should remain between 70 and 180 beats per...

Heart failure is a condition in which the canine heart is no longer able to pump adequate levels of blood to the rest of the body. It can be a devastating diagnosis for any dog owner to receive....

Like their doting owners, dogs have a four-chambered heart. Unfortunately, this means that dogs can also suffer heart attacks, heart failure, and other cardiac emergencies.

If your dog has tested positive for heart worms, it is important to give your dog heart worm medication. This is one of the only ways you can rid your animal of worms. It is also important that...

A healthy canine heart continuously cycles oxygenated blood to the organs and tissues in the body. Heart disease occurs when this cycle is interrupted by diseases, flaws and weaknesses that affect...

People love their dogs and part of that love is not only providing for them with good food and a loving home, but watching out for symptoms which could be indicative of a problem. Catching health...

Canine congestive heart failure treatments vary depending on the severity of the disease. Although the condition is very serious and can lead to immediate death, there are some things doctors can...

Carnosine is a naturally occurring substance in the body of most mammals, including dogs, that supports long-lived neuronal cells found in the heart, brain and muscles. It is an antioxidant and...

Dogs very rarely have heart attacks in the same way that humans do. Heart attacks are most commonly caused by a blockage in the arteries. This is usually due to high cholesterol or fat buildup...

Several medicines are available to treat parasite-borne diseases in pets. Among the most effective, according to Dr. Dawn Ruben in an article for Pet Place, is ivermectin -- the active ingredient...

Heart tumors are a rare condition that affects middle-aged to older dogs. Their appearance is often sudden, and males are at a higher risk. German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers also are more...

Bleeding heart plants are toxic to dogs when enough of the plant is eaten. The bleeding heart plant contains alkaloids, which are toxic and can cause a variety of symptoms. Pet owners can protect...

The trade name for the drug Pimobendan, Vetmedin is a medication used to treat dogs suffering from heart failure. Vetmedin helps increase the output of the heart, while decreasing the amount of...

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is impaired. It can be the result of an abnormality within the heart, dilated caridiomyopathy, arythmia...

Heartworm disease in dogs is easily and inexpensively prevented but difficult and expensive to cure. According to Sheldon Rubin, president of the American Heartworm Society, most monthly heartworm...

Heart failure is an abnormality in the function or structure of the dog's heart. It can strike any breed of dog, and can begin to affect them at a relatively young age.

When a dog coughs, usually it's a sign of cold or seasonal allergies, conditions that can be easily treated. However, if the animal develops a deep, hacking cough that continues over a longer...

Knowing your dog's pulse rate can be an immense help for your veterinarian. Any change in its regular rhythm could signal that something' s not right. To learn to take a dog's pulse you must find...

In addition to congenital or hereditary factors, there are two common types of heart failure that can affect dogs. The first, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, is relatively rare. It causes the walls...

Unvaccinated puppies that contract distemper often suffer various types of systemic organ damage if they manage to live through the disease. Distemper can affect a wide range of organs including...

Pulmonary congestion in dogs is called congestive heart failure and usually caused by an underlying condition. Treating congestive heart failure depends on what underlying conditions are causing...

Dogs are great and loving pets. But, sometimes there are unexpected health problems that can develop. It is important to know what these health issues are. It is also important to know how to...

Dogs get sick much like their human friends; the problem is, they can't tell us what's bothering them. To provide the appropriate treatment, you need to know the symptoms of canine illnesses....

Dogs are pretty resilient creatures, but sometimes they are prone to heart problems, especially if they are overweight or of a certain breed. Dogs do not have heart attacks in the way that people...

Cardiomegaly causes the heart of a dog to become enlarged. Cardiomegaly is not a specific disease, but can be caused by a number of health problems including hypertension (high blood pressure),...

Heart murmurs in dogs often have no significant health consequences, and don't negatively affect longevity or quality of life. In other dogs, a heart murmur may be a severe health issue and be the...

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an emergency procedure that can help dogs that have stopped breathing and whose hearts have stopped beating. Dog CPR is very similar to the procedure used on...

Heart failure can occur in any breed of dog, regardless of size, age or gender. Heart failure is caused by a variety of factors. Recognizing the early signs can help you give your dog a better...

The heart is one of the most vital organs of your dog's body because it delivers blood to the tissues and the organs of the body. There are four chambers of the heart: the left and right...

Dogs with congestive heart failure suffer a host of distressful symptoms, not the least of which is a frequent cough caused by fluid retention in the lungs. Allowing this liquid to stay in the...

Heart disease can be a frustrating and devastating diagnosis for any dog owner. It is estimated that approximately 11 percent of all dogs have some form of heart disease. Understanding the two...

The veterinarian often prescribes a dog diagnosed with congestive heart failure a myriad of medications. Owners often do not understand the effects, good and bad, of the treatment. When...

Heart failure can occur in any dog at any age, no matter what their breed or gender may be. If you hear your veterinarian use the word "congenital" when describing your dog's defect, that means...

Veterinarians often diagnose congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia in dogs simultaneously when an animal presents at the clinic with specific symptoms. At this point, it becomes...

Liver disease and congestive heart failure are two common illnesses that many dogs suffer from. While they mostly occur in older pets, the diseases can plague almost any dog. Although both...

Congestive heart failure can be a devastating disease for dogs. When it strikes, it becomes important for caregivers to understand that their dog's heart is no longer functioning and what they...

Like people, dogs are prone to a variety of respiratory disorders. Because coughing in dogs may range in cause from minor issues such as drinking water too fast to health conditions that can be...

If you have ever owned a dog, you know how quickly these darling pets become our friends. If you have ever seen your pet sick, you know the wrenching pain possible in your heart. Seeing your pet...

Dogs contract heart worms by getting bitten by infected mosquitoes. When this occurs, microfilariae (immature heart worms), begin circulating through the dog's bloodstream. After three months, the...

Heavy breathing in dogs is indicative of a variety of ailments. Excessive physical exertion--and the more fatal heart failure or advanced-stage cancer--can cause heavy breathing. It's imperative...

Your dog's heart is vulnerable to the same types of heart problems that humans experience. Early detection of heart disease is not only key, it's your responsibility. Dr. Joanne Bicknese, speaking...

For many years, the brand Heartgard has been the product pet guardians turn to for prevention of heartworms in their dogs. Recently, many generic products have become available at a lower cost....

Heart worms are transmitted to dogs by the bite of an infected mosquito, grow to the size of pieces of spaghetti and live in the dog's heart. They reproduce to the point that they can eventually...

Heart worms are a parasite transmitted from a bite by a mosquito carrying the larvae. The heart worm eggs circulate in the bloodstream until reaching the heart. The eggs hatch, and the heart worms...