Anatomy of a Canine Heart Vs. a Human Heart
The canine and human heart are very similar in structure and function. Dogs can even suffer from the same types of heart problems as humans. However, there are some key differences that result in treatment variance when heart problems arise.
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Significance
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In both canines and humans, the heart is the hub of the cardiovascular system, which pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs and then pumps oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.
Features
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Both the human and canine heart have four chambers: right and left atria on the top half and right and left ventricles on the bottom half. The blood enters at the right atrium and travels to the right ventricle, which pumps the blood to the lungs. From there, the blood returns to the left atrium and then to the left ventricle, where it is pumped to the rest of the body.
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Differences
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The main difference between the canine and human heart is the heart rate. Dogs tend to have a higher rate, anywhere from 70 to 120 beats per minute compared to a narrow range of 68 to 86 beats per minute in humans. Dog heart rates also tend to be irregular.
Heart Problems
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Dogs and humans suffer from similar heart problems, such as heart murmurs, which result from insufficient valves. These murmurs are diagnosed by a characteristic sound, which is the same across species.
Congestive Heart Failure
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Dogs don't suffer heart attacks like people because they don't get fatty buildups in their blood vessels. However, they can suffer from congestive heart failure, which often results from the heart muscle getting too weak to pump blood sufficiently.
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References
- Photo Credit John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
