The heart is obviously a vital organ. Proper function is essential to deliver oxygen to tissues throughout the body. When not functioning properly, our dogs and cats becoming rapidly debilitated, and indeed, can die. This week I’ve dedicated some time to explaining a type of severe heart dysfunction called congestive…
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Subaortic Stenosis in Dogs & Cats – An Important Congenital Heart Defect
The heart is unquestionably a vital organ. Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn’t develop properly in utero, and these congenital defects can range from minor and inconsequential to life threatening. This week I share information about a relatively common congenital heart defect called subaortic stenosis. Please consider sharing it with other pet…
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PDA in Pets – There’s Nothing Affectionate About Patent Ductus Arteriosus
People are frequently born with heart defects. They often require intricate and specialized surgeries to help correct them. So too can dogs and cats be affected by congenital heart abnormalities, the most common of which is called patent ductus arteriosus or PDA. This week I share some important information about…
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Chylothorax in Cats – Our Feline Friends Don’t Like This Milk!
In a previous post, I reviewed pleural space disease. If you recall, these ailments cause fluid and/or air to abnormally accumulate between the lungs and the chest wall. There are many potential reasons for fluid to collect in the pleural space. There are even different types of fluid. This week,…
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Infective Endocarditis in Dogs & Cats – A Serious Heart Wall Problem
Infective endocarditis. I’m willing to bet many of you have never heard of it. Many pet parents know about heart murmurs and even some heart muscle diseases like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). A lesser known potential cardiac problem is endocarditis or inflammation of part of the heart wall. In this week’s blog I…
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Heart Murmur – Should You Be Worried About Your Pet?
For many families the mere mention of a murmur or heart disease instills fear, a sincere concern about an illness that could negatively affect their fur baby’s quality of life. In an effort to provide useful information, I’m pleased to welcome another guest blogger, Dr. Kacie Schmitt, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist who…