Congestive Heart Failure
With its ability to onset at any age, in
any breed or gender, congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most
serious canine and feline heart conditions. Congestive heart failure is
characterized by the heart’s inability to circulate enough blood to meet
the body’s demands. Because a heart muscle becomes weakened by CHF, the
health of other organs suffers, including that of the liver, kidneys,
and lungs.
CHF can be caused by the left, right, or both
valves interrupting blood flow and causing blood to back up. Left side
valvular disease occurs when blood accumulates in the lungs or abdomen,
though this is less common in cats. Right side valvular disease arises
when blood has collected in the vena cava and jugular vein, which causes
the heart to pump faster and work harder; this eventually causes the
heart to enlarge, forcing the heart’s internal chamber capacity to
decrease, which means less blood can be pumped out. This entire
consequence is cyclic, again causing the heart to work harder and
continue to enlarge.
A pet with congestive heart failure can continue
to function normally for months, even years, without exhibiting any
outward signs of something being wrong; therefore, it can be difficult
for an owner to tell that a serious cardiovascular condition exists.
#Heart #HeartFailure #AnimalHospital #Animals