Enlarged Heart- Cavalier
While on a trip the last few weeks, one of our girls(Rubie- 6 years old) developed a whizzing type cough. We took her to the vet yesterday for blood work and back today for an X-ray. The results of th...
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As you noted, cardiac issues are very common in Cavaliers, even at the young age of 6. The medications your vet put Rubie on are the best available.
Getting a consult from a cardiologist and having an echocardiogram done are good things if you can swing it financially.
Taurine is often used for cardiomyopathy in dogs (mostly seen in Dobies and Cockers) but is something that could possibly be useful. The echo will help a lot in diagnosis.
Just a note on what's going on (pathophysiology). The heart enlarging really doesn't press on the lungs causing the shortness of breath or cough, even though the xrays show it filling the chest cavity. What really happens has to do with reduced blood flow and pressures (usually pulmonary arteries/veins and heart chambers) so that fluid builds up in the lungs and air exchange does not occur as it should. Harder explanation that heart pressing on the lungs, but technically more correct.
Long term prognosis is uncertain. It really depends on what's causing the enlarged heart.
If you have any questions that I can help you with PM me.
Doug, DVM
Getting a consult from a cardiologist and having an echocardiogram done are good things if you can swing it financially.
Taurine is often used for cardiomyopathy in dogs (mostly seen in Dobies and Cockers) but is something that could possibly be useful. The echo will help a lot in diagnosis.
Just a note on what's going on (pathophysiology). The heart enlarging really doesn't press on the lungs causing the shortness of breath or cough, even though the xrays show it filling the chest cavity. What really happens has to do with reduced blood flow and pressures (usually pulmonary arteries/veins and heart chambers) so that fluid builds up in the lungs and air exchange does not occur as it should. Harder explanation that heart pressing on the lungs, but technically more correct.
Long term prognosis is uncertain. It really depends on what's causing the enlarged heart.
If you have any questions that I can help you with PM me.
Doug, DVM
