CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) occurs when the pumping mechanism of the heart becomes compromised or defective. There are several conditions that may lead to CHF:

• Birth defect in the structure of the heart

• Irregularity in the closing of the valves of the heart

• Irregularity in the muscular contraction of the heart

• Irregularity in the electrical system of the heart

• Disease to the sac surrounding the heart

Signs to watch for:

• coughing

• distressed breathing

• wheezing

• collapsing

• bloated belly

• decreased appetite

• reduced ability to exercise

• tiredness, lacking in energy

TREATMENT

Depending on the underlying cause of the heart failure, the only way to manage CHF is with medication. The medications will need to be taken consistently for the rest of the dog's life and depending on the severity of the disease, they will need regular check-ups with the Veterinarian (3-6 monthly) The good news is that with modern heart medications, your dog's quality and length of life will significantly increase.

ACE inhibitors:

Decrease the pressure on the heart by addressing fluid retention and blood vessel constriction, two common factors that contribute to the deterioration of a failing heart. These medications are especially useful when dogs are suffering from cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) or leaky heart valves.

Inotropes:

Medications that improve the strength of contraction of the heart muscles are prescribed in some cases.

Some of these medications also have other benefits, such as reduction of blood vessel constriction, reduction in fluid retention and improvement of irregularities in the electrical activity of the heart.

Anti-arrhythmic drugs:

Prescribed in cases where the underlying cause of heart failure is an irregularity of the electrical activity of the heart.

Diuretics:

Used to further reduce fluid retention and are often prescribed in conjunction with other medications. These medications increase your dog's urine production, so you will notice that your dog will need to go to the toilet more often, particularly at night.

SKIN PROBLEMS

Recurrent skin infections generally have an underlying cause. As the inner ear is simply a continuation of the skin surface, anything which is affecting the skin can also affect the ears, and predispose them to becoming infected.

The major causes of skin problems are:

Allergies – there are 4 main causes of skin allergies. An animal with one allergy is likely to be allergic to other things as well. The 4 main allergens are:

• Atopic dermatitis – along with a flea allergy this is the most common type of allergy in dogs. This is an allergy to substances in the air, including pollens, house dust mite faeces, molds and animal sources such as cat saliva. It generally causes a seasonal pattern of skin problems and begins at 1-3 years of age.

• Flea allergy dermatitis – this is an allergy to the saliva of fleas. In dogs it typically causes lesions over the tail and down the back legs. It can present in many ways in cats, often with lesions in front of the ears or scabs over the body from scratching. It is the most common skin allergy in cats.

• Food allergy – an allergy to food can cause skin signs. The animal will often be vomiting or have diarrhoea as well, but they will not always have gastrointestinal signs.

• Contact allergy – animals can be allergic to almost anything they come into contact with. A plant called Wandering Dew is a common cause of contact allergies.

The allergies that we have some control over are food and flea allergies. A special hypoallergenic diet can be trialled for 8 weeks to determine whether food is a likely cause, and strict flea control with a good quality flea treatment is used to eliminate any response to fleas. (All pets in the household will need to be treated and possibly the house if flea numbers are a problem)

Sometimes by controlling these 2 allergens there will be a reduced reaction to other allergens.

Mange – this is a mite infestation of your pets skin.

It is diagnosed by obtaining a skin scraping and looking for the presence of mites.

Treatment depends on the type of mite found.

Hormonal imbalances can also cause skin signs. The type suspected will depend on the lesions present. There will typically be other signs present, but this will depend on the type of hormonal imbalance present. Diagnosis is through blood tests.

Treatment for skin problems can be on-going. Therapeutic options include:

• Specific treatment if an underlying cause is able to be identified. Unfortunately this is not always possible.

• Antibiotics to treat any skin infections, as infection will cause itchiness and worsen the signs.

• Shampoos to reduce allergens on the skin surface and to moisturise the skin.

• Avoiding known sources of contact allergens.

• Steroids or other immunomodulators, to modify the allergic response.

• Diet, there are several prescription diets available to support the skin and help reduce symptoms.

OBESITY

Obesity is the second most common disease seen in cats and dogs and is a serious medical condition. It is a systemic disease, with metabolic, hormonal and immunological changes. It is associated with an increased risk of many diseases including:

• osteoarthritis

• cruciate ligament rupture

• cancer, especially mammary tumours in female dogs

• skin disease

• diabetes mellitus

• pancreatitis

• tracheal collapse

• dystocia (difficulty giving birth)

• hepatic lipidosis (liver infiltrated by fat)

• hypertension (high blood pressure)

• idiopathic cystitis in cats

The only body change that has been shown to increase an animals lifespan is being lean. Being lean can increase the lifespan of an animal by 2 years, and will also result in better health during their life.

Weight loss should be slow, with an aim of 1-2% weight loss per week. An excessive rate of weight loss results in a reduced metabolic rate, reduced rate of weight loss relative to the predicted rate of weight loss, loss of muscle mass and weight gain once the diet is stopped. There are several strategies to produce weight loss:

• Feed 80% of the amount that is currently being fed – this is usually effective as each animal has an individual metabolic rate, just like each person has an individual metabolic rate. This can be difficult if you have an animal that begs for food. This needs to include every food source, as treats given to animals can have a high caloric density, and what would be a small amount for a human can be a huge increase for a cat or dog.

• Feed a low calorie diet – there are several diets available that have a reduced calorie quantity. These diets enable you to feed a similar volume of biscuits, and reduces begging for food by your pet. Weight loss diets are generally low fat, high fibre, high water diets to provide low caloric density and high bulk, decreasing hunger.

• Moderate exercise – this can be walking, swimming, playing with balls or kongs (balls that can be filled with food so the animal needs to roll the ball around to get the food out), or toy mice or a light for cats. Excessive exercise can lead to a compensatory food intake and can cause joint damage in overweight animals so should be avoided.

A weight loss programme is always easier to stick to when you can see that you are getting results. Tracking the weight loss can be done by weighing the animal once a fortnight. Remember, weight loss should be slow, so it will take some time for the results to be seen, but it is well worth it. You control what food your animals get, so you have complete control over the weight they are.

PANCREATITIS

Pancreatitis is inflammation and swelling of the pancreas. It can occur in a mild or severe form.

Causes:

The cause of spontaneous pancreatitis in dogs is not well understood. Dogs taking corticosteroids are at increased risk. There is a higher incidence of pancreatitis in dogs with Cushing’s syndrome, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and idiopathic hyperlipemia (a disease of Miniature Schnauzers). These diseases are associated with high serum lipid levels ( fat in the blood). Pancreatitis is also more prevalent in overweight spayed females and dogs on high-fat diets. An attack may be triggered by eating table scraps or a fatty meal.

Acute pancreatitis is characterized by the abrupt onset of vomiting and severe pain in the abdomen. The dog may have a tucked-up belly and assume a prayer position. Abdominal pain is caused by the release of digestive enzymes into the pancreas and surrounding tissue. Diarrhoea, dehydration, weakness, and shock may ensue.

]]> jj@mobilevet.co.nz (Julia) Common Conditions Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:22:30 +0000