GS750E
Beste deskundige forum schrijvers, Kitty, Cymric, Cluny en vooral Docterwho,
Krijg ik nog antwoord: 'Waarom dieren geen hartinfarct krijgen.... maar mensen wel.
Ja
Je begrijpt dat ik eerst met de capo di capi van de medische maffia moest overleggen. Zoiets kost tijd. Ik had overigens aan jou gevraagd waar je de bewering dat dieren geen hartinfarct krijgen op baseerde. Toch niet op de beweringen van Dr Rat(h).
Dus als je dit nog even met wat (wetenschappelijke) onderbouwing kan aantonen? Mensen zijn overigens ook dieren voor het geval je dit nog niet weet.
What is Heart Disease in Dogs?
Heart disease in dogs, as in people, can be either present at birth or acquired, often developing during middle age. Acquired heart disease is more common, affecting many older dogs.
Are there different types of heart disease in dogs?
Yes, there are two common types of heart disease in dogs:
In one type, a dog's heart valves lose their ability to close properly, causing abnormal blood flow.
In the other type, the muscular walls of a dog's heart become thinned and weakened.
Both types develop gradually over time and result in the same serious condition called heart failure.
Heart Failure
A major threat to your dog's health is heart failure. Of the dogs in the United States examined annually by a veterinarian, approximately 3.2 million have some form of acquired heart disease and may be in heart failure. Heart failure results from the heart's inability to pump blood at a rate required to meet the body's needs. While continuing to work harder to pump blood, further heart damage can occur.
What are the signs of heart disease in dogs?
Although some of the early stages of heart failure in dogs have no visible signs, heart failure can be diagnosed through a clinical evaluation by a veterinarian. Dogs with mild to moderate heart failure typically experience heart enlargement, coughing, lethargy and difficulty breathing. Severe heart failure is characterized by difficulty breathing (even at rest), fainting, profound intolerance to exercise, loss of appetite and weight loss.
How can I find out if my dog has heart disease?
Your veterinarian is your dog's healthcare expert. Regular veterinary visits are important for early detection of health problems.
Your veterinarian may ask you for specific information about your dog before performing a thorough physical examination. If indicated, blood and urine tests, X-rays, an EKG or other tests may be ordered. Regular testing is important for early detection of heart disease in dogs.
"Too often, dog owners do not take their dogs to visit the veterinarian until they are displaying severe signs of heart failure, and by then it may be too late," says Dr. Bicknese. "When heart disease is detected in your dog, your veterinarian can recommend a schedule of regular visits and discuss a treatment plan that can help."
Can dogs with heart disease be treated?
Yes. Although there is no cure for most heart disease in dogs, new treatments are available. Success of treatment depends on various factors, but early detection is always best. By following your veterinarian's recommendations, you can help your dog live a longer, more comfortable life.
Keeping Your Dog Healthy
In addition to safeguarding your dog's heart, there's a lot you can do to keep your dog happy and in top shape. Ensure that your dog gets a moderate amount of exercise on a regular basis and has a balanced diet. An obese dog may have a harder time staying healthy.
Avoid the heartbreak of seeing your family's best friend fall ill. Proper care and veterinary supervision can help you watch your dog grow to a "hearty" old age.
The contents of this page are a consumer awareness campaign
co-sponsored by AVMA & Merial
Cardiomyopathy in the Ferret (Dr. Williams)
Dr. Bruce Williams, DVM, writes:
In short, CMP is a congenital problem in some lines of ferrets that manifests as ferrets get older. CMP means that the muscle of the heart becomes progressively weaker, and the heart is no longer strong enough to pump all of the blood. As the muscle weakens, it stretches, and the heart gradually enlarges, sort of like a balloon.
As the blood begins to back up, it will accumulate both within the lung and around the lung (often also in the abdominal cavity), resulting in coughing, which is the most commonly noticed sign. Actually, most animals have decreases in activity first, as they tire easily.
CMP can be treated with some drugs, including diuretics which help it manage the load, but the damage is progressive and cannot be reversed.
Concerning CMP - the vast majority of cases are probably due to genetics. CMP is seen in Boxers, Great Danes, and Dobermans - each of these breeds has their own specific type. CMP also runs in family lines in humans. While viruses have been incriminated in humans, I have not seen lesions resembling pre-existent viral infections in the ferrets with CMP that I have seen.
The following article may be reprinted by anyone desiring to disseminate this information in a newsletter or non- commercial publication. This material may not be altered or changed in any way. Under Title 17 of the U.S. Code, Section 105, copyright protection is not available for any work of the United States Government.
CARDIOMYOPATHY IN THE FERRET
Cardiomyopathy is a common cause of heart disease in a number of companion animals, including dogs, cats, and as many owners and breeders know, our little friend, the ferret. The word cardiomyopathy comes from three Greek words meaning, literally, "a disease of the heart muscle", and that, unfortunately, sums up much of what we know of this disease.
The cause of cardiomyopathy in the ferret, as well as in the dog and the cat, is unknown. In humans, where cardiomyopathy was first diagnosed and has been studied most extensively, this is also largely the case, although some types of cardiomyopathy may occur as a result of pre-existing endocrine diseases, viral disease, toxicities (including alcoholism), and nutritional deficiency (Robbins, 1989). There is one cause of cardiomyopathy that has been elucidated in the cat, and although it has not been definitely linked in the ferret, may be of importance - taurine deficiency. (This is just another reason why you should make sure that your ferrets food includes taurine - make sure to check those labels on the bag of food.)
Cardiomyopathy in the ferret is an insidious disease - the majority of the damage to the heart occurs long before the owner ever realizes that the animal is ill. The general defect in all types of cardiomyopathy is the same - death of cardiac muscle fibers, which are then replaced with scar tissue. Scar tissue does not have the ability to conduct electrical impulse or to contract like heart muscle fibers can. As more and more myofibers are lost, the heart weakens and can no longer pump blood efficiently. This results in the two clinical findings which are the hallmark of diagnosis of heart disease in the ferret: a) an enlarged heart, and b) a "backing up" of the blood due to the weakened heart's inability to pump it effectively (resulting in a syndrome known as "congestive heart failure" - explained below.)
When the blood backs up in the ferret it may go to a number of places - it may back up into the abdomen, resulting in a swollen, fluid-filled belly. Additionally, it may back up into the space around the lungs or into the lungs themselves. If fluid backs up into the lungs, the ferret may initially show a soft cough. As the fluid buildup progresses, the cough may worsen, and the owner will generally notice a sharp decrease in the animal's energy. In the end stages of the disease, ferrets have marked difficulty in breathing, often as a combination of the fluid in the lungs and the fluid in the abdomen (which presses on the diaphragm, impeding the ferrets' breathing even further). This is what is known as congestive heart failure.
I have also seen cases of a different type of cardiomyopathy in a handful of ferrets, a type of cardiomyopathy which is also seen in cats and is known as "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy". In this disease, there is an overgrowth of fibers in the heart, which encroach upon the inside diameter of the heart, and in this manner, decrease the heart's effectiveness in pumping the blood presented to it. The clinical signs of this type of cardiomyopathy are identical to the congestive type which has already been discussed.
Diagnosis of the disease is difficult in the early stages, but becomes progressively easier as the disease goes along. All of the signs (enlarged heart, fluid in the abdomen or around the lungs) can be seen on a radiograph (or "x-ray"), and this is the primary method by which affected animals are diagnosed. Specialized tests, such as echocardiography, are available at some veterinary hospitals, and can help pinpoint cases earlier in the disease's progression.
We have discussed that cardiomyopathy is an insidious, progressive disease; there is no cure for cardiomyopathy, only treatment. The hallmark of treatment of this type of heart disease is two-fold: you must first decrease the amount of fluid built up in abnormal locations, and second, increase the strength of contraction of the heart. Diuretics are used to mobilize the excess fluid from the abdomen and lungs, and to keep the blood volume at a level which the weakened heart can pump it. Digitalis and related drugs help increase the strength of contraction of the remaining heart muscle to help it pump more effectively. In early cases, management of fluid volume with diuretics may be the only treatment necessary, with digitalis and like drugs held in reserve for the time when the heart becomes weaker.
However, not all animals respond well to treatment. Dr. James Fox, in his book Biology and Diseases of the Ferret, reports that even when treated, the clinical course is fairly rapid, and treatment failures are common. This enforces the need to monitor your pets closely and bring any suspicions that you may have to the attention of your veterinarian immediately.
1. Robbins SL, Cotran RS and Kumar V. Pathologic Basis of Disease. W.B. Saunders and Co., Philadelphia, 1989. p. 634-638.
2. Fox, JL. Biology and Diseases of the Ferret. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, 1988, pp 268-269.
3. Jubb, Kennedy, and Palmer. Pathology of Domestic Animals, vol 3. Academic Press, San Diego, 1985, pp. 26- 29.
Bruce Williams, DVM
Heart Disease in Your Pet
he heart is a four-chambered pump. Its function is to receive blood that needs oxygen and pump it into the lungs, where oxygen attaches to red blood cells. The heart then pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
Heart failure is a condition characterized by a weakened heart that cannot adequately receive and pump blood. As a result, fluid builds up in the abdomen or lungs (congestion), causing coughing, weakness, difficulty breathing and, sometimes, death.
There are many causes of heart failure. Congenital heart disease includes defects that affect the heart muscle or heart valves at birth. Acquired heart disease usually means degeneration of the heart valves in older dogs, weakness of the heart muscle in large-breed dogs, a thickened heart muscle in cats and, occasionally, heartworm (parasites).
Signs the Pet Owner Might See
Clinical signs in cats and dogs with heart disease vary according to severity of disease and the pet's age and general health. However, some signs may be detected by an alert owner. These include one or more of the following:
Rapid or difficult (labored) breathing
Cough
Loss of energy, especially within a period of a few days to weeks
Loss of appetite
Loss of weight
Swollen abdomen
Grayish-blue gums
Rapid or difficult breathing
Sudden paralysis, especially of the hind limbs
Weakness
Some of these clinical signs are characteristic not only of heart disease but of many other diseases as well. Be sure to get your pet examined by a veterinarian if he or she shows any of these signs. Do not delay. Heart failure is often rapidly fatal if not detected and treated right away.
Some Diagnostic Tests Your Veterinarian Can Perform:
1.Physical examination. With careful examination, including listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope, your veterinarian can detect heart murmurs, irregular heart beats, weak pulses, and the presence of congestion in the chest or abdomen.
2.Electrocardiogram (ECG). This simple test detects irregular and abnormal heart beats called "arrhythmias."
3.Thoracic radiograph (chest x-ray). X-rays permit evaluation of the heart, lungs, and heart vessels. Fluid in the lungs (congestion) and whether the heart is abnormally large can be seen. X-rays are necessary for confirming a diagnosis of heart disease, assessing the severity of disease, and determining if other problems are present.
4.Echocardiogram. This test uses sound waves to harmlessly examine the inside of the valves and vessels of the heart. It can show how strongly the heart is beating and detect abnormalities such as heart murmurs, heartworm disease, cancer, and congenital heart defects.
5. Blood Pressure. This is measured with a cuff wrapped around a limb.
6. Other specialized tests.
