Heart Disease in Senior Dogs

Although it may be a little scary to consider, slowing down could be a sign of heart disease in your senior pet. Sometimes reduced exercise ability may be incorrectly attributed to old age or arthritis when the heart is really the cause.

Dogs with heart disease are often intolerant of hot and humid days. They may get short of breath early or want to cut their walk short or stop to recover during the walk. Exercise intolerance is often only present in dogs with more advanced stages of heart disease. Mild heart disease rarely causes major limitations to normal activity. At your pet's annual health check, your vet routinely listens to your dog’s chest to make sure their heart is beating the way it’s supposed to! Don’t be alarmed if your vet recommends taking an X-ray of your dog’s chest, we can do this in-house and ensure your pets get the right treatment if required.