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Congestive Heart Failure
What is Congestive Heart Failure?
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is the condition in which fluid begins to build-up
within the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen secondary to severe heart disease and
excessive fluid pressure within the vessels. When we talk about congestive heart
failure we distinguish between left-sided and right-sided heart failure. However,
patients can have both at the same time.
Conditions that can lead to heart failure include very common heart diseases as
chronic degenerative valve disease (CDVD) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in
dogs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats. Some dogs and cats are
born with heart abnormalities (congenital heart disease) that eventually may lead to
heart failure.
Left-sided Congestive Heart failure:
When the left side of the heart is primarily affected, the fluid accumulates in the lung tissue in a process called
“pulmonary oedema”. In cats fluid can also accumulate within the chest cavity and surround the lungs. This can
cause coughing, increased respiratory rate and effort, respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, lethargy,
weakness, fainting, decreased appetite, and weight loss. The severity of these signs is determined by the degree of
fluid accumulation in and around the lungs.
Right-sided Congestive Heart Failure:
When the right side is primarily affected, similar complications develop, but instead of fluid accumulating in the
lungs, fluid builds up in the abdomen and/or chest cavity. Therefore, pets with fluid in the abdomen tend to appear
quite distended. This is usually well-tolerated until it becomes severe, at which time it can cause shortness of
breath and discomfort, especially when lying down. Dogs with fluid in their chest can have symptoms like patients
with left-sided heart failure.
How is Heart Failure treated?
Ideally the underlying condition that causes heart failure should be treated. So for example in a young animal with
congenital heart disease that condition should be fixed. Some of these conditions we can correct and even avoid
the onset of heart failure. Others unfortunately we can only treat symptomatically with medications. The earlier we
find out about a congenital heart condition in your pet the better!
Most pets that develop heart disease later in life and subsequently suffer from heart failure can only be
symptomatically treated. These patients will have to receive medications to help the failing heart and improve the
quality of your pet’s life!
Pets in congestive heart failure will ultimately be placed on multiple drugs to control their symptoms. Careful
monitoring by your veterinary surgeon is necessary to make sure that the medications are effective and to minimise
side effects! As the primary heart disease will get worse over time, the drug doses will also have to be adjusted in
the future and/or more drugs added. Medications will have to be given for the rest of your pet’s life. Therefore, it is
very important that you make sure to not run out of medications.
It might be necessary to intermittently drain the fluid from the chest cavity or abdomen, if the drugs cannot control
its accumulation. Luckily most of our patients tolerate that procedure very well and do not even require sedation.
Once the fluid is removed they will instantly feel much better.
More questions about congestive heart failure?
If you would like to be referred to one of our cardiologists or have more questions about congestive heart failure,
please contact your veterinary surgeon.
Scarsdale Vets
Pride Veterinary Centre
Riverside Road
Derby DE24 8HX
Telephone: 01332 678333
www.prideveterinarycentre.co.uk
Springwood Veterinary Centre
90 Spring Terrace Road
Stapenhill, Burton on Trent
DE15 9DX
Telephone: 01283 568162
www.scarsdalevets.com