It is imperative to recognize the most common signs of a canine heart attack, so you know what to do and can help your dog. A canine heart attack can happen to any breed of dog. Dogs that are older, obese, and have poor diets are most susceptible to getting it. 

What Is a Heart Attack in Dogs

A heart attack is a lack of oxygen to the tissues in the dog’s body. This can be due to a blocked artery or an electrical malfunction with the heart. When that happens, proteins and other substances released into the bloodstream cause clotting, which then causes permanent damage to organs and tissue all over the body.

A dog can have a heart attack from a problem within the heart or a secondary condition that results from a blocked artery.

What Are The Signs of a Heart Attack? 

The signs of a heart attack vary depending on the root cause, but there are some common symptoms that all dog owners should be aware of. These include:

• Weakness
• Lethargy
• Panting heavily without an identifiable reason
• Vomiting
• Not eating
•  Breathing problems

Dogs can’t move much and look like they’re in shock when having a heart attack. This is when you need to get them to a cardiologist as soon as possible. Keep in mind that this condition requires immediate attention. Consider looking online by searching for a “vet cardiologist near me” if you don’t know a specialist or your vet is far from your location.

What Is Hyperventilation in Dogs?

You must understand what ventilation means because it is a symptom of many other conditions than heart attacks in dogs.

It is a condition when your pet breathes rapidly and heavily, typically after being startled. It’s a way for them to get more oxygen into their lungs and across their blood-brain barrier, which happens when humans hyperventilate.

The problem with this condition is that your dog’s body can’t handle it properly because they’re still developing mentally. Hyperventilation causes gasping, blue muzzles, and rapid breathing, but it isn’t normal for your pet to have these symptoms. Whatever the reason for their hyperventilation is, always bring them to the hospital right away.

What Causes Heart Attacks in Dogs?

The most common condition that causes heart attacks in canines is a myocardial disease, which occurs when there’s damage to the muscles surrounding the heart itself. Heartworms can also lead to a canine heart attack. These are parasites living in your dog’s heart, and they can cripple it over time.

Others are:

• Aneurysm
• Cardiomyopathy
• Hyperthyroidism
• Poisoning or drug interactions
• Infection
• Lack of blood to a body part due to an accident or injury

What Your Vet Can Do

Most vets can give dogs CPR or resuscitate them if they have already lost consciousness. Then they will find out what caused the heart attack. Plus, they prescribe medications to help their heart and other organs.

They might also recommend MRI if they think there are other problems with your dog. Make sure that you answer some questions about their symptoms and what happened. This way, they can find the severity of the damage.

That’s why it’s crucial to choose a vet facility, which also offers diagnostic and lab tests, so you don’t have to travel to two vet clinics or hospitals for the check-up and tests. You can check out this animal MRI Ventura clinic if you’re nearby.

Managing Heart Attacks in Dogs

Whether or not your pet lives or dies, treatment for them after they’ve had a heart attack depends on what happened during and immediately before it. If it’s due to an infection, your vet can give antibiotics specific to that condition.

With any other type of heart attack, they will prescribe medications that reduce blood pressure or prevent further damage to the muscles surrounding the heart. If they had surgery, you and the vet must monitor their recovery. Learn about how the surgery works for your dog by clicking this link.

Ultimately, you need to understand how serious these attacks are for your pet, especially if they’re old or overweight. Like humans, canine heart problems can kill them if left untreated.