Symptoms and Identification Dogs with early or mild mitral valve disease will be identified by a heart murmur of low-grade severity heard loudest over the left side of the chest. In these cases, no other symptoms are typically seen.
How do they test for mitral valve disease in dogs?
Chest radiographs (X-rays) are used to determine the size and shape of the heart and the presence of fluid in the lungs. Additionally, the lungs are examined for any abnormalities such as enlarged blood vessels (pulmonary hypertension).
How Long Can dogs live with mitral valve disease?
How long can a dogs live with mitral valve disease? The majority of dogs with asymptomatic CVD will live 2 to 5 years or longer, without ever developing any clinical signs of heart failure. After diagnosis if heart failure, with appropriate treatment and frequent monitoring, dogs can live 1 to 2 years.
Can dogs live with mitral valve disease?
The rate of disease progression varies, but it most often takes years before clinical signs of CHF develop. After CHF develops, dogs are expected to continue to have an excellent quality of life with treatment, and most survive for an additional 12-18 months, although their survival time varies widely.
What are the stages of mitral valve disease in dogs?
Stage A – Dogs at high risk of developing heart disease. No disease is present yet. Stage B1 – A murmur is heard but there are no visible signs of heart failure or heart enlargement. Stage B2 – A murmur is heard but there are no visible signs of heart failure.
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