Condition13 connections · 4 sources
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood effectively, causing fluid to back up into the lungs (left-sided) or abdomen (right-sided).
Key Facts
- Left-sided CHF: fluid in lungs (pulmonary edema); causes cough, rapid breathing, dyspnea
- Right-sided CHF: fluid in abdomen (ascites) or chest (pleural-effusion)
- Common causes: cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, heartworm, congenital defects
- Dogs: usually from valvular disease or DCM; cats: usually from HCM
- Signs: increased sleeping/resting respiratory rate (>40 breaths/min is concerning), exercise intolerance, cough (dogs), open-mouth breathing (cats)
- Treatment: diuretics (furosemide), ACE inhibitors (enalapril/benazepril), pimobendan, oxygen therapy
- Home monitoring of resting respiratory rate is critical for early detection
- Species: dogs and cats
Connections (13)
Related Conditions
Atrial FibrillationCondition
The reduced cardiac output and inefficient pumping from atrial fibrillation can acutely worsen clinical signs and trigger congestive heart failure.
Cardiac ShuntCondition
Persistent left-to-right shunting leads to volume overload and eventual heart failure.
CardiomyopathyCondition
End result of progressive cardiomyopathy
Heart DiseaseCondition
CHF is the end-stage of many cardiac conditions
HeartwormCondition
Advanced heartworm disease leads to CHF
Patent Ductus ArteriosusCondition
Chronic volume overload from the shunt can progress to left-sided congestive heart failure.
Pulmonary HypertensionCondition
Left-sided CHF is a common cause