Symptoms Of Disease
Published on Apr 20 2010, in the categories: Other
Acquired heart symptoms of disease in dogs are a common problem in middle-aged or elderly animals. It has been estimated that about 70% of dogs older than 7 years suffers from mitral valve prolapsed and consequent lack thereof (when the left ventricle contracts, the blood refluxing into the left atrium, instead of progress in 'aorta).
Particularly affected are the small animals and between them have been identified at high risk breeds such as Dachshund, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Yorkshire terrier and Poodle. Recently, however, has been shown that even older dogs of larger size, such as the German shepherd may be affected.
The high incidence of this disease in the dog population should not alarming, considering the fact that many of the affected animals have a slow clinical course of disease and in some cases, show no symptoms of disease of the heart failure for the duration of their lives. However, the recognition of a heart murmur in a dog that had never presented before, it must always be followed by the execution of other investigations such as chest radiography and / or echocardiography, to determine the severity of the disease the possible need for therapy.
In this regard it is important to note that dogs with chronic mitral valve disease without symptoms of heart failure do not need any medication. In fact, studies published in scientific journals have shown that to date there is no therapy that can slow the progression of the disease in animals that have no symptoms of heart failure.
Conscious breathing
The situation is different for animals showing symptoms of heart failure. In this case the vet now has knowledge and drugs can not only improve the quality of life for our friends but also to prolong it. Symptoms that may indicate that the heart problem is progressing are represented by the appearance of easy fatigue, difficulty in breathing, cough, weight loss or loss of appetite.
It 'important to emphasize that these symptoms are common for other diseases that can affect your dog, and therefore their presence is associated with the detection of a murmur does not necessarily imply the presence of heart failure. For example, the onset of cough in a dog with heart murmur is often considered a sign of clinical decompensation. However, it is more common for the cough in these cases is determined by a chronic respiratory disease rather than a heart problem. The administration of drugs with cardiovascular effects in these animals must always be consequent upon a specific diagnostic radiography.
Magnanimity
The other common acquired heart disease in dogs is dilated cardiomyopathy. This disease is a decrease in pump function of the heart which results in a dilation of the heart itself. The disease predominantly affects certain breeds of large dogs such as Great Dane, the Doberman, Greyhound, the Newfoundland and Ireland. Also typically occurs in middle-aged but it is important to emphasize that the asymptomatic period, in contrast to what occurs for mitral valve disease, is characterized by no clinical signs such as the presence of a murmur.
This difference makes it particularly problematic to diagnose the disease in the asymptomatic phase and requires the execution of echocardiography performed by an experienced cardiologist. Early diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy is important for those dogs that should be subjected to any surgery, as anesthesia in these patients may further compromise cardiac function and accelerate the progression of the disease
Particularly affected are the small animals and between them have been identified at high risk breeds such as Dachshund, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Yorkshire terrier and Poodle. Recently, however, has been shown that even older dogs of larger size, such as the German shepherd may be affected.
The high incidence of this disease in the dog population should not alarming, considering the fact that many of the affected animals have a slow clinical course of disease and in some cases, show no symptoms of disease of the heart failure for the duration of their lives. However, the recognition of a heart murmur in a dog that had never presented before, it must always be followed by the execution of other investigations such as chest radiography and / or echocardiography, to determine the severity of the disease the possible need for therapy.
In this regard it is important to note that dogs with chronic mitral valve disease without symptoms of heart failure do not need any medication. In fact, studies published in scientific journals have shown that to date there is no therapy that can slow the progression of the disease in animals that have no symptoms of heart failure.
Conscious breathing
The situation is different for animals showing symptoms of heart failure. In this case the vet now has knowledge and drugs can not only improve the quality of life for our friends but also to prolong it. Symptoms that may indicate that the heart problem is progressing are represented by the appearance of easy fatigue, difficulty in breathing, cough, weight loss or loss of appetite.
It 'important to emphasize that these symptoms are common for other diseases that can affect your dog, and therefore their presence is associated with the detection of a murmur does not necessarily imply the presence of heart failure. For example, the onset of cough in a dog with heart murmur is often considered a sign of clinical decompensation. However, it is more common for the cough in these cases is determined by a chronic respiratory disease rather than a heart problem. The administration of drugs with cardiovascular effects in these animals must always be consequent upon a specific diagnostic radiography.
Magnanimity
The other common acquired heart disease in dogs is dilated cardiomyopathy. This disease is a decrease in pump function of the heart which results in a dilation of the heart itself. The disease predominantly affects certain breeds of large dogs such as Great Dane, the Doberman, Greyhound, the Newfoundland and Ireland. Also typically occurs in middle-aged but it is important to emphasize that the asymptomatic period, in contrast to what occurs for mitral valve disease, is characterized by no clinical signs such as the presence of a murmur.
This difference makes it particularly problematic to diagnose the disease in the asymptomatic phase and requires the execution of echocardiography performed by an experienced cardiologist. Early diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy is important for those dogs that should be subjected to any surgery, as anesthesia in these patients may further compromise cardiac function and accelerate the progression of the disease
Pain Or Numbness In Legs Symptoms And Disease
Published on Feb 16 2010, in the categories: Other
Are you in pain while walking, do you feel like your feet are cold, numb or itchy, do you have ulcerations that won’t heal or a family history of aorta aneurism (dilation)? The you need to evaluate your peripheral arterial system (namely those blood vessels that carry the blood to the legs), since there might be a connection between pain or numbness in legs, symptoms and disease.
In medical terms, the progressive narrowing of these vessels bears the name of obliterating peripheral arteriopathy of the lower limbs. It determines a decrease in functional capacity and affects the quality of life, while also leading to amputation of the legs and increasing the risk of death. Why? Because the main cause id arteriosclerosis and this is a (systemic) generalized process, where in most cases narrowing of the lower limb arteries coexists with lesions found in other territories (brain, kidneys, heart).
It is known at the moment that patients with pain or numbness in legs, symptoms and disease diagnosed as peripheral arterial disease have a 50% risk of suffering a heart attack, a 40% higher chance of suffering a stroke or renal failure, compared to the general population. Therefore, the more risk factors there are for arteriosclerosis the higher the risk is for you to develop this disease. Some of these risk factors can be corrected: smoking, arterial hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, while other risk factors cannot be corrected: age (patients aged over 50 develop this condition more often), sex (more men than women are patients) as well as heredity.
Rarely, other causes are noted, such as: an exaggerated vascular reactivity that determines arterial spasms, the occlusion of a vessel due to the migration of a blood clot or the existence of arterial dilation (aneurism) located most often in the aorta.
The most often symptom is the pain occurring while walking, which goes away, in the early stages, while pausing, but returns after walking approximately the same distance. This is called intermittent claudication. Its center varies depending on the narrowing of the vessels. Most often it is located in the calf, rarely in the thigh or buttocks, and in this latter case it can also be accompanied by sexual dysfunction. It will occur after smaller and smaller distances of walking until it starts appearing even in pauses, especially at night, at which point the patient tends to keep their leg hanging at the side of the bed.
Claudication, namely the pain caused by the narrowing of the arteries, needs to be distinguished from that produced by other diseases of veins, nerves, joints or muscles. Sometimes it is not typical, and can be felt as a tingling sensation, numbness or cold, which is why you should go to a doctor who, through simple maneuvers such as noticing the aspect of the teguments, feeling pulses, listening to arteries and determining arterial blood pressure in the arms and legs can tell you if you are suffering from arteriopathy or not.
In medical terms, the progressive narrowing of these vessels bears the name of obliterating peripheral arteriopathy of the lower limbs. It determines a decrease in functional capacity and affects the quality of life, while also leading to amputation of the legs and increasing the risk of death. Why? Because the main cause id arteriosclerosis and this is a (systemic) generalized process, where in most cases narrowing of the lower limb arteries coexists with lesions found in other territories (brain, kidneys, heart).
It is known at the moment that patients with pain or numbness in legs, symptoms and disease diagnosed as peripheral arterial disease have a 50% risk of suffering a heart attack, a 40% higher chance of suffering a stroke or renal failure, compared to the general population. Therefore, the more risk factors there are for arteriosclerosis the higher the risk is for you to develop this disease. Some of these risk factors can be corrected: smoking, arterial hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, while other risk factors cannot be corrected: age (patients aged over 50 develop this condition more often), sex (more men than women are patients) as well as heredity.
Rarely, other causes are noted, such as: an exaggerated vascular reactivity that determines arterial spasms, the occlusion of a vessel due to the migration of a blood clot or the existence of arterial dilation (aneurism) located most often in the aorta.
The most often symptom is the pain occurring while walking, which goes away, in the early stages, while pausing, but returns after walking approximately the same distance. This is called intermittent claudication. Its center varies depending on the narrowing of the vessels. Most often it is located in the calf, rarely in the thigh or buttocks, and in this latter case it can also be accompanied by sexual dysfunction. It will occur after smaller and smaller distances of walking until it starts appearing even in pauses, especially at night, at which point the patient tends to keep their leg hanging at the side of the bed.
Claudication, namely the pain caused by the narrowing of the arteries, needs to be distinguished from that produced by other diseases of veins, nerves, joints or muscles. Sometimes it is not typical, and can be felt as a tingling sensation, numbness or cold, which is why you should go to a doctor who, through simple maneuvers such as noticing the aspect of the teguments, feeling pulses, listening to arteries and determining arterial blood pressure in the arms and legs can tell you if you are suffering from arteriopathy or not.
RECENT COMMENTS