Monitoring heart disease in pets

Monitoring heart disease in pets, especially in dogs and cats, is essential for managing
the condition effectively and improving their quality of life. Regular evaluation helps
veterinarians track disease progression, assess treatment response, and make
necessary adjustments.
Key methods for monitoring heart disease in pets include:
1. Physical Examination:
– Routine checks for signs like coughing, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance, or a
rapid heartbeat.
– Auscultation (listening to the heart with a stethoscope) to detect abnormal heart
sounds ( heart murmurs) or rhythms.
2. Imaging studies:
– Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart): The most comprehensive tool for
assessing heart structure, function, and detecting abnormalities such as valve disease,
chamber size, or fluid buildup.
– Chest X-rays:To evaluate heart size, lung health, and presence of fluid or edema.
3. Electrocardiography (ECG):
– Records the electrical activity of the heart to identify arrhythmias or abnormal
rhythms.
4. Blood Pressure Monitoring:
– High blood pressure can worsen heart disease; regular measurements help manage
overall cardiovascular health.
5. Laboratory Tests:
– Blood tests to assess overall health, detect underlying conditions, and sometimes
measure specific markers of heart failure (like NT-proBNP in cats).
6. Functional Assessments:**
– Observation of activity levels, breathing patterns, and response to treatment.
Monitoring Sleeping respiratory rate in pets can help to predict the severity of heart
disease in many cases.

Sleeping Respiratory Rate(SRR)
Normal SRR in dogs and cats is <30 breaths/min, often in the high-tens or low 20.
Young cats (but not dogs) tend to have slightly higher SRR than older cats, with SRR
decreasing until about 4 years of age in cats. Dogs and most cats with subclinical heart
disease also have SRR <30 breaths/min ,although about 25% of cats with subclinical
heart disease have SRR between 30 and 40 breaths/min . Consistent SRR >30
breaths/min in dogs with underlying heart disease is strongly suggestive of developing
CHF. However, primary respiratory disease with concurrent subclinical heart disease
needs to be ruled out. Consistent SRR >30 breaths/min in cats with pre-existent heart
disease warrants further evaluation, but can be normal in some cats.
Coughing is a variable finding in CHF in dogs, and is not a feature of CHF in cats.
Rarely, a cat with CHF will cough, however, coughing is much more commonly seen
with primary airway disease such as asthma. Dogs will cough as the CHF progresses,
but this is often an intermittent or inconsistent finding. Additionally, many other
conditions cause coughing.

**Monitoring Frequency:**
– The frequency depends on the severity and type of heart disease.
– Pets with diagnosed heart conditions may need veterinary visits every few months or
as recommended.
– Regular home monitoring (like checking for coughing, breathing difficulty, or exercise
intolerance) can help catch changes early.
Treatment adjustments** are often guided by these monitoring methods to optimize
therapy, such as medications, diet, or activity restrictions.