Heart disease in dogs becomes more common in the medical practice room. Some cardiologists reported that 25 percent of all dogs from small to medium races over the age of 7 years may suffer from heart disease at some stage in their life. The majority or 75 percent of heart disease in dogs was caused by mitral valve disorder (mitral valve disease-MVD).
"Veterinarians need to understand well about the problems, both in diagnosis, drug delivery, monitoring and, equally important, to provide education to the client so that dog owners can identify early on if the dog shows symptoms that lead to heart problems," said Director of Prof. Soeparwi Animals Hospital UGM, Prof. Ida Tjahajati, MS, when opening a diagnosis seminar, Implementation and Management of Heart Failure in Dogs, at the Animal Hospital Prof. Soeparwi, Wednesday (20/4).
Ida added that the heart failure disease should becomes the focus attention of the veterinary practitioners and also the dog owners if they find symptoms of cough, tiredness, anxiety, restlessness at night and labored breathing. "If a dog shows such clinical findings, then the veterinarian should perform examination in the direction of heart disease," she said.
According to Ida, it is important for veterinarians and animal selection to identify heart problems. Thus, ways of diagnosis, treatment and management, treatment of heart disease in pet dogs that experience heart abnormalities are needed.
Drh. Amir Mahmud, veterinary practitioner and the author of Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs said the risk of heart disease in dogs increased significantly with age. More than 15 percent of young dogs suffer from heart disease. The average increases about 60 percent in older dogs.
“If you find a patient with symptoms that lead to heart disease, you should know how to diagnose, provide medication and monitor regularly. Likewise, the dog owner also should understand the condition of the dog if it shows symptoms that lead to heart disease," he said.
The Seminar is the result collaboration of UGM Prof. Soeparwi with JB Media and MK Pet Shop Jakarta. The event was attended by veterinary practitioners from various cities, including Yogyakartya, Solo, Magelang, Puwokerto, Jakarta, Boyolali, Jombang and Pekan Baru.