What is mitral valve Endocardiosis?
Chronic mitral valve or tricuspid valve endocardiosis is a disease in dogs characterized by progressive myxomatous degeneration of the atrio-ventricular (AV) valves. It is estimated that this disease accounts for 50% of canine cardiac disease. This disease process is also seen in humans, horses, and pigs.
What are the stages of MVD?
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.
What are the symptoms of MVD in dogs?
Common symptoms of MVD include:
- A heart murmur (detected by your vet)
- Coughing. Especially after lying down or sleeping. Often worse at night.
- Low energy and slowing down on walks.
- Breathing quicker than usual/ breathlessness/ panting.
- Weight loss.
- Collapse/fainting.
What causes Endocardiosis?
Endocarditis is usually caused by an infection. Bacteria, fungi or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart. If it’s not treated quickly, endocarditis can damage or destroy your heart valves.
What medication is used for leaky heart valve?
There are three main types of blood thinners that patients commonly take: anticoagulants like warfarin or heparin, antiplatelet drugs like aspirin, and fibrinolytics like tPA (tissue plasminogen activator).
How is MVD in dogs treated?
Enalapril and benazepril are commonly used ACE-inhibitors in dogs. Diuretics. These are drugs that stimulate the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body. Furosemide and spironolactone are the most commonly used diuretics in veterinary patients.
How fast does mitral valve disease progress in dogs?
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.
How quickly does mitral valve disease progress in dogs?
From the time a murmur develops, it may be a few months to several years until heart failure occurs.
How long can a dog live with leaky heart valve?
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.