“Heart to Heart”

Fellow Villagers, it is time for a serious talk about a serious problem that will probably visit your friends as they age, if not already. The good news in this serious talk is that modern veterinary medicine and the latest human medications are available for your friend, should a heart condition develop. The bad news is that this is the most overlooked condition in diagnosing your friends. I am instituting a “Senior Wellness Plan”. that will include a complete physical, EKG, ultrasound, complete laboratory tests including urinalysis. Why? Because early diagnosis of  heart disease in your dear friend is as important as it would be to you. Secondly, because I can maintain and reduce the onset of  heart conditions and the symptoms that will occur, for a substantially longer period of time compared to doing nothing until the sever symptoms appear.

The severe symptoms are: coughing, exercise intolerance, discolored gums, labored breathing (dyspnea). There are many “overlapping” symptoms that can also confuse this. There are three basic categories of heart disease; a distended heart muscle/chamber, a bad valve (mitral/tricuspid insufficiency) and a thickened heart muscle. The more infrequent conditions like fluid in the heart sac (pericardial tympanode), atrial fibrillation,  holes in the wall of the heart (septal defect), or atherosclerosis (plugged coronary arteries) account for a very small percentage of  heart conditions. Most of these heart conditions first develop with a small accumulation of  fluid in the area around the heart outside of the heart sac (pericardium). This “hilar fluid” usually causes a cough or a slightly noticeable difficulty with exercise.

Modern Medications: The general drugs most frequently used for heart disease in veterinary medicine are; Enacard (which is human Vasotec). This drug helps the circulation and gives some relief to the kidneys, and lowers blood pressure. Lasix. This is a diuretic used by humans and friends and causes urinating so that the fluid will not collect in the chest around the heart. Digitalis; veterinarians generally  use Digoxin, a form of digitalis,  because it is safer. This drug causes the heart muscle to beat stronger and at a more steady rate. There are many other cardiac medications for specific conditions. However, these are the basic medications used. Give your friend a hug for me!

DR. BOB

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