Heart enlargement in dogs is usually caused by heart disease, such as mitral valve disease, aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy, etc. Here are some early symptoms that may indicate an enlarged heart in dogs:
1. Difficulty breathing: When a dog's heart becomes enlarged, it puts pressure on its lungs, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing when the dog is active or excited.
2. Decreased physical strength: Cardiac hypertrophy will affect the dog's physical function, making it less active, unwilling to participate in sports and other activities, and even unable to bear a small exercise load.
3. Decreased appetite: Dogs’ heart hypertrophy can lead to poor blood flow, resulting in decreased appetite and reduced food intake.
4. Abdominal swelling: When a dog has an enlarged heart, it will cause blood to stay in the liver and abdominal cavity, leading to symptoms such as abdominal swelling and edema.
5. Uneasiness or depression: When a dog has an enlarged heart, it may feel discomfort and pain, leading to mood changes and showing abnormal uneasiness and depression.
It should be noted that these early symptoms are not only related to cardiac hypertrophy, but may also be caused by other diseases. If you find that your dog has the above symptoms, please seek medical treatment promptly and receive diagnosis and treatment from a professional veterinarian. At the same time, taking your dog for heart checkups regularly is one of the important measures to prevent cardiac hypertrophy.
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