About 1 in 10 dogs get heart disease. See how you can prevent the illness from happening.
About 1 in 10 dogs get heart disease. See how you can prevent the illness from happening.
About 1 in 10 dogs get heart disease. See how you can prevent the illness from happening.
It’s Heart Health Month, and it’s important to take care of your dog’s health, too.
Dr. Robert Bartlett, who is a veterinarian with Columbia Animal Hospital, said about 1 in 10 dogs get heart disease.
He said the biggest cause of heart issues developing is poor dental hygiene.
“Badly infected teeth and gums leads to bacterial access into the bloodstream,” Bartlett said. “Unfortunately, they will damage the heart valves and lead to poor heart function, poor pumping ability, which eventually wears the heart out and leads to heart failure.”
He said small dogs are more prone to heart disease.
Some heart disease in dogs is preventable by brushing your dog’s teeth daily.
Bartlett warns to not use human toothpaste, as this could be harmful for your dog’s digestive health.
Another option is to use antiseptic dog mouthwash if your pet does not cooperate with brushing.
Bartlett said it’s also important to keep your dogs on a low-fat diet and exercise them often to prevent heart disease.
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