What Are the Causes of Heart Disease?

There are several ways your dog can be affected by heart disease:

Acquired Heart Disease

•         Accounts for 95% of all heart conditions

•         Disease that develops during the course of your dog's life

•         There are two principal causes of acquired heart disease:

o    Valvular disease, which is also known as atrioventricular valvular insufficiency (AVVI) or mitral valve disease or endocardiosis

o    Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)

Congenital Defects

•         Heart problems that your dog is born with

•         Will usually be diagnosed when your dog is very young (ie, still a puppy)

•         Account for a very small percentage of the diagnosed heart-related problems