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