Common Causes of Canine Myocarditis & Emergency First A
Section 1: Common Causes of Canine Myocarditis
1. Canine myocarditis often arises during the acute phase of viral or other pathogen infections, such as canine distemper, parvovirus infection, and infectious hepatitis. These diseases are prone to trigger myocarditis in varying degrees.
2. Other parasitic diseases, like toxoplasmosis and heartworms, can also lead to myocarditis.
3. Poisoning from carbon monoxide, heavy metals, or anesthetics can damage the myocardium, causing myocarditis or myocardial degeneration.
4. Additionally, conditions such as sepsis, allergies, rheumatism, and anemia can also induce myocarditis in dogs.
Section 2: Clinical Symptoms of Canine Myocarditis
1. Acute myocarditis in dogs typically begins with myocardial excitation symptoms, characterized by a rapid and full pulse, palpitations, and increased heart sounds.
2. After a slight exertion, the heart rate of an affected dog will rise rapidly and may remain elevated even after the activity has ceased.
3. Heart failure is the most apparent symptom when the myocardium becomes malnourished and degenerates.
4. When the compensatory adaptability of the dog's heart is lost, symptoms such as cyanosis, difficulty breathing, dilated superficial veins, and edema in the limbs and abdomen may occur.
5. Chronic myocarditis is characterized by symptoms like weakness, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, and often accompanied by heart murmurs.
6. Severe myocarditis can lead to loss of appetite, a decline in mental state, and even confusion, ultimately resulting in death due to heart failure.
Section 3: Prevention and Treatment Measures for Canine Myocarditis
The principle of treating canine myocarditis is to reduce the heart's workload, enhance myocardial nutrition, improve myocardial contractility, and treat the primary disease.
1. Enhanced Care: Ensure the dog gets ample rest, cease training, avoid excessive excitement or stress, and control its water intake. Dogs with myocarditis should not drink excessive amounts of water.
2. Symptomatic Treatment: Provide oxygen to dogs experiencing severe difficulty breathing; for those with oliguria and pronounced edema, use diuretics to alleviate symptoms.
Canine myocarditis rarely occurs independently and is often secondary to other diseases. Therefore, it is crucial not to overlook the treatment of the primary disease. However, it is important to note that the probability of canine myocarditis is relatively low, yet it requires attention. Particularly during the treatment of canine infectious diseases, this point should be given extra consideration.
Dr. Oxygen Pet温馨提示: Many dogs with myocarditis experience symptoms at night. Therefore, it is advisable for owners to remain vigilant even during the evening hours.