Treatment of Heart Disease Before the Start of Heart Failure

When animals have heart disease, but they do not have any outward signs of heart disease, this is sometimes called the asymptomatic phase of heart disease (also called the occult phase of heart disease). As heart disease progresses, fluid might start to buildup (called congestive heart failure) and this can trigger cough, difficulty breathing, or limitation of exercise. But if heart disease is found early enough, medications can be given to delay the time until heart failure develops. Some medications have been proven to help delay the start of congestive heart failure in certain diseases. So, while treating heart disease at this early phase will not make an animal feel better immediately, we can try to delay the onset of heart failure, or collapse from arrhythmia, or the development of a serious blood clot. Your veterinarian usually needs to do tests, including an echocardiogram, in order to determine whether your pet qualifies for early treatment of heart disease.