My heart beats dog. Fidose of Reality followers know this much is true. My dog’s heart, too, beats strong and I plan to keep it that way for many years to come. My dog’s heart healthy status is beating great!
March has been dubbed Canine Health Month, and a recent survey of dog owners revealed that only half of respondents ever discuss heart health of their dog with their veterinarian.
One of my new year’s resolutions has been to do something proactive for my dog, Dexter, each month of the year. By resolving to do something each month to help keep my pooch healthy, I can ensure that 12 steps are taken to keep his tail wagging all year long. One of the things I have done has been to use embarkonpethealth.com for a pet health calendar and checklist to keep Dexter healthy all year long.
While at Global Pet Expo recently, I met actress Tiffani Thiessen, whom you may recall from Saved by the Bell and currently on White Collar. As the spokesperson for Sergeant’s Embark on Pet Health, I thanked Tiffani for her role in helping to bring the message of good healthcare for pets to pet parents everywhere.
I found an app called yourdogsheart.com. The Resting Respiratory Rate (RRR) mobile app, available through the iTunes and Google Play Stores – helps pet owners and veterinarians detect the early signs of heart failure by tracking and comparing a dog’s RRR over time. Data is uploaded directly to veterinarians, who must provide a dog’s target breathing rate to pet parents and specify how often they should count their dogs’ RRR.
Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure are keys to keeping a dog well. Some things to watch for include, according to PetMD, include:
- Weakness
- Exercise intolerance
- Coughing and trouble breathing
- Dog stands in unusual positions to relieve pain
- Increased heart rate
- Crackles heard when listening to the lungs
- Pale/gray/bluish mucous membranes
- Gums stay pale longer than a few seconds when pushed upon with a finger
- Possible heart murmur
- Weak pulses on the insides of the dog’s thighs
There are many signs of heart issues, which is why early diagnosis is key. My last dog lived with a grade 2 heart murmur, which thanks to early detection by her veterinarian, was able to be monitored her whole life.
In honor of all the pets out there, we are celebrating healthy hearts by sharing the message with our pet blogging friends below:
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