What are symptoms of heart problems in a dog?

Question

Does it show up in blood tests, or in a physical examination?
Would symptoms go away then come back again?

Well no, she had blood tests, they are perfect, x-rays, heart looked great, physical exam, no murmer, vet said she is healty, TONS of energy, however, coughs (sounds like clearing something from throat) when playing with her ball, or has had the ball in her mouth for a while. Sometimes, she will dry heave with nothing coming out.

She only does this cough thing, once a day sometimes not even everyday.
She eats like a piggy, and does not drink too much. She is a dachshund, 11 months old.

Answer 1

When at play dogs throats can dry out. And since they are panting a lot they can also get some of their own saliva chocking them. Best to have a bowl or water out while playing so they can get a drink. My Golden's do this also from just playing ball. They don't know when to stop so I have to make the call and not over do it. Left up to them they would play catch until they dropped. You have to let the dog rest a bit especially if the weather is warm to hot outside.
NOTE: Both Vet Tech and DP gave excellent information about heart failure

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Besides the obvious answer, which would be heart problems, let me tell you about an experience I had with my female chihuahua. She coughed constantly. I took her to three different vets because none were finding a cause. The third vet asked if my girl had come from a puppy mill. When I told him yes, he checked her throat and discovered that because she was one of the dogs used for breeding one litter after another, her awful owners had shoved a little metal rod down her throat in an attempt to crush her voice box so she couldn't bark. Now, every time she barks or gets excited, she coughs. And gags.
I'm glad to say that the reason I got her was because they shut down this puppy mill. I'm just sorry all the dogs couldn't be rescued before they had this kind of lasting damage.
Check with your vet and see if her throat is okay.
Good luck to both of you!

Answer 4

Signs and symptoms of heart disease often include one or all of the following symptoms: coughing, labored breathing, poor exercise ability, fainting, and a bluish tinge to the tongue or gums.

Often a thorough physical examination will allow your veterinarian to identify the source and severity of the heart murmur. However, other times more information is required and may include an EKG, chest x-rays, blood testing, or a heart ultrasound. The ultrasound is of particular benefit, giving your veterinarian the ability to actually measure and better define the extent and cause of the underlying heart disease. A specific diagnosis is essential, as some conditions resulting in heart murmurs may be treatable by surgery (i.e., congenital problems) and others may require specific types of medication.

Symptoms never do ocme and go, however, they can increase and decrease depending on the level of activity.

Hope this helps!

Answer 5

Look if your vet has given your dog the all-clear heartwise but the dog is still not coughing, why not go back to the vet?!

Coughing has a thousand causes! Lungworms, kennel cough, tonsilitis, collapsing trachea, upper respiratory infection...the list goes on! And this is why you can't expect a vet to get the right answer first time!

Trust me when I say that NO ONE on Yahoo Answers can diagnose your animal. Even if a vet was on here, he wouldn't be able to diagnoses without seeing the animal!

Go back to your vet, they're not finished with your dog yet!!!

Chalice

Answer 6

Although some of the early stages of heart failure in dogs have no visible signs, heart failure can be diagnosed through an evaluation by a vet.

Dogs with mild to moderate heart failure typically experience heart enlargement, coughing, lethargy and difficulty breathing.

Severe heart failure is characterized by difficulty breathing (even at rest), fainting, profound intolerance to exercise, loss of appetite and weight loss.

Answer 7

If you notice your dog drooling a lot, drinking a lot of water, not eating, coughing a lot, get it to the vet right away. I had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever die from congestive heart failure with these symptoms. I sadly did not catch it in time.

Answer 8

This may help!

http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/cough.asp