The client wants to know, and will pay for, each test you perform or each drug you give, that has a reasonable expectation
of making their pet feel better or live longer.
A. Prevalence/Etiology: 72 million dogs in the US; 72 million cats in the US; 11% of each have heart disease; 85% of dogs
with hearty disease have endocardiodiosis leading to mitral regurgitation. Prevalent in small, chondrodystrophic; familial;
possibly 5HT-mediated; possibly related to periodontal disease.
B. Diagnosis and selection of drugs:
1. Left apical holosystolic murmur unrelated to severity. No Rx.
2. Left atrial and left ventricular enlargement related to severity.
Rx: ACE inhibitor, spironolactone, possibly beta blocker
3. Pulmonary congestion/edema: tachypnea, wheezes, subtle cough, crackles, cyanosis. Theophylline, furosemide, chlorothiazide,
digitalis, pimobendan.
4. Supraventricular arrhythmias. Rx. digitalis, ....olol, diltiazem.
5. Ventricular arrhythmias. Rx. sotalol, amiodarone
