Congestive heart failure is the inability of the heart to provide adequate circulation to meet the body’s needs. It is the end result of a weakened heart muscle. The health of the liver, kidneys, lungs and other organs is impaired by circulatory failure, resulting in a problem involving multiple organs. A diseased heart can compensate for many months or years without signs of failure.
The early signs of congestive heart failure are:
Coughing
Rapid or labored breathing
Tiring easily
Fainting
Lack of appetite
Abdominal swelling
A dog with heart disease may exhibit one or more of the above symptoms. Most heart problems in dogs can be controlled with the appropriate medication and monitoring.