✳PetwellPET HEALTH REFERENCE

Heart · Cats & dogs

Cardiovascular disease: enlargement, cardiomyopathy, valves, failure and hypertension

Record cough, breathing, exercise tolerance, fainting and abdominal size together; a heart-sounding symptom is not a diagnosis.

Editorial update: 2026-10-19 · Version 2026.10.19.2
Veterinary review: pending

Cardiovascular disease: enlargement, cardiomyopathy, valves, failure and hypertension

Educational pet-health and visit-preparation reference. Not a diagnosis, prescription, dosage recommendation or substitute for a veterinarian. Veterinary review: pending. This is an editorial educational reference. Checking sources is not a veterinary assessment of your pet.

What this index covers

Covers cardiomyopathy, valve disease, congestive failure, hypertension and enlargement clues.

Section sources: Merck Veterinary Manual: Pet Owners Overview · AAHA Clinical Practice Guidelines

Which clues to organize

Record resting breathing, night cough, recovery, fainting, gum color, abdominal enlargement and medicines.

Section sources: AAHA: Preparing for a successful veterinary visit

When not to wait

Labored resting breathing, blue/pale gums, fainting, collapse or inability to lie down is an emergency.

Section sources: Merck Veterinary Manual: When to see a veterinarian

Prepare for the visit

Bring resting-breathing videos, weight, imaging and medicines; do not change cardiac or diuretic doses yourself.

Section sources: AAHA: Preparing for a successful veterinary visit

Use this guide to prepare for a visit

Disease index note Topic/question: Onset and change: Photos/videos: Appetite, water, urine/stool: Medicines/exposures: Questions for clinic:

Record observations for this topic Visit checklist

Sources & editorial context

What changed

将疾病索引改为按覆盖范围、观察用途、红旗信号和就诊资料组织,待专业医学复核。

Dates identify editorial updates and source checks, not clinical approval. All four languages were edited together; native-language and veterinary review remain pending.

Read our editorial policy

Continue reading