Author: Rep. Director Yeo Jae-seung (Chief Representative of 24H UN animal medical center, Director of Companion Animal Heart and Kidney Center, Internal Medicine Director of 24H UN animal medical center) This content was created in compliance with relevant laws including medical laws.
Are you at a loss about which animal hospital to visit for your dog's heart disease? Let me organize the key points for you first.
- ✓ Echocardiography · ECG · biomarker test system equipped with specialized heart center care is the core selection criterion.
- ✓ MMVD (mitral valve insufficiency) is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs, and it is difficult to determine the stage without detailed echocardiography evaluation.
- ✓ Since there are large individual differences in disease stage and complications, the prognosis cannot be determined based on a single test result alone, and careful consultation with a specialist is absolutely necessary.
In Busan, what criteria should you use to choose an animal hospital for your dog's heart disease?
If your dog coughs frequently or gets tired easily during walks and collapses, pet owners are naturally concerned: "Could there be something wrong with the heart?" However, when you actually try to find an animal hospital, it is often confusing which criteria to use for selection.
The most important criterion in choosing an animal hospital for dog heart disease care is a specialized heart center care system equipped with echocardiography · ECG · cardiac biomarker testing. This is because it is difficult to accurately understand the type of heart disease and the stage of progression with simple auscultation or X-ray alone.
According to research published in PubMed (NCBI), MMVD (mitral valve insufficiency) accounts for an overwhelmingly high proportion of acquired heart diseases occurring in dogs, and the incidence rate increases dramatically the smaller the dog breed and the older the age. Furthermore, echocardiography examination is essentially a prerequisite for accurately determining the stage of this disease and deciding on a treatment direction.
Mini Q&A Q. Can't you tell if a dog has heart disease just by auscultation? If a heart murmur is heard on auscultation, heart disease can be suspected, but it is difficult to determine which stage it is or whether medication is needed without echocardiography. Through echocardiography, you must directly confirm the thickness of the valve, the size of the atrium and ventricle, and the degree of blood flow regurgitation to enable accurate disease stage determination and treatment planning.
Since each individual dog shows different aspects of disease stage and complications, caution is needed when determining prognosis based solely on a single test result from any hospital. Results may vary depending on individual and personal circumstances.
What is dog heart disease? Summary of symptoms, stages, and diagnostic testing essentials
Among dog heart diseases, MMVD (mitral valve insufficiency) is the most commonly occurring condition in small and elderly dogs. This disease develops when the heart's mitral valve fails to close properly, causing blood to regurgitate and the heart to become overloaded, progressing to heart failure, a chronic heart disease.
According to NotePet Heart Disease Stage materials, MMVD is classified into 5 stages: A → B1 → B2 → C → D. Let me organize the essentials in the table below.
| Stage | Meaning | Main characteristics | Treatment direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | At-risk group (no disease) | Small or elderly dog breeds with high disease risk | Regular check-ups recommended |
| B1 | Heart murmur present, no cardiac enlargement | Almost no symptoms | Regular monitoring |
| B2 | Heart murmur + cardiac enlargement | Almost no symptoms, medication start criteria | ACVIM guideline-based medication consideration |
| C | Heart failure symptoms appear | Coughing, difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance | Active medication treatment |
| D | Intractable heart failure | Reduced response to standard treatment | Complex medications and intensive management |
Particularly in the B1 and B2 stages, symptoms rarely appear, making it very difficult for pet owners to notice. This is why many cases are discovered only after disease has already progressed to B2 or beyond. If chronic coughing, difficulty breathing, or reluctance to exercise appears, there is also a possibility of being in stage C or beyond, so early detection through regular check-ups is more important than anything else.
According to Health Gyeongyang heart disease diagnostic materials, after conducting initial evaluation through auscultation, X-ray, and blood pressure measurement, echocardiography and ECG testing are necessary for accurate diagnosis. Echocardiography goes beyond simply visualizing the shape of the heart and directly confirms the degree of valve regurgitation and changes in atrium and ventricle size with numerical values, determining the core testing for B2 stage medication prescription criteria. There are clear limitations in disease stage determination and treatment strategy decision with auscultation or X-ray alone.
24H UN animal medical center Heart Center – How to handle dog heart disease in Busan
The 24H UN animal medical center Heart Center proceeds with dog heart consultation in the following order.
- ✓ Stage 1 — Initial consultation and clinical evaluation: Initial heart abnormality assessment through auscultation, medical history review, and physical examination
- ✓ Stage 2 — Detailed imaging tests: Echocardiography to confirm valve structure, atrium and ventricle size, and degree of blood flow regurgitation
- ✓ Stage 3 — Supplementary tests: ECG (arrhythmia and conduction abnormality assessment), cardiac biomarker (NT-proBNP, etc.) blood tests
- ✓ Stage 4 — Disease stage determination and treatment planning: Disease stage confirmation based on ACVIM guidelines, comprehensive assessment of individual circumstances, then medication prescription decision
- ✓ Stage 5 — Collaborative care linkage: When taking heart medication, kidney function monitoring due to diuretic burden through collaboration with the kidney center
- ✓ Stage 6 — Long-term follow-up management: Follow-up visits at 2-3 month intervals, echocardiography re-evaluation, and medication adjustment
According to DailyVet ACVIM guidelines materials, ACVIM (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) recommends that veterinarians establish treatment strategies by comprehensively considering not only simple imaging indicators but also individual circumstances such as the patient's age, weight, and complications. In particular, because the heart and kidneys are connected as a single circulatory system, the diuretic burden from heart medication can affect kidney function, making it clinically important to manage both organs together.
Rep. Director Yeo Jae-seung, who completed a Ph.D. at Chungnam National University College of Veterinary Medicine Department of Internal Medicine and is a certified physician by the Korean Veterinary Cardiology Association, directly conducts echocardiography, ECG, and biomarker testing, and connects comprehensive heart and kidney care through a collaborative system with the internal medicine and kidney centers. Even in emergency situations, there is a system enabling immediate 365-day, 24-hour response, so you can visit without worry even at night or on holidays.
This matches well for you — Self-assessment & nearby area information
If any of the following items apply to you, it is recommended to undergo specialized heart screening.
- ✓ Breathing becomes rapid or panting is frequently observed while sleeping
- ✓ The dog gets tired earlier than usual during walks or sits down more frequently
- ✓ Dry coughs are repeated in the morning and evening
- ✓ You were told there is a heart murmur but have not had detailed tests afterward
- ✓ You own a small dog (Maltese, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, Cavalier, etc.) that is 7 years old or older
- ✓ Your dog has been diagnosed with heart disease and is taking medication, but is not receiving kidney function monitoring together
- ✓ Even without symptoms, you feel that regular heart check-ups are necessary because your dog is an elderly small breed
Observing your pet's breathing rate and heart rhythm regularity during sleep at home is known to help with early detection of heart disease. However, a veterinary visit for detailed testing is absolutely necessary for accurate assessment.
Dog heart disease in Busan Nam-gu, Suyeong-gu dog heart disease, Haeundae dog heart disease, Dongrae dog heart disease, and all regions of Busan, as well as Yangsan dog heart disease and Gimhae dog heart disease related consultations can be provided at 24H UN animal medical center. Regardless of symptoms, regular heart check-ups are recommended if your dog is an elderly small breed.
Feel free to receive consultation. We will look into it together.
Please feel free to receive consultation at 24H UN animal medical center. Rep. Director Yeo Jae-seung, a certified physician of the Korean Veterinary Cardiology Association, and the multidisciplinary collaborative team will examine your pet's heart condition together.
Heart disease is more helpful in maintaining good quality of life in daily life for your dog when detected and managed consistently early on. Detailed echocardiography evaluation and follow-up visits at 2-3 month intervals with medication adjustment are core routines for long-term management, not something that ends with a single test but rather a continuous process of staying together according to your pet's condition.
Even in case of sudden difficulty breathing or symptom deterioration, 365-day, 24-hour emergency and consultation responses are available, so you can visit immediately without worry even at night or on holidays. If you are concerned about your pet's heart, please feel free to contact us first. We will look into it together.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. My dog's breathing is fast while sleeping, could it be heart disease?
Increased breathing rate during sleep is known to be one of the major early signals of heart disease. Normal resting respiratory rate is often 30 breaths per minute or less, and if it is consistently faster than this, you may suspect heart function deterioration. However, the causes can be varied, so it is recommended to undergo detailed testing including echocardiography as soon as possible. Results may vary depending on individual and personal circumstances.
Q2. Does echocardiography testing require anesthesia?
In most cases, echocardiography testing is performed without anesthesia. In many cases, your dog can undergo the test comfortably just by having you stay by their side. The examination time is also relatively short, so the burden is not great. However, the method of testing may vary depending on the individual's stress level or condition, so please feel free to inquire in advance and we will provide guidance.
Q3. My dog is at heart disease stage B2, do I need to give medication right away?
ACVIM guidelines present stage B2 as the starting point for medication prescription, but the actual decision to prescribe is determined by comprehensively considering echocardiography values, body weight, age, complications, and other individual circumstances. Medication does not start immediately upon stage diagnosis alone; it is important to consult sufficiently with a veterinarian and then determine the optimal timing and dosage. Results may vary depending on individual and personal circumstances.
Q4. If I give heart medication, won't kidney problems develop?
Heart medication diuretics can place a burden on the kidneys, so regular monitoring of kidney values (BUN, creatinine, SDMA, etc.) is important during medication use. At 24H UN animal medical center, through a collaborative system between the heart center and kidney center, we conduct both heart medication adjustment and kidney function management together, so you can feel assured and continue long-term management even with companion animals with combined diseases.
Results may vary depending on individual and personal circumstances