Dilated Cardiomyopathy, Canine - contd.

ClinicalSigns
Signs may be consistent with right heart failure, left heart failure, or both. Right heart failure signs can include abdominal distention due to ascites, jugular venous engorgement or pulsation, hepatomegaly, pleural effusion, edema, pericardial effusion, and weight gain due to fluid retention. Left heart failure signs can include cough due to pulmonary edema, shortness of breath, tachypnea, and dyspnea. Some signs can be seen with right or left sided heart failure, including fatigue and weakness, exertional dyspnea, gallop rhythm, pallor, increased capillary refill time, cyanosis, cool extremities, and weight loss.

Symptoms
Dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy can show symptoms due to right-sided congestive heart failure including abdominal enlargement; distention of the veins in the neck or other parts of the body; and fluid accumulation in the abdomen or chest, in the sac around the heart or underneath the skin, especially in the legs and on the underside of the body. This fluid retention can lead to weight gain. Other dogs will show evidence of lung problems due to left-sided congestive heart failure, including shortness of breath, rapid, shallow breathing, difficulty resting comfortably at night, and coughing.

It is also common for dogs with DCM to show signs of both right and left heart failure. These signs can include weakness and exercise intolerance, and difficulty breathing with increased activity. Weight loss is common in dogs with DCM that do not retain fluid. Some animals exhibit signs due to reduced blood flow to tissues, including pale mucous membranes, bluish color to the mucous membranes, and cold feet and legs. Fainting may occur if abnormal heart rhythms are present, or if the heart's output is severely reduced.