{"id":7039,"date":"2021-06-08T10:50:32","date_gmt":"2021-06-08T09:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/?p=7039"},"modified":"2023-02-10T15:45:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T15:45:06","slug":"dcm-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/petpedia.co\/blog\/dcm-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding DCM in Dogs \u2014Your Comprehensive Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

DCM in dogs, otherwise known as dilated cardiomyopathy, is a progressive and mostly irreversible condition. It\u2019s a disease that you\u2019ve probably heard of if you\u2019re a pet owner. However, maybe you haven\u2019t had the chance to get into the details of it.<\/p>\n

In this article, we will focus on the condition, break down its causes, symptoms, and steps you can take to avoid the development of cardiomyopathy in your dog.<\/p>\n

Understanding DCM in Dogs<\/h2>\n

In most cases, it develops in the lower chambers of the heart as they become enlarged. However, in rare cases, it can also develop in the atria (the upper heart chambers).<\/p>\n

When DCM develops, the heart muscles become thinner, and the amount of blood they can pump to the body decreases. As a result, fluids can accumulate in the lungs and other tissues.<\/p>\n

If left untreated, cardiomyopathy in dogs will lead to the overload of the heart muscle, resulting in CHF(congestive heart failure).<\/p>\n

Symptoms of DCM in Dogs<\/h2>\n

The major DCM symptoms in dogs are usually caused by the mentioned fluid buildup in the lungs, which leads to decreased oxygenated blood to the body.<\/p>\n

With that in mind, the most prevalent DCM dog symptoms are:<\/p>\n