Can dogs have heart attacks? Signs of heart problems in dogs

There are many conditions that can cause symptoms we, as humans, associate with heart attacks, such as sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, and even passing away unexpectedly. Dogs, however, rarely have heart attacks. When a dog collapses, struggles to breathe, loses consciousness, or shows other severe signs that may look like a “dog heart attack,” the most effective way to truly help is through prompt, in-person veterinary attention. This approach gives your dog the best chance at receiving the right care without delay. As a pet owner, it is important to know:

• Signs and causes of heart failure in dogs
• Canine health conditions that can look like a heart attack
• When to seek emergency care, and if you should perform CPR on your dog
• How symptoms associated with a heart attack are treated in dogs

A dog’s heart may suddenly stop beating due to medical problems such as trauma or toxin exposure, but that’s not the same thing as a heart attack. Other types of heart disease are common in dogs, occurring for a variety of reasons including parasites (heartworm disease), heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy disease), and diseases of the valves that separate the chambers of the heart. While it’s possible for a dog to show sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, or even sudden death as a result of heart disease, those symptoms also occur with other, non-cardiac diseases. If your dog develops symptoms such as these, that indicates an emergency and it’s important to call your veterinarian or your nearest emergency vet as quickly as possible. If you are unsure if your dog’s symptoms indicate an emergency, an online vet can help by virtually evaluating them and advising you on what to do next.

Dogs rarely have heart attacks as seen in people, but other forms of heart disease are common.

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack (myocardial infarction) is a specific type of heart disease caused by reduced or blocked blood flow in the coronary arteries that supply the heart muscle. Heart attacks in humans are most often caused by coronary artery disease, or the buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in heart arteries. “Coronary artery disease is rare in dogs, so they do not have heart attacks commonly, like people do,” states Dr. Jo Myers, a veterinarian on the Vetster platform.

What kinds of heart disease do dogs get?

Heart failure is one example of a common heart disease in dogs. It is often a long-term condition where the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently. Congestive heart failure can be caused by many heart conditions, such as:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
• Mitral valve disease
• Congenital heart abnormalities
• Pericardial disease
• Heartworm disease

In many cases heart disease progresses gradually over time, starting with subtle symptoms that get worse over weeks to months. Sometimes dogs are well adjusted to their declining heart function, so they are described as being well compensated. Symptoms in a well-compensated dog may be mild or so subtle that they’re easily overlooked. In other cases, a dog may not appear ill until they decompensate and the signs appear to come on suddenly. Symptoms of heart disease include difficulty breathing, cough, exercise intolerance, sudden collapse, and even cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating. Breathing usually stops at the same time or shortly after cardiac arrest (respiratory arrest). Cardiac arrest, however, is not the same thing as a heart attack.

Dogs can have sudden cardiac arrest due to a number of causes, including:

• Severe, chronic heart disease, including heart failure
• Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Excessive blood loss due to trauma
• Toxin exposure
• Electrocution

Dogs can exhibit symptoms associated with human heart attacks, such as:

• Difficulty breathing
• Sudden weakness or inability to stand
• Blue or gray gums/tongue
• Seizures
• Sudden loss of consciousness or collapse

These symptoms are always considered a medical emergency and require immediate veterinary attention, but are rarely caused by a canine heart attack. While virtual vets can help discuss symptoms and the next steps to take, hands-on veterinary care is the best plan in an emergency. Owners may also find their dog has suddenly passed away with no obvious cause and assume they had a heart attack. What may seem like a 'heart attack' in a dog is almost never an actual heart attack. Instead, sudden collapse or death is usually caused by dangerous arrhythmias, advanced heart disease, or serious illnesses not related to the heart at all.

When a dog shows emergency signs such as collapse, sudden weakness, or difficulty breathing, it can be frightening. These symptoms may be linked to a number of different conditions, including heart disease, arrhythmias, lung problems, or even non-cardiac illnesses. Because so many possibilities exist, an accurate diagnosis is essential to know what is really happening and how best to help.

In urgent situations, your veterinarian may first need to stabilize your dog before running tests. This often involves resting in a quiet space with supplemental oxygen and monitoring vital signs before moving on to potentially stressful (but necessary) procedures like blood work, chest X-rays, or an electrocardiogram (ECG).

Pet owners play an important role in this process. These are some examples of helpful information you can provide:

• Timing and description of symptoms
• Any triggers or events that occurred before the onset
• Changes in breathing patterns
• Gum or tongue color
• Whether collapse, seizure, or unusual movements were observed
• Current diagnoses, medications, or recent lab results

It’s natural to want to do everything possible in the moment, but the most effective way to help is to remain patient, listen carefully to your veterinarian’s explanations, and ask questions if anything is unclear. By staying engaged and thorough with your observations, you provide the information your vet needs to guide the diagnostic process and find the best path forward for your dog.

When a dog is strong enough to withstand the stress of handling and testing, diagnostic tools may include:

• Blood tests
• X-ray
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Ultrasound of the heart (echocardiogram)

An accurate diagnosis is necessary to determine the appropriate treatment for the underlying cause of the symptoms. The underlying issue may or may not be cardiac related. In some cases, your vet may refer you to a veterinary cardiologist for more testing.

Common health issues in dogs with symptoms associated with heart attacks in humans

Symptoms associated with human heart attacks occur with many other health issues in dogs. This includes various forms of heart disease, such as:

• Congestive heart failure
• Irregular heart rhythms (heart arrhythmias)
• Fluid buildup around the heart (pericardial effusion)
• Heartworm disease

Congestive heart failure in dogs is most commonly due to mitral valve disease or dilated cardiomyopathy. Non-cardiac causes associated with these symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Respiratory diseases, such as a collapsing trachea or pulmonary embolism
• Severe anemia
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
• Seizures
• Acute collapse from other systemic diseases

These conditions are much more common in dogs than heart attacks are.

When a dog is in crisis, it’s important to understand that many different diseases, both heart-related and not, can cause similar emergency symptoms. Because of this, treatment is never one-size-fits-all.

For example, congestive heart failure may be managed with medications that reduce fluid buildup and ease breathing, while dangerous heart rhythm problems might require specialized drugs or even a pacemaker. A condition called pericardial effusion, where fluid builds up around the heart, often requires draining that fluid to restore normal function. On the other hand, if the problem is primarily with the lungs or another non-cardiac illness, treatment may focus on oxygen support, relieving airway obstruction, or addressing infections or other underlying issues.

The common thread is that treatment always depends on the specific diagnosis. Working together, you and your veterinarian can identify the cause of your dog’s symptoms and create the most effective treatment plan.

A note on canine CPR

It’s natural to wonder whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can save your dog’s life in an emergency. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is designed to keep oxygenated blood moving through the body when the heart has stopped beating or breathing has stopped. CPR does not solve the underlying problem; the goal is to buy time until more advanced treatment can address the cause of the arrest. Since dogs typically go into cardiac arrest for very different reasons than people do, CPR usually isn’t as successful for them.

In people, CPR is often recommended when the heart or breathing stops because immediate bystander action can sometimes keep the person alive until advanced care for the underlying cause, often coronary artery disease, is available. In dogs, however, since the conditions that lead to cardiac or respiratory arrest are usually entirely different from those in humans, performing CPR rarely buys meaningful time to reach definitive care or change the overall outcome. Except for uncommon, sudden emergencies like electrocution, drowning, and choking, most diseases that cause cardiac arrest are too advanced to successfully treat by the time CPR is indicated.

For example, if a dog collapses and their heart stops due to decompensated heart failure or something acute like heat stroke, CPR may move blood and oxygen around the body for a short time. But it cannot reverse the underlying damage caused by the heat stroke or the failing heart. Because the cause itself remains uncorrected, CPR in these situations rarely changes the overall outcome.

Subsequently, canine CPR performed outside of a hospital setting is rarely effective. Survival rates are very low unless the underlying problem can be treated right away with veterinary equipment and expertise. For pet owners, the most important action in a crisis is to get your dog to a veterinary hospital as quickly and safely as possible. If CPR is attempted, it should never delay transport to a clinic where more effective treatment can be provided.

In a medical emergency, the most effective way to help your dog is through timely, in-person veterinary care. It’s understandable to want to search for answers online, but emergency signs such as collapse or difficulty breathing signal a situation that requires immediate medical attention. Many of the conditions that cause these symptoms can be stabilized or treated if they are addressed promptly. By seeking care quickly and sharing careful observations with the veterinary team, pet owners give their dogs the best chance at a positive outcome.Waiting to seek medical care can result in a worse prognosis or a situation that is more difficult to treat. If you think your dog might be having a heart problem, the safest next step is to call your veterinarian or an emergency clinic right away. Your dog is likely not having a heart attack, but may be experiencing a different emergency health issue. If your dog is not exhibiting emergency symptoms but you would still like prompt veterinary advice, an online vet can help answer questions and advise you on what to do next.

Can dogs have a heart attack?

True heart attacks from blocked arteries are extremely rare in dogs. More often, conditions like arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, or other medical problems cause “heart attack-like” symptoms such as breathing difficulty, collapse, or sudden death. These are medical emergencies that require immediate veterinary care, and early intervention can improve a dog’s chances of survival.

What are the symptoms of heart failure in dogs?

Signs of congestive heart failure in dogs include coughing (often at night or after exercise), labored or rapid breathing, fatigue, fainting, restlessness, bluish gums or tongue, and sometimes abdominal swelling. Because these symptoms overlap with other serious illnesses, a veterinary exam is needed for diagnosis and treatment. Prompt detection allows veterinarians to manage the disease and improve quality of life.

Can you treat a dog that has had a heart attack?

While true heart attacks are rare in dogs, sudden cardiac problems can sometimes be treated. Many cases involve arrhythmias, heart failure, fluid around the heart, or non-cardiac issues like heat stroke. Treatments may include medications, oxygen therapy, fluid drainage, or surgery, but immediate veterinary evaluation is critical. With proper care, some dogs can recover or have their symptoms managed effectively.

Disclaimer: This article, its content and its related references do not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If your pet is showing any symptoms that could indicate a medical emergency, please seek immediate emergency care.