Taking a Breath: Palpitations and Anxiety in Your Pet
Just like humans, our furry companions can experience heart palpitations or those moments when your pet’s heart seems to skip a beat or race unexpectedly.
While these episodes can be alarming, it’s important to understand their potential causes and implications for your pet’s heart health. In today’s article, delve into all things flutters, poundings, and panic with us at Coast to Coast Cardiology.
Heart Palpitations in Dogs and Cats
Yes, pets get heart palpitations, too. These palpitations are characterized by an irregular heartbeat, which may feel like a fluttering, pounding, or racing sensation, but in pets, these sensations can be subtle and difficult to detect. However, you might notice your dog or cat suddenly becoming restless, panting excessively, or exhibiting signs of discomfort.
Several factors can contribute to heart palpitations in pets:
- Underlying heart conditions: Certain heart diseases, such as cardiomyopathy (“enlarged heart”) or valve disease, can disrupt the heart’s rhythm.
- Electrolyte imbalances: Imbalances in minerals like potassium or magnesium can affect the heart’s electrical activity.
- Medications: Some medications can cause temporary changes in heart rate.
- Stress and anxiety: Yes, dogs and cats can experience anxiety, and it can manifest as an increased heart rate or palpitations.
Implications of Heart Palpitations and Anxiety in Pets
Anxiety in pets, stemming from separation, noise, changes in routine, or medical conditions, releases stress hormones that can increase heart rate and, if chronic, contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease.
While occasional heart palpitations, often linked to stress or excitement, are usually harmless, frequent episodes warrant veterinary attention to rule out underlying conditions. It’s important to distinguish palpitations, which are temporary and irregular, from arrhythmias, which involve a more consistent disruption of the heart’s rhythm and may require specific treatment.
Treatment and Management
If your pet experiences heart palpitations, consult your veterinarian for a thorough evaluation. They may recommend diagnostic tests, such as an electrocardiogram, ECG, or echocardiogram, to assess your pet’s heart function and identify any underlying causes.
Treatment for heart palpitations will depend on the underlying cause. If a heart condition is diagnosed, your veterinarian will recommend appropriate medications or therapies. For anxiety-related palpitations, the key is to manage your pet’s stress level, which may involve behavioral modification techniques, environmental enrichment, and, in some cases, anti-anxiety medications.
If you have any worries about your pet’s heart health, the best action you can take is to visit us! At Coast to Coast Cardiology, we have ten distinct locations, but we deliver on one goal no matter what: treating the patient, not just the signs. To book an appointment, contact us online or call 844-582-3827 today.
