MMVD (myxomatous mitral valve disease) is one of the most common heart diseases in pets, particularly in smaller breed dogs. Whilst a diagnosis of MMVD in your pet can understandably be upsetting, our vets wanted to provide the good news about how we can manage this disease and maximise your pet’s quality of life.

What is MMVD?

MMVD involves the progressive degeneration of the mitral valve within the left side of the heart. This valve degeneration causes turbulence in the blood flow through that side of the heart, leading to gradual enlargement of the left atrium and ventricle (heart chambers).

What symptoms do animals with MMVD show?

As the left side of the heart becomes increasingly damaged and enlarged, affected animals can develop signs of heart failure. These signs can be due to:

• The back-up of blood within the nearby blood vessels of the lungs and liver, leading to fluid leakage into the chest and abdominal cavity
  • This can cause symptoms such as coughing, breathlessness, reduced exercise ability, and tummy swelling
• The failure of the heart to effectively pump blood around the body
  • This can cause symptoms such as fainting or paleness of the gums

Can MMVD be treated?

Whilst very early MMVD does not normally require treatment (as the heart can adjust to cope with milder disease), once the disease reaches a certain point, long-term medical treatment will improve the pet’s quality of life and longevity.

Medical treatment usually involves the administration of heart support medications, diuretic medications to clear excess fluid from the body, and a reduced salt diet to help maintain healthy blood pressure.

In pets diagnosed with MMVD, our vets can assess their medication requirements through regular examination, blood pressure checks, blood tests and imaging of the lungs and heart (e.g. chest x-rays).

To chat more about monitoring your pet’s cardiac health, book an appointment with our knowledgeable vets. We heart good quality of life for all pets!