Heart disease in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Heart disease is a problem with your dog's heart.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.
Keep fresh water available.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

Heart disease is a relatively common problem in dogs.^[1] Coughing, breathlessness and low energy are common symptoms of a heart problem.^[1]

Signs

Coughing
Breathlessness, heavy breathing or excessive panting
Low energy
Slowing down on walks
A heart murmur
Collapse or fainting
Weight loss
Abdominal swelling

Causes and risk factors

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Dobermann
Dachshund
Great Dane

How a vet finds out

A vet listens for a heart murmur.

How vets treat it

Monitoring
Medication
Surgery
The treatment depends entirely on the type of heart problem.

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“Coughing ; Breathlessness, heavy breathing or excessive panting ; Lethargy (low energy) ; Exercise intolerance (slowing down on walks) ; A heart murmur (which will be heard by your vet) ; Collapse/fainting ; Weight loss ; Abdominal swelling”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What signs can heart disease cause in dogs?

Signs can include coughing, breathlessness, low energy, slowing down on walks, a heart murmur, collapse or fainting, weight loss and abdominal swelling.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Always contact your vet if your dog has symptoms of a heart problem, and contact them immediately if your dog is struggling to breathe.^[1]

How is heart disease treated?

Treatment depends entirely on the type of heart problem; some heart conditions do not need treatment in the early stages and may be monitored.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages

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