Circulatory system disorders

circulatory disorders

any disorder/condition that affects the circulatory system

can arise from problems with the heart, blood vessels or the blood

examples: mitral valve (bicuspid valve) disease (MVD), heart murmurs and Von Willebrand disease

Mitral valve (bicuspid valve) disease (MVD)

causes mitral valve to degenerate, so it does not fully close with each pumping action of the heart and causes blood to flow backwards

eventually worsens and the valve collapses, causing heart failure

symptoms of mitral valve disease

heart murmur, shortness of breath, coughing, reduced exercise ability

mitral valve disease treatment

drugs to remove excess fluid and to ease the burden on the heart

low-sodium diet and exercise restriction 

location of mitral valve diagram

common animal mitral valve disease occurs in

Cavalier king Charles spaniels

cause of heart murmurs

abnormal blood flow through the heart from an abnormal heart structure (problems with valves or chambers)

symptoms of heart murmurs

vary depending on the extent of the structural problem

coughing, weakness and problems exercising

treatment of heart murmurs

some can resolve themselves

diet

medication

surgery

Von Willebrand disease cause

insufficient amounts of a clotting factor, resulting in blood not clotting properly

types of Von Willebrand disease

type 1 - least severe

type 3 - most severe

symptoms of Von Willebrand disease

unexplained bleeding, blood in urine or faeces, excessive bleeding from minor wounds or surgeries, lameness in joints

treatments for Von Willebrand disease

no treatment

management: reducing potential for bleeding to occur and managing bleeds that do occur