[Betsy Iole]

Inherited heart disease, like cardiomyopathy, is not a significant problem in bassets. Bassets, like many older dogs, can develop valvular heart disease, as they age.

Chronic Valvular Heart Disease in Dogs, PetPlace.com

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a condition characterized by degeneration and thickening of the heart valves. Valvular heart disease is very common and represents the most important of adult canine heart diseases.

Valvular heart disease is a progressive disease that is common in older dogs. Commonly affected dogs include poodles, Yorkshire terriers, schnauzers, cocker spaniels and small mixed-breeds. Some breeds, such as Cavalier King Charles spaniels, can be affected early in life.

VHD can affect a dog causing valve malfunction, which can lead to heart enlargement or heart failure with accumulation of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema) or the abdomen (ascites).

Chronic Valvular Disease

Chronic valvular disease can be thought of simply as 'leaky valves', caused when the moving parts of the heart valves thicken and harden with age. The result is more or less the same as when a valve in your central heating system starts to wear out: increasingly poor circulation

[ February 04, 2006, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: Betsy Iole ]