---
title: "Heart Disease in Dogs UK"
description: "UK guide — coughing, exercise intolerance, and resting breathlessness may signal heart disease. Heart disease is common in older UK dogs."
url: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/heart-disease-in-dogs-uk"
canonical: "https://pethealth.org.uk/health/heart-disease-in-dogs-uk"
date_published: "2026-06-25"
date_modified: "2026-06-25"
source: "PETHEALTH+"
---

# Heart Disease in Dogs UK

**Heart disease is common in older UK dogs** — especially small breeds like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Warning signs include **coughing, tiring on walks, and breathlessness at rest**. Early vet diagnosis and medication can significantly improve quality of life.

## What is heart disease in dogs?

Heart disease means the heart **cannot pump blood efficiently**. In UK dogs, the most common forms include:

- **Mitral valve disease (MVD)** — leaky heart valve; very common in small breeds
- **Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)** — weakened heart muscle; seen in Dobermanns, Boxers, and some large breeds
- **Congenital defects** — present from birth in some puppies

Heart disease is **different from heartworm** — a parasite spread by mosquitoes, rare in native UK dogs. See [Heartworm vs lungworm](/health/heartworm-vs-lungworm-dogs-uk).

## Symptoms to watch for

According to the PDSA and Blue Cross, signs often develop **gradually**:

| Symptom | What it may mean |
|---------|------------------|
| **Coughing** | Especially at night or after lying down — see [Why is my dog coughing?](/health/why-is-my-dog-coughing) |
| **Exercise intolerance** | Stopping on walks that used to be easy |
| **Resting breathlessness** | Fast breathing when asleep — see [Why is my dog panting heavily?](/health/why-is-my-dog-panting-heavily) |
| **Reduced appetite & weight loss** | See [Unexplained weight loss](/health/dog-weight-loss-unexplained) |
| **Fainting or collapse** | Reduced blood flow to brain |
| **Swollen belly** | Fluid accumulation (ascites) from heart failure |
| **Pale or blue gums** | Emergency — insufficient oxygen |

Dogs may **hide early illness** — subtle slowing on walks is often the first sign owners notice.

## Breeds at higher risk

| Breed / type | Common concern |
|--------------|----------------|
| **Cavalier King Charles Spaniel** | Mitral valve disease — very prevalent |
| **Dobermann, Boxer** | Dilated cardiomyopathy |
| **Older small breeds** | MVD with age |
| **Giant breeds** | Some cardiomyopathies |

Screening programmes exist for some breeds — ask your vet if your breed is at risk.

## How heart disease is diagnosed

Your vet may use:

- **Stethoscope** — heart murmurs and rhythm abnormalities
- **Chest X-rays** — heart size and lung fluid
- **Echocardiogram (heart scan)** — gold standard for valve and muscle function
- **ECG and blood tests** — including cardiac biomarkers (NT-proBNP)
- **Blood pressure** — in some cases

Many murmurs are detected at **routine annual checks** before dogs show symptoms — early monitoring helps.

## Treatment and management

Treatment depends on the type and stage:

- **Daily medication** — diuretics, ACE inhibitors, pimobendan, and others as prescribed
- **Low-salt diet** — sometimes recommended
- **Controlled exercise** — maintain fitness without overexertion
- **Regular rechecks** — medication doses adjusted over time

Heart disease is usually **managed rather than cured** — but many dogs live good-quality lives for years with treatment.

## When to seek emergency care

Go to an emergency vet immediately for:

- **Collapse or fainting**
- **Severe breathing difficulty** or open-mouth distress in a dog that does not normally pant like this
- **Blue or grey gums**
- **Sudden abdominal swelling** with weakness

## Prevention and monitoring

- **Annual health checks** — stethoscope exam catches murmurs early
- **Dental care** — [dental disease](/health/dog-dental-care-uk) links to heart health via bacteria
- **Healthy weight** — [obesity](/health/dog-obesity-uk) strains the heart
- **Breed screening** where recommended

## Related guides

- [Why is my dog panting heavily?](/health/why-is-my-dog-panting-heavily)
- [Why is my dog coughing?](/health/why-is-my-dog-coughing)
- [Senior pet care UK](/health/senior-pet-care-uk)
- [Lungworm in dogs UK](/health/lungworm-in-dogs-uk)

## FAQs

### What are signs of heart disease in dogs?

Coughing (especially at night or after rest), tiring easily on walks, resting breathlessness, reduced appetite, weight loss, and fainting. A swollen belly may indicate fluid accumulation.

### Which dog breeds get heart disease?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are prone to mitral valve disease. Dobermanns and Boxers can develop dilated cardiomyopathy. Any breed can develop heart problems — especially with age.

### Is heart disease in dogs treatable?

Many forms can be managed with lifelong medication, diet, and exercise modification — improving quality of life. Early diagnosis before severe symptoms helps most.

### When is heart disease an emergency?

Collapse, blue or grey gums, severe breathing difficulty, or sudden abdominal swelling need emergency veterinary care.

## Sources

- [PDSA — Heart problems in dogs](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub)
- [Blue Cross — Heart disease in dogs](https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice)
- [RSPCA — Dog health](https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/health)

Canonical HTML: https://pethealth.org.uk/health/heart-disease-in-dogs-uk
Last modified: 2026-06-25