Heart Failure, Left-Sided

Description

Left-sided congestive heart failure involves volume overload of the left atrium, pulmonary veins and pulmonary capillaries, manifesting as pulmonary oedema.

In both dogs and cats pulmonary oedema is a sign of left-sided congestive heart failure. In the cat pleural effusion may also be a side of left-sided congestive heart failure, whereas in the dog pleural effusion is always a sign of right-sided congestive heart failure. This species difference occurs because a proportion of the visceral pleural surface drains into the pulmonary veins, and this anatomic arrangement is more prominent in cats.

Causes

1. Degenerative mitral valve disease

2. Mitral endocarditis

2. Cardiomyopathies