Changes

*** A condition specific to the dog.

*** A condition specific to the dog.

====Mucoid Degeneration in the Heart Valves of the Dog====

====Endocardiosis====

* Tends to affects middle-aged and older dogs.

* Tends to affects middle-aged and older dogs.

* Primarily occurs in the mitral valve.

* Primarily occurs in the mitral valve.

* Results in slowly developing heart failure

* Results in slowly developing heart failure

**The valves are swollen and misshapen, so the heart cannot pump blood effectively to the circulation from the left ventricle. *** A substantial proportion of the blood passes back into the left atrium, compromising the filling from the pulmonary vein. **** Leads to back pressure on the pulmonary capillaries with oedema formation in the lungs.  

**The valves are swollen and misshapen, so the heart cannot pump blood effectively to the circulation from the left ventricle. *** A substantial proportion of the blood passes back into the left atrium, compromising the filling from the pulmonary vein. **** Leads to back pressure on the pulmonary capillaries with oedema formation in the lungs.