28
Jan
Jan
Vets to Provide Free Dog Heart Checks in Miami Beach
We're always being told to make sure we have a healthy heart, but what about our dogs? From 30th January, The 2011 Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour kicks off and is heading to Miami Beach for an afternoon of free heart health examinations at Flamingo Dog Park. From 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday certified veterinary cardiologists will perform on-site heart screenings in a soundproof medical unit, as well as educate owners about canine heart disease.
Since early 2009, veterinarians on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour have checked the hearts of more than 5,000 dogs around the country and found a previously undetected heart murmur in approximately 20 percent of them. In addition to providing free heart health exams, veterinarians teach dog owners about heart disease – a common ailment that is about as prevalent in dogs as it is in humans.
About 11 percent of the nearly 75 million dogs in the United States have heart disease, and that figure increases to as many as 60 percent among aged dogs and certain predisposed breeds. Yet, a national survey shows that more than half of dog owners are unaware that their dogs may be at risk of heart failure.
"Early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease can significantly prolong and improve the quality of a dog's life," said Dr. Prosek, a Miami Beach area veterinary cardiologist with the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour. "We look forward to educating local dog owners about heart disease in dogs and the treatment options. By emphasizing the importance of annual veterinary examinations and early diagnosis of heart disease, we hope to help more dogs live longer and better lives."
Veterinary specialists will provide free dog heart screenings from 1 to 5 p.m. on January 30 at Flamingo Dog Park, 1400 Michigan Avenue at 14th Street in Miami Beach. Certified veterinary cardiologists on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour use a stethoscope to listen for heart murmurs and other irregular sounds, as well as generally assess whether or not the dogs show any signs of heart disease.
Veterinarians will also educate dog owners about the most common symptoms of heart disease: reduced willingness to walk or exercise, difficulty breathing, coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss. Dog owners can learn more at www.YourDogsHeart.com.
Talking Point Would dog owners welcome a Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour in the UK? Let us know!
About 11 percent of the nearly 75 million dogs in the United States have heart disease, and that figure increases to as many as 60 percent among aged dogs and certain predisposed breeds. Yet, a national survey shows that more than half of dog owners are unaware that their dogs may be at risk of heart failure.
"Early diagnosis and treatment of heart disease can significantly prolong and improve the quality of a dog's life," said Dr. Prosek, a Miami Beach area veterinary cardiologist with the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour. "We look forward to educating local dog owners about heart disease in dogs and the treatment options. By emphasizing the importance of annual veterinary examinations and early diagnosis of heart disease, we hope to help more dogs live longer and better lives."
Veterinary specialists will provide free dog heart screenings from 1 to 5 p.m. on January 30 at Flamingo Dog Park, 1400 Michigan Avenue at 14th Street in Miami Beach. Certified veterinary cardiologists on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour use a stethoscope to listen for heart murmurs and other irregular sounds, as well as generally assess whether or not the dogs show any signs of heart disease.
Veterinarians will also educate dog owners about the most common symptoms of heart disease: reduced willingness to walk or exercise, difficulty breathing, coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss. Dog owners can learn more at www.YourDogsHeart.com.Talking Point Would dog owners welcome a Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour in the UK? Let us know!
