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Treatment

This disease is not aggressively treated in dogs. If the heart rate is being maintained at a level at which the heart can pump an adequate amount of blood for normal body functions, generally no treatment will be required. If an underlying disease is responsible for the AV block, your veterinarian will treat it accordingly.

Living and Management

There is no special nursing care that is required for these patients. If symptoms persist, strict cage rest is often recommended. Your veterinarian may also recommend a special diet for your dog if there is an underlying disease that will benefit from dietary restrictions. It should be noted that if an underlying cause is responsible for the AV block, it will need to be treated in order to resolve the problem. You will need to ask your veterinarian about various options available for treatment.

In some cases medication is not enough for long-term treatment of this problem. For such persistent cases, a permanent pacemaker (a small device that is placed under the skin of your dog’s thoracic [chest] cavity to help control abnormal heart rhythms) is required for long-term management. You may need to visit your veterinarian frequently for evaluation of your dog’s current cardiac health status and progress, as this problem can lead to further serious complications if it is not monitored regularly.