Heart disease,and irreversible disease is one of the top three causes of non-accidental death in dogs. The most common cardiac disease is chronic degenerative valvular disease, which leads to heart failure.
Heart disease causes the heart to enlarge, causing loss of efficiency. The heart begins to hold more fluid than it should and this is where problems usually begin. For this reason, veterinarians recommend feeding dogs a low-sodium food that will help reduce fluid build-up and make it easier for their hearts to work effectively.
Hypertension is a common serious disease in cats and dogs. Most digs suffering renal disease have hypertension.