Degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common heart disease in dogs, affecting millions worldwide and requiring careful welfare-focused management as it progresses to heart failure.
The welfare implications of DMVD span years. In early stages, dogs may have no symptoms but face the stress of regular veterinary monitoring. As disease progresses, coughing, exercise intolerance, and respiratory distress from pulmonary edema cause significant discomfort. Heart failure episodes where fluid accumulates in the lungs cause breathlessness that is acutely distressing. End-stage cardiac disease requires careful quality-of-life assessment and compassionate end-of-life planning to avoid prolonging suffering beyond what medication can comfortably manage.