Can congestive heart failure in pets truly come out of nowhere?

Question

Can chf occur out of no where? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Male | unneutered | 1811 years and 7 months old | 40 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

Technically, congestive heart failure (CHF) does not come out of no where since underlying heart disease must be present. However, sometimes these first signs of heart disease are very subtle and can only be detected by an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart). Some heart diseases do not even cause physical exam findings, such as heart murmurs, arrhythmias, pulse changes, or changes in the lungs. All of that said, many cases of CHF in dogs and cats can cause changes quite suddenly, such as coughing, exercise intolerance, lethargy, restlessness, and difficulty breathing, making it appear that CHF has come from no where. I hope that explanation helps to provide some clarity.

Can congestive heart failure in pets truly come out of nowhere?

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