There has been a surge of media activity about a new way of using a heart drug to give affected dogs extra life. It really is a game changer for the way that such animals are treated, and it will give an extra 15 months of good quality life to many animals. So far, so good.
However in my Telegraph online piece today, I suggest an alternative view. While this new treatment regime is groundbreaking and impressive, wouldn’t it make equally good sense to promote a better policy for breeding affected breeds of dog, so that less dogs fell ill with leaky heart valves in the first place?
When they introduced such a breeding policy for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in Denmark, the incidence of heart disease in the breed reduced by over 70% in a decade.
To find more about this, read my blog at the Telegraph by following the link below.
Please note that I am unable to answer veterinary questions in comments. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's health it is always better to contact your vet.