Free Dog Heart Checks at ‘Bark in the Park’
Fans are invited to enjoy the game with their pooches on July 25 at the “Bark in the Park” event. During the special promotion that encourages fans to bring their dogs to the game, veterinary cardiologists on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will perform free dog heart examinations inside a mobile medical unit at the T-Bones Stadium.
Since early 2009, veterinarians on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour have checked the hearts of more than 5,000 dogs and found a previously undetected heart murmur in approximately 20 percent of them.
In addition to providing free heart health screenings, veterinarians help to educate dog owners about heart disease – a common ailment that is almost as prevalent in dogs as it is in humans.
About 11 percent of the nearly 75 million dogs in the United States have heart disease, and that figure increases to as many as 60 percent among aged dogs and certain predisposed breeds. Yet, a national survey shows that more than half of dog owners are unaware that their dog may be at risk of heart failure, informs Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica.
“Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure can significantly prolong and improve the quality of a dog’s life,” says Dr. Kevin Christiansen, DVM, a Kansas City veterinarian with the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour.
“We look forward to educating local dog owners about heart disease in dogs and the treatment options. By emphasizing the importance of annual veterinary examinations and early diagnosis of heart disease, we hope to help more dogs live longer and better lives.”
Veterinary specialists will perform free dog heart screenings from inside a special mobile exam room and during the game in the dog-friendly seating sections.
They will use a stethoscope to listen for heart murmurs and other irregular sounds as well as generally assess whether or not the dogs show any signs of heart disease.
The veterinarians at the T-Bones Stadium will also make sure that dog owners are aware of the most common symptoms of heart disease: reduced willingness to walk or exercise, difficulty breathing, coughing, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Dog owners can learn more at www.YourDogsHeart.com.
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is a leading pharmaceutical company. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates with 142 affiliates in 50 countries.
