With dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) the heart muscle becomes thinner than normal, is weakened, and results in poor pumping ability, valve leakage and arrhythmia. This loss of the heartâs ability to properly contract is a common acquired disease of the heart in dogs.
Collateral Vessel Closure. Collateral vessels are abnormal blood vessels that connect the aorta with the pulmonary arteries. The aorta is a blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to arteries throughout the body. Pulmonary arteries are the vessels that transfer blood from the heart back to the lungs for oxygen.
Coronary arteries are blood vessels that provide oxygen-rich blood and other nutrients to the heart muscle. The coronary arteries attach to and wrap around the heart 's surface. The left coronary artery branches off into smaller arteries.The most prominent ones are the:1  Left anterior descending artery, which supplies blood to the front of the heart. 2  Left circumflex artery, which encircles the heart muscle, supplying blood to the back of the heart.he left coronary artery branches off into smaller arteries. The most prominent ones are the: 1  Left anterior descending artery, which supplies blood to the front of the heart. 2  Left circumflex artery, which encircles the heart muscle, supplying blood to the back of the heart.