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.
The left ventricle receives the clean blood from the left atrium and pumps it into the aorta, which is the largest artery in the body. The aorta then carries the blood to the rest of the body. Another difference between the atrium and ventricles is the valves they are attached to. Heart valves serve as a sort of seal, which open when blood is pumped from one area to the other and closes to prevent the blood from leaking backward.