Free Dog Heart Exams by Veterinary Cardiologists September 19 - 21 in Boulder, Englewood and Colorado Springs

ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Sept. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- From Thursday through Saturday, September 19 - 21, veterinary cardiologists are going to the dogs in Colorado. The Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will check dogs for heart disease in BoulderSeptember 19, in EnglewoodSeptember 20 and in Colorado SpringsSeptember 21.

In addition to providing free heart health screenings, the veterinary cardiologists – some of only a handful of canine heart health specialists in the United States – will be available to answer questions for 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 approximately 78 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 have never even heard of heart failure in dogs.

"Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure can significantly prolong and improve the quality of a dog's life," says Dr. Andrew Beardow, a veterinary cardiologist on 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 cardiologists on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will perform free dog heart screenings with stethoscopes 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. No appointment is necessary.

The veterinary cardiologists also will educate dog owners about 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. See event details below.

About Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs
Heart disease ultimately leads to congestive heart failure, when the heart fails to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. The Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour is designed to educate people about congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. While there is no cure for CHF, clinical study results have shown that dogs with the condition live nearly twice as long and enjoy a higher quality of life when diagnosed and treated during the early stages of heart failure.

About Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (St. Joseph, Mo.) – sponsors of www.YourDogsHeart.com –  is a subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation based in Ridgefield, Conn., and a member of the Boehringer Ingelheim group of companies.

The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 142 affiliates in 50 countries and more than 41,500 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine. For more information, please visit www.bi-vetmedica.com.

SOURCE YourDogsHeart.com