You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Loss of body weight, and loss of lean body mass in particular, is a common consequence in patients with congestive heart failure. It is called cardiac cachexia and in humans it is used as a prognostic indicator.

There are many reasons why patients with congestive heart failure develop accelerated weight loss. Heart failure induces a catabolic state in the patient due to sympathetic stimulation and increased metabolic activity of several tissues including the heart muscle itself. At the same time there may be reduced energy intake or impaired energy utilisation by the patient due to anorexia, inappetance, reduced gastrointestinal function, reduced liver function, or other major organ dysfunction.

Cytokines are known to play an important role in cardiac cachexia and in humans and dogs increased circulating concentrations of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) have been detected in patients with congestive heart failure . In one study in dogs with congestive heart failure due to mitral insufficiency or dilated cardiomyopathy  8/15 had detectable TNF concentrations in their plasma.

More studies are needed, but the detection of circulating TNF may be a useful diagnostic test and may prove to be a useful prognostic indicator in dogs, and once the role of TNF is determined medical intervention to prevent or reduce cardiac cachexia  might be feasible. 

TNF assays are now available for use in dogs

Last updated : January 2016