Signs your pet may have heart disease include increased respiratory rate (called tachypnea) and / or effort (
called dyspnea) when at rest, collapse or fainting episodes, weakness and lethargy, reduced exercise tolerance, abdominal swelling, cough, blue discoloration of the gums or tongue (called cyanosis), swelling of the limbs or head, distension or pulsation of the jugular veins in the neck.
Guatemalan avocados contain a substance
called persin, which can cause
dyspnea, pulmonary edema, and pleural and pericardial effusion in goats and possibly dogs.