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Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour Stopping in Central Park to Provide Free Heart Examinations

Posted on: Thursday, 1 October 2009, 18:00 CDT

ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- This fall, dog owners in New York City will find that getting their pets' hearts checked is a walk in the park. Veterinarians on the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour will stop in Central Park on October 13 with a soundproof medical unit to perform free heart examinations for area dogs and to answer questions about canine heart disease.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091001/CG85941)

In addition to performing free heart health screenings in Central Park, veterinarians and veterinary cardiologists will provide information at the Canine Heart Health booth at the "Meet the Breeds" event on October 17 and 18.

Heart disease in dogs is almost as common as it is in humans. About 11 percent of the nearly 75 million dogs in the United States have heart disease, and that figure increases to as many as 60 percent among dogs over age 5 and certain predisposed breeds. Yet, a national survey shows that more than half of dog owners are unaware that their dog may be at risk of heart failure.

"Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure can significantly prolong and improve the quality of a dog's life," says Nigel Swift, board-certified veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim, sponsor of the Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour. "We look forward to reaching out to local dog owners to educate them about heart disease in dogs and their 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."

From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 13 at Central Park's Naumburg Bandshell, a local veterinary cardiologist will perform free dog heart screenings from inside a special soundproof mobile exam room. He will use a stethoscope to listen for heart murmurs and other irregular sounds as well as generally assess whether the dog shows any signs of heart disease.

The veterinarians on tour will also make sure that dog owners are aware of some of the common symptoms seen with heart disease: reduced willingness to walk, play or exercise; difficulty breathing; coughing; and loss of appetite. Dog owners can learn even more at www.yourdogsheart.com or by visiting the Canine Heart Health Booth at Meet the Breeds, being held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. October 17 and 18. Heart health screenings will not be conducted at this event, but veterinarians will be on hand to answer questions.

About Meet the Breeds

Hosted by the American Kennel Club and the Cat Fanciers' Association, this event is the world's largest showcase of dogs and cats, featuring 160 dog breeds and 41 cat breeds, demonstrations, shopping and children's events. Attendees may literally "meet the breeds" by petting the dogs, cats, puppies and kittens and learning about them directly from the experts.

Meet the Breeds will be held October 17 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th Street in New York. To purchase discounted, pre-event tickets, visit http://www.akc.org/meet_the_breeds/. Tickets purchased online before Saturday, October 17, are $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. As of October 17, tickets may be purchased online or at the door, when prices are $12 for adults and $8 for children.

About Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

The Mobile Dog Heart Health Tour was organized to teach people about congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. CHF leads to excessive water and salt retention, causing fluid buildup in the lungs. Heart disease affects more than 60 percent of aged dogs, and while there is no cure for CHF, clinical study results have shown that dogs with the condition can live longer, better quality lives with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

About BI

Boehringer Ingelheim is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of Vetmedin. Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (St. Joseph, Mo.), 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 135 affiliates in 47 countries and approximately 39,800 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.

In 2007, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of US $15.0 billion (10.9 billion euro) while spending approximately one-fifth of net sales from its largest business segment, prescription medicines, on research and development.

For more information, please visit www.bi-vetmedica.com.

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim

Source: PR Newswire

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