Luke, a border collie, has a problem in the left side of the heart. What other problem will likely occur?

Luke, a border collie, has a problem in the left side of the heart. What other problem will likely occur?

• A. Nerve Degeneration
• B. Lung congestion
• C. Osteoporosis
• D. Ascites

Answer: (B)

When the left side of the heart can’t pump effectively, blood backs up into the lungs. This raises pressure in the pulmonary vessels and causes fluid to leak into the lung tissue, leading to lung congestion (pulmonary edema). That explains why lung congestion is the likely issue in Luke. Nerve degeneration and osteoporosis are not direct results of left-sided heart failure, and ascites is more typical of right-sided heart failure where fluid accumulates in the abdomen. So the most likely consequence of a left-sided heart problem is lung congestion.

When the left side of the heart can’t pump effectively, blood backs up into the lungs. This raises pressure in the pulmonary vessels and causes fluid to leak into the lung tissue, leading to lung congestion (pulmonary edema). That explains why lung congestion is the likely issue in Luke. Nerve degeneration and osteoporosis are not direct results of left-sided heart failure, and ascites is more typical of right-sided heart failure where fluid accumulates in the abdomen. So the most likely consequence of a left-sided heart problem is lung congestion.