Heart condition

[Bardie24]

Hi my dog has been on heart meds for months for type 4 heart failure today he has took I'll very lethargic and been back to vets she said no change in heart and breathing was fine and took bloods to test kidneys etc everything ok tonite there is no change and is struggling getting up panting etc and just lying in floor with limited movement

[tonyb286]

Hi Laurie. It's great to hear from you ... and the update has truly lifted my heart this day. I had some fairly upsetting news from my MedHelp friends this last couple of days, so to have good news is uplifting.

Well done to you - and well done Mylo. At the age he is, it is truly a wonder he got through the last episode, and that's down to you Laurie. You are doing so much for him. The tail-wag is certainly his way of saying Gee Mom, I love you ... life with you is great.

Keep up the good work. Give Mylo a huge hug from me. Tony x

[Bazingala]

Hi Tony,

I know it has been a while since I posted.  I am happy to say that Mylo is doing unbelievably well!  :)  

He has not had any rapid breathing, heart racing, coughing episodes in I can't tell you how long!.  I feel as though this is truly a miracle.  I do have him on his Vetmedin, Lasix, Enalapril and Denamarin every day.  I still syringe feed him the Hill's prescription food blended up in a blender with Pedialyte.  The only reason syringe feed it to him is because he absolutely despises the taste.  To tell you the truth, the smell alone is awful so I don't blame him one bit....lol.  I do this (as you know) so he gets his vitamins that he needs.  His appetite is back in full force and I now figured out that he can eat cooked chicken.  I get him the organic chicken filets and cook them for him and feed him in small portions.  He does also like low sodium chipped ham which I give him a wee bit for a treat.  I totally cut out on beef since I think that might have been causing him digestive issues. He still has some episodes of diarrhea, but they are not very often.  I wonder if his diet could have also contributed to his rapid breathing episodes since I cut out all beef?

I am thrilled to say that Mylo's bark is back in full force.  He barks at me while I am cooking his chicken as to say "hurry up"..lol  His tail is wagging again. He also trots around the house more than he was and still has a lot of spunk.  

He does walk a little slow at times but I am just so blessed that he is still here with me.  He does have some stiffness but  I have not gave him the metacam since he had that bad episode in August.  I just have the tramadol and only had to give it to him a couple of times.  He is no longer shivering (I think this was due to the back issue now).  

I just celebrated my birthday Saturday and Mylo staying stabilized is more than I can wish for.  The sound of his bark, wagging of his tail and prominent trot around the house just makes me so happy!

I truly am lucky to continue to have my best friend Mylo with me. Each and every day is a blessing with him :)

I just wanted to give you an update and thank you for all your helpful advice! :)

Thanks Tony.  Have a wonderful day!

~Laurie
  

[tonyb286]

Hi Laurie. I am fairly certain Mylo's shivering is connected with his heart condition. It sounds very much like a circulation problem (blood failing to get to the extremities). There may be no easy resolve to this, other than to do exactly what you are doing, keeping Mylo warm and out of any cold drafts, etc. It is of course something you should raise with your vet, as all information is useful in helping him decide the best way of treating the problems. I would still insist on the bloodwork though - I find it very confusing why he wouldn't be happy about doing it, as surely the more info he and you have, the better, even if it only tells you things you already know. Hoping for a good day tomorrow for you both. Hugs to you and Mylo. Tony x

[Bazingala]

Hi Tony,

Thanks so much for responding.

Mylo is still under the weather today.  He is slow moving but his tail is still wagging.  He didn't follow me around this morning.  I took him out and he is urinating but has not made a bowel movement yet today.  I know this is probably normal considering the amount he went the night before.  

I did feed him his "ick" Hills Prescription Food only once yesterday.  I gave him a minimal amount of chicken (yes, he still has an appetite).  However, he is shivering like crazy at times and I lay a towel over his body with a heating pad on top and he seems to stop.  I then take it off because the towel retains the heat for a little while.  I am not sure what is causing this.  This morning, his little paws were cold to the touch and so were his ears.  His chest was also a little cool.  Not sure if this is a circulation issue.  His gums are still pink but gosh only knows what is going on inside. I know sometimes they shiver in pain as well.  It seems as though the heating pad does stop the shivers and he seems relaxed.    

I totally agree to live in the moment. If people could only have the heart of a dog, this world would be a better place.

I am so happy when Mylo has his good days that I wish I could stop time and wish he would remain that way.  Then along comes a couple bad days and is just a kick in my heart and it is so painful.  I love that little guy something awful.  I keep my spirits up around him because I know he senses when I am upset.  I have to admit that when he is laying down sleeping on  one of his "bad" days, I sit outside on our balcony just cry like a baby.  I guess I am only human.

I can't wait to get home from work to check on my little man. He knows Mummy is home to take care of him.  I think I suffer from separation anxiety!  ...lol    My husband is wonderful helping out with him but Mylo is used to his Mum's care!  I feel like I can sense what is going on with him.  Especially, lately when I see him shiver.  I take out the heating pad and set him all up and I swear he lays his head down and has a smile on his face as to say "yep, she always knows what I need".  I know, I sound like a crazy lady!  

I am in the process of looking for another vet for a second opinion.  I have asked some friends and co-workers and they say the vet that I have is the best one in town.  Every time I mention his name, every single person RAVES about how good he is.  

Thanks again for letting me cry on your shoulder and asking you for advice. It truly helps.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful evening!

~Laurie

  
  

[tonyb286]

Hi Laurie. Try not to fret too much over this. As you rightly say, given his age and combination of meds and his physical issues, there's going to be good days and rough ones. He has had a few good days, so perhaps no wonder there's now a slight set-back. This happens to us humans (of a certain age) as well. The aim can only truly be to try to achieve more good days than bad, but keeping in mind there will be the occasional bad one. The bad days may increase as time goes on ... and all we can do is learn a lesson from our best friends, live for the moment.

It could quite easily be a little too much chicken all at once that has caused this episode. Small amounts more often will be tolerated much easier - and cause less stress on his digestive system - and consequentially, less stress on his heart and other organs. I don't blame you one little bit for becoming over-enthusiastic and 'giving in' to Mylo wanting ' a bit more' ... unfortunately, you will just have to try to prevent him from over-indulging, regardless of the expression or sounds he might present you with.

On other matters ... I wouldn't cut back on the Lasix. This is important to help remove excess fluids. Excess fluids will almost certainly cause Mylo exacerbated problems with his heart condition, so removing any build up of fluid is essential. It is a fact that all these meds will be having an impact on his liver and kidneys ... but you can only try to balance things, and for the time being, the control and management of his heart condition is a bigger priority.

Finally, yes, you should absolutely insist on bloodwork being done on a regular basis, and certainly every 3 months at least. If your vet isn't prepared to do this (can't think why, considering he will earn money for doing it, it's not like he's doing it for nothing is it), then look around for someone that will.

If Mylo's digestive system has settled down tomorrow, first thing, then you can be fairly certain it was just over-indulgence. As gentle as chicken is on the digestion, excess can still cause problems, so just try to feed the same normal amount split into lots of smaller portions. Feeding every couple of hours would be ideal, but this depends on your other commitments, work, etc., so just try to work out the best way of doing things.

Okay ... enough from me ... hoping you and Mylo have a better day tomorrow. Tony x

[Bazingala]

Good Morning Tony,

Had a rough night last night with Mylo.  When I came home from work, he was all bubbly and wanting his chicken cooked for him.  I made him a chicken breast (thinly sliced) and gave him half of it.  He gobbled it all down.  Barked for more.  I gave him a wee bit more.  A little while after eating, he didn't act right.  I believe it was an upset stomach (as you are aware, we know our dogs).  His stomach was rumbling a bit and his tail was between his legs.  I took him outside.  He urinated but did not make a bowel movement.  Each time I took him out, no BM just urinated.  He laid around the rest of the evening.  

Well, in the middle of the night, I heard a sound from Mylo.  I am not sure if it was the sound of him trying to vomit because it was so quick (I swear, if he sneezes I jump right up out of bed to check on him!).   He was up and a bit restless (like he wanted to go outside). My husband took him out and he didn't make a bowel movement or vomit.  He brought him back inside. Mylo rested a bit, again restless so my husband took him out yet again.  Once again, nothing.  Back to bed again, he became restless yet again. I got up and it was too late, he had diarrhea on the bedroom floor before we could take him outside (mind you, we live in a condo on the beach and have to take an elevator to the dog walk area so the poor guy has to hold it till we get there).  The vet had given me Metronidazole when he had episodes before, so I gave him a tablet around 6:30 a.m. this morning. I also gave him pedialyte.  

My husband called about an hour ago and said that Mylo had another bout with diarrhea.  He was at the front door (poor thing).  It was more runny than the first time. Neither time was it black or tarry, it was brown.   I am concerned because I thought the Metronidazole would stop this.

I am thinking that maybe since Mylo has just been eating his Hills Prescription Diet foot (the c/d and w/d mixed with pedialyte) that maybe I might have jumped he gun and gave him too much chicken.  Maybe just a little too anxious to have him eating again and overdid it.  Like I mentioned above, he started acting weird after I fed him the second bit of chicken.

I am praying that this isn't the beginning of liver or kidney failure.  His gums and tongue are pink and his eyes are white and not yellow.  

I have even cut down on his Lasix to 1/2 tablet twice a day to save his little liver and kidneys because he is on so much medication.  He has not had congestion in his chest nor coughing. I cannot cut down on his other meds (Enalapril , Vetmedin or Denamarin (which for his liver) because it would be too risky.  I am vigilant in his daily check of his vitals, chest congestion, etc.so I feel that cutting down on the Lasix wouldn't hurt him (which it hasn't).

As you know, his vet has not done blood work on him lately.  When I request it, he seems to just guess what is wrong.  I am starting to think that he believes that since Mylo is 15 with CHF that it isn't worth the time.  It is to me!  I would love to try to find another vet but as I said, this is a small town and I might have to travel a bit to get a new one. I don't care.  Mylo is worth it!  

My little Mylo has beat all the odds thus far and I feel if there is something that I can do to be proactive in his care I will do anything.

Let me know your thoughts, if you don't mind.  

Thank you!  I hope your day is going well!