I need advice about my dogs congestive heart failure.

[Kelsielu]

My dog about 15 years old, and has e. She was diagnosed about a year ago. And the vet just put her on water pills. That's all she is on still. About every two months she goes through these coughing/hacking spells. Is this normal for dogs with CHF? We have tried EVERYTHING to help, but NOTHING works.
I just want to know if she is suffering or in pain! The vet I'm going to just doesn't seem to know what she is doing. Of course nether do I so I really shouldn't be talking. I really want to take her to a different vet for a 2nd opinion but worried about the cost. The hacking spells are becoming more often and lasting longer, and becoming harder and harder to keep her from coughing (with cough syrup etc). The one she is going through right now has lasted 2 weeks. The vet gave us antibiotics and a strong cough syrup. I also upped the water pills. Its not as bad, but not completely gone. She's just doped up 24/7 now. I just feel helpless.  I don't want to see her suffer, if she is. I just lost one of my other dogs a week ago, seeing her go though this is just killing me. IS SHE IN PAIN? When she goes through these spells does that mean she cant breath? cause I can hear it in her chest. like a weez. PLEASE help. I'm just at a loss of what to do anymore.
But, when she isn't going through these spells she is as happy as can be. Running around like a puppy.

[deb2u]

I just had my 15 yr old dog to my vet  she said heart  3 times larger then normal , fluid in lungs ,gave her injection of Lasix and gave me 7 pills of Lasix ,go back next Monday to check her ,but my dog has had cough since last year at this time and said her /teeth and gums was cause of cough  gave me antibiotics and cough tabs help for awhile

[zebbs]

hi, can u please tell me what u cook your dog. i have two dogs with CHF and both on meds, plus i give them cod liver oil caps each day.just wondering if cooking for them better than dog food, i do not feed my dogs gluten or by products.thanks.....

[Archielloyd]

Hi. With CHF we don't want to have our dogs overweight which puts stress on their heart. I also cook for my dog and he's never had a tin of dog meat. I also give him cod liver oil tablet and dog multivitamins. Glucosamine for dogs is good too.
For his food it's always with boiled rice or pasta. If I'm having a meal with vegetables, I will also include carrots, peas etc. Don't know why as he always seems to avoid them all. For meat never fry the food. Boiling chicken breast is good and Turkey is not only less fat than chicken but also cheaper. Boiling keeps the meat moist. Beef and steak is his favourite. He eats it raw and i simply using scissors snip pieces off, easier than a knife.
My dogs is on meds but they aren't fix it meds only to ease the heart, blood pressure and fluid build up as my dog has been on them for 10 months and two days ago was hospitalised in an oxygen tent. Lucky to have him back. I feel that the food a give him kept him strong to survive. A vet can give you a diet for your dog if your still not sure. Just say that you want to not give dog food as it all ***** so what can and can't my dog have?

[zebbs]

hi, can u please tell me how u stopped the cough?

[Ccut]

Hi - our 10 yr old Shih-Tzu was diagnosed with CHF about 10 days ago. It seems like it just sprung up out of nowhere, because our 11 year old was diagnosed last year and he hadnt been coughing like she had. Well we started medication last week (enalapril), but then he was breathing very fast and shallow over the weekend so we took him to vet who urged us to immediately take him to hospital. He spent the night there in an oxygen cage, and came home on Sunday afternoon breathing much better. We have upped dosage and are meticulously following schedule, but today is WED and he has literally had 2 bites to eat since Sunday. He is drinking plenty of water, moves about (somewhat, fairly lethargic), and breathing is shallow, but much better. We have appointment tomorrow to review his eating;
but does anyone know if the medication suppresses taste or appetite? At times he actually appears to be hungry and is looking for food in the kitchen, but won't eat anything. Been forcing pills down with peanut butter. The other dog gladly takes her pills rolled up in deli meat.

[mikevie]

she needs a cardiologist

[Judyd96]

I have a 12 yr old cairn with enlarged heart and liver. She had the coughing spells.  Like she's choking.  She was put on enalapril for the heart, a water pill and a bronchodilator pill.  It had progressed so the vet doubled the doses of heart and water pill.  But, the increased water pill will damage their kidneys.  She seems so lethargic now and the vet says in time she will be on more than the one heart pill.  I have made the decision to leave her on the meds she's on now but when the time comes, no more pills.  She cannot get better and being a terrier and so lethargic is scary and unfair to her.  No pain yet they we see but it's day by day now.  My heart is broken and I know how you must be feeling.  I am sorry.