My dog had fluid on her lungs this past April when I took her to the ER because she was coughing all night. She had Xrays of her chest and after an EKG was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease. At that time she was put on Furosemide 50mg twice a day and Enalapril 5mg twice a day. About a month ago, her face swelled up and I figured it was just a bad tooth - which it was and the tooth had to be pulled. They did another set up xrays and said that her heart was very enlarged and her disease has progressed. They said they would try to do the cleaning and pull the tooth but it was risky putting her under and if anything happened, they would wake her up. While in surgery, her blood pressure started dropping and she didn't respond to the meds so they woke her up, they were able to do most of the cleaning and pull one bad tooth (she has another one on the other side they couldnt do). I was told at that time it was too risky to ever put her under again. She is still on both meds above, twice a day and the vet also added Vetmedin (pimobendan) she gets a half tablet twice a day, they are 5mg each.
They told me that she can probably live another year on these meds until they stop working. So far after a couple months she seems to be ok and only coughs when she gets too excited.
Are there any other medications that will prolong her life, she is a smaller breed dog and is only 9. I am just looking for a second opinion.
Worried Mom :) Shari