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Dog with Congestive Heart Failure
Hi,
I would like to hear from those who have dogs with congestive heart failure. My 12 year old was just diagnosed with it the other day. I would like to know what to expect and what to be on the look out for. Currently he is on 50mg. Lasix, which I understand is a very low starting dose and he weighs 121 lbs. I'm not seeing much improvement. Still coughing/gagging and fatigued. I see no increase in urine output so I'm worried that it's not getting the fluid off his lungs. Also, his appetite has tanked. Does lasix effect their appetite?
This is weighing very heavy on me. He's my last dog of a pack of three. The other two were 15 and 16 when they left me within a few months of each other. It tore me up, but I knew I still had Boomer and he was a comfort to me. I know losing him is going to be much, much worse because suddenly my home will really be empty when he goes. I have read that once diagnosed they generally last 6 months to a year. Is that true???
Hope to hear from you. Thanks.
I would like to hear from those who have dogs with congestive heart failure. My 12 year old was just diagnosed with it the other day. I would like to know what to expect and what to be on the look out for. Currently he is on 50mg. Lasix, which I understand is a very low starting dose and he weighs 121 lbs. I'm not seeing much improvement. Still coughing/gagging and fatigued. I see no increase in urine output so I'm worried that it's not getting the fluid off his lungs. Also, his appetite has tanked. Does lasix effect their appetite?
This is weighing very heavy on me. He's my last dog of a pack of three. The other two were 15 and 16 when they left me within a few months of each other. It tore me up, but I knew I still had Boomer and he was a comfort to me. I know losing him is going to be much, much worse because suddenly my home will really be empty when he goes. I have read that once diagnosed they generally last 6 months to a year. Is that true???
Hope to hear from you. Thanks.
My dog won't take pills, not down the throat because she has a partially collapsed pipe on the way to her stomach and she also detects them in everything. Peanut butter whatever, will not work.
I have a syringe for giving shots with no needle on it. I have a pill crusher for the pills,and then add water right in the bowl of the crusher, about two cc's for three pills. Then suck it up and put it in the side of her mouth and squirt it in, in about three small squirts. (my dog is 11 pounds) Works very well. Even if you have someone help to hold your dog at first, it will get used to it. My dog will make me know it is time for pills even though she doesn't like it because she knows she gets fed afterwords.
Now she doesn't want to eat some times so the food goes on my finger and I open her mouth and wipe it on her tongue. If they fight at first, kinda hold the mouth loosely closed and rub the throat. After a time of persistence, they will give up the fight. Now most times, after refusing the food and me putting it in her mouth once, she will eat on her own.
My dog has had CHF for two years now and I have had to start making food in my own kitchen. She was on HIlls gd and will absolutely not swallow it anymore. She has really picked up on the home diet which is time consuming and a challenge but it is worth it to still have my dog. She is better than she has been in a long time, back to making the effort to chasing the squirrels.
I hope I am feeding right, I agonize over the ingredients and if I have them in the right amounts. However, I read where someone, a doctor said something like it is better to have your dog eating home food that might not be complete nutrition than not to be eating at all. Eating is vital.
Good luck to you.
I have a syringe for giving shots with no needle on it. I have a pill crusher for the pills,and then add water right in the bowl of the crusher, about two cc's for three pills. Then suck it up and put it in the side of her mouth and squirt it in, in about three small squirts. (my dog is 11 pounds) Works very well. Even if you have someone help to hold your dog at first, it will get used to it. My dog will make me know it is time for pills even though she doesn't like it because she knows she gets fed afterwords.
Now she doesn't want to eat some times so the food goes on my finger and I open her mouth and wipe it on her tongue. If they fight at first, kinda hold the mouth loosely closed and rub the throat. After a time of persistence, they will give up the fight. Now most times, after refusing the food and me putting it in her mouth once, she will eat on her own.
My dog has had CHF for two years now and I have had to start making food in my own kitchen. She was on HIlls gd and will absolutely not swallow it anymore. She has really picked up on the home diet which is time consuming and a challenge but it is worth it to still have my dog. She is better than she has been in a long time, back to making the effort to chasing the squirrels.
I hope I am feeding right, I agonize over the ingredients and if I have them in the right amounts. However, I read where someone, a doctor said something like it is better to have your dog eating home food that might not be complete nutrition than not to be eating at all. Eating is vital.
Good luck to you.
I just had this same experience with my little 10 yr old Maltese. Started with a cough in the middle of the night. Went to vet first thing in the morning. Did xrays but nothing showed up. A few hours later her breathing got worse so I took her back. Within hours of showing any signs she had to immediately be put down due to her lungs and chest filling up with blood from her heart. I had no idea that I wouldnt bring her home from the vet.
I just had this same experience with my little 10 yr old Maltese. Started with a cough in the middle of the night. Went to vet first thing in the morning. Did xrays but nothing showed up. A few hours later her breathing got worse so I took her back. Within hours of showing any signs she had to immediately be put down due to her lungs and chest filling up with blood from her heart. I had no idea that I wouldnt bring her home from the vet.
Sounds like my dog Buddy. He's just been dx'd a grade 2 heart murmur and the primary symptom is restlessness at night. I made another post with some info you might find helpful.
Hello everyone;
Like all of you I made my way here after my little boy Buddy was dx'd with a grade 2 heart murmur yesterday. For a few months he was restless at night, apparently unable to get comfortable or lay fully on his side. Other than that he's been healthy.
The x-rays showed very minimal heart enlargment, which is good news. I'm awaiting blood test results to determine what to do next.
After spending two days researching CHF, here's some that you might find beneficial:
1. Omega 3 capsules are a godsend. I started taking them myself when I was getting off an antidepressant which caused huge side effects, and I call it the miracle drug. I started Buddy on doggie Omega 3 three days ago, and I already notice that he's starting to rest more and lay on his side. I would HIGHLY recommend Omega 3 for dogs.
2. I also ordered Cardio Strength from Vetriscience, which has rec'd rave reviews from other vets and pet parents. Among other things, it contains Taurine and co-enzyme Q-10, which is key for heart health.
3. A low-sodium diet is recommended.
4. You may want to ask your vet to give your dog a ProDnp blood test. This test measures the degree of heart disease. I'm not sure it's useful with pets with full blown CHF, but for those who are uncertain it's less expensive than an EKG.
Like all of you I made my way here after my little boy Buddy was dx'd with a grade 2 heart murmur yesterday. For a few months he was restless at night, apparently unable to get comfortable or lay fully on his side. Other than that he's been healthy.
The x-rays showed very minimal heart enlargment, which is good news. I'm awaiting blood test results to determine what to do next.
After spending two days researching CHF, here's some that you might find beneficial:
1. Omega 3 capsules are a godsend. I started taking them myself when I was getting off an antidepressant which caused huge side effects, and I call it the miracle drug. I started Buddy on doggie Omega 3 three days ago, and I already notice that he's starting to rest more and lay on his side. I would HIGHLY recommend Omega 3 for dogs.
2. I also ordered Cardio Strength from Vetriscience, which has rec'd rave reviews from other vets and pet parents. Among other things, it contains Taurine and co-enzyme Q-10, which is key for heart health.
3. A low-sodium diet is recommended.
4. You may want to ask your vet to give your dog a ProDnp blood test. This test measures the degree of heart disease. I'm not sure it's useful with pets with full blown CHF, but for those who are uncertain it's less expensive than an EKG.
Hi. I have a five year old boxer that just got diagnosed today, he is on lasix tabs 50mg and vetmedin 5.0, vet said his heart and liver is inlarged and fluid on his lungs, wants to see him in 10 days to recheck everything. He has no energy, no appitite, and is not himself at all, it came on soo quick it was unreal. How long before the medicine starts working and there should be a change? This is pure heartbreak, Soo sorry for everyone going through this.
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