Dog with Congestive Heart Failure

[Rainydeb]

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.

[jaspersmom202]

HI Karla,

I appreciate all you are telling me.  The vet was not available when I stopped in to refill Jasper's medicine do I could not talk to one of them about the vitamins.  I decided to go ahead with a the Flintstone's vitamin and gave him one this morning.  I worry sometimes that because my vets are of Kansas State University grads and did a lot of work with Science Diet, they don't want to deviate from it.  At least that is true of the younger male Vet.  The female vet has the same attitude that I have of it is more important to get Jasper to eat and for get Science Diet if he doesn't want it.

Jasper is continuing to do very well although he is quite the con artist trying to convince me to give him a treat.  I am a pushover but try to limit his "treat" to another piece of chicken, etc.  I don't mind that he is not the little tub that he once was but don't want to see him turn to skin and bones.

You are so wise in that what we both have gone through is part of the grief process.  Because I lived 1000 miles away, I was unable to be with my mom as much as I would have liked to be.   My sisters and brother had all the responsibility on them.  I remember their exhaustion and that some of the decisions made were made out of sheer frustration.  We all miss her terribly as I still reach for the telephone to make that daily phone call to check on her.

Take care in this heat.    We have had several days of 100+ degree days here in Kansas and I am looking forward to a cool down. Thank goodness we live out in the country so if the grass gets tall there is  no one to see it!

Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July celebration.
Faye

[Misfits4Me]

Hi Faye.... Your NOT wasting valuable time without Vitamins.....The whole, fresh foods have plenty of Vitamins/Minerals....He can eat homecooking for months & months and still be OK....Just not longterm!  Trust me, it's much healthier than Science Diet...Actually, there's no comparison!  
That statement is nothing against you personally...Your not suppose to know as we believe our Vets know more about what our dogs need....When it comes to nutrition, they DO NOT!

My mom also died of CHF...I relive it, often.....I WAS her primary caretaker for years & years and went to great lengths to provide everything she needed....I too, always beat myself up thinking that I could have done more or done it better.....It's almost a No win situation!  I tell myself I made the best decisions I could at the time.....However, I still wonder....I suppose this is a common side effect of GRIEF!

Hope you and Jasper are having a great day.....I've just come in from mowing the lawn and I feel fortunate that I survived!  :)  It's extremely HOT here in Oklahoma & I'm tired of it...

Take care & let me know if I can help you w/anything else, will be glad to......Karla

[jaspersmom202]

Thanks Karla,

This sounds like a great recipe and I will try it soon.  Jasper had another good day, eating well and seeming to feel so much better.  I cooked stew beef in my pressure cooker last night as I was in a hurry to get it tender.  I also cooked several chicken breasts in the pressure cooker after I finished with the beef.  This will be helpful on the days that I have less time to cook and will give him some variety.    

I hope I am not valuable time for Jasper by waiting until the vet okays giving vitamins to him on our mid-July appt.  I believe Jasper would eagerly eat Flintstone vitamins where as the Pettabs will seem like another medicine to him.  I am going in to pick up more vetmedin tomorrow so will talk to the vet about going ahead with them.

Thanks again Karla for all your good advice.    Since Jasper was diagnosed,  I am reliving the last few months of my mother's life and wondering why I could not have done more for her or found a doctor who would.  She also had CHF but I feel that I am giving and getting better care for Jasper than was given to her. I depended too much on other people rather than being involved.  You seem to be such a kind hearted person, I wanted to share that with you.

Faye

[Misfits4Me]

Hello Faye...Well, I'm delighted with yours & Jasper's Good Day...Don't despair, once you get his meds. adjusted to fit & he gets use to them, he will be a different dog! Dogs can live many years w/ CHF.....

Glad he liked the sweet potatoes....I thought he might...Want to add that when you get to the Vitamin giving, the Holistic Vet on this forum recommends Children's Flintstone...My Holistic Vet recommends Human Centrum Silver....Jasper would need 1/4 of one daily....

I'm adding a really fabulous recipe from one of my dog cook books...This one has never failed me, yet.....They're easy to make and can be frozen for future servings....Nice to have something in the freezer when your in a hurry....Here it is:

HUNGRY MONGREL TURKEY BURGERS

1 1/2 pounds ground Turkey
2 Egg Yolks
2 T. Parsley Flakes
1 T. Minced Garlic
1/4 t. Thyme
1/2 C. Dry Bread Crumbs
1/2 C. Cooked Rice

Mix all ingredients in a bowl...Shape into patties and broil in oven about 15 to 20 minutes until Burgers are no longer Pink in the middle. Turn over after one side is well browned. Cool & serve. Store leftovers in refrigerator or freeze.

OK, that's it and I'm done.....Good luck & please come back with updates.....I'll be thinking about you both......Karla

[jaspersmom202]

Hi Karla,

I am so encouraged as this afternoon when we returned from work, Jasper met us at the door with tail waggin' eagerness as if he was the puppy he once was.  'Chased the big bad dog next door away with his gruff barking so he was a happy guy'.  He is off on a short walk with my husband tonight.  No problems with his potty trips today either so that was a good sign.  I am thankful for just this one day.

I talked with one of Jasper's vets about Tums and he agreed that the Tums may help coat his stomach and make his appetite better.  He was not concerned about the calcium level as it was good when last checked on the 16th of June. I bought children's Tums yesterday and was told to give him 1/4 tablet about an hour before I fed him in the morning and evening.  At Jasper's next appt in mid-July, they will decide about adding pet vitamins to his meds.

Jasper loved the sweet potatoes that I added to some ground beef last night and today.  I also added in a little of his chicken and a few green beans so he could get accustomed to eating them.  He was so eager to eat he did not notice that I had again slipped his meds in the food.   I tried to give him some watermelon that I was eating and he was not interested.  Fruits have never been a favorite snack for him but I will keep trying, already had a cantaloupe.  :)  It is unusual to worry about him losing weight as he has always had the opposite problem.  

Thanks so much for your good ideas.  I feel so much better about Jasper's future and how I can make life easier for him.   I will keep you up to date on Jasper and hopefully I will have many good days remaining to tell you about.  I truly appreciate your time and interest.

Faye

[Misfits4Me]

Something else: You might try a bowl of cooked oats (Oatmeal)...This would help his tummy....I add honey and cinnamon.....I also add Goatsmilk (Canned) if I have a dog that needs some extra weight & Calories...Very nutritious & yummy!!!  I eat a bowl w/them....Karla