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.

[tanya2016]

my dogue de bordeaux died at home saturday, im  devastated, he was diagnosed three months ago with chf and on vetmedin plus fruesimide, he,d lost a lot of weight and fainted a couple of times, he was 8 in feb. that morning he seemed ok, even had a little walk, then in afternoon i came home and he was gone, feel so guility, its killing me if only i was there. he was laid in his sleepin position, with eyes closed and his tongue out. im praying he went peacefully. can any one help put my mind at ease? thankyou x

[MaxMeeko]

Nothing you could have done. Awful young at 8 with CHF. It's called backyard breeding. Dogs are dying too young. Lost my 7yr Maltese that I thought was a good breeder that was breeding sick dogs. Carriers with bad genes.  there's no way you could have known that your dog would pass while you were gone.  My little Yorkie has been diagnosed for 3 years now with CHF, he's 11. Don't beat yourself up, just know he's not suffering, and you will see him again

[ElsieSnig]

My dogs going through the same thing. The medicine seems to make him worse. He has constant diarrhea. He didn't have that before enaparil and lasix. Im going to the farm store and get Hawthorne,Rachael Ray food and omega3 before I give up. Im heart broke seeing my 10 year old border collie/spaniel suffer. Ive cried more years over my dog than I ever have a person.

[ginger899]

She will be coughing probably because of some fluid on the lungs. You will hear the fluid like a wheeze or crackling sound when you listen to her breathing. Water pills will help, yes. It's likely this is causing her discomfort when the coughing spells happen, rather than actual pain. But she will probably feel weary as well, and may faint sometimes.

Obviously she still has her good times! And that's positive.

You need to get to another vet and get that second opinion. The new vet most likely isn't going to charge much differently to the one you are already with. Specialist referral -yes -that can cost more. But regular vet care will most likely be a similar price.
Of course that will depend on whether she might need new treatment, tests, etc. But if you can find a vet you feel you can trust, how far you take her treatment is at your own discretion. And for a little extra money, you might be able to make her life more comfortable.
For that -wouldn't it be worth selling your car or minimising and simplifying your general expenditure perhaps just a bit each week if at all possible?
It's amazing how many things we think we need, but which we can actually live without, and save a lot of money.
It would be worth it if it helped your girl.
I hope she will feel a bit better soon. Bless her.

[ginger899]

Sorry people....I've done it again! Answered on an ancient thread! I saw only one comment on the list. Answered, then I find here are 4 pages of comments since goodness-knows-when! My reply doesn't even fit.

[ElsieSnig]

Its ok. I've done the same. Im desperately looking for help for my dog. I mean desperately.

[Grapeape64]

I give my dogs regure human cough syrp not over do it it helps my babbies

[chappers1965]

My dog (shi-tzu was diagnosed with CHF, Vet put him on anapril and furosemide,  I Also put him on a herbalist blend, he greatly improved,   However my vet disapproved of the herbal blend.... So I took him off the Herbalist blend and in just a few days he crashed big time... Vet said his heart was geting much worse and we had to triple his dosage he was originally getting and it still wasn't enough..... So i I started him back on the herbalist blend and already two wks later and he's off Furosemide and is doing better off analapril...... He has never been a good eater, always extremely pickie.... until I did the hydrotherapy, Amazing different dog. he eats like a starved little boy now.....  now this next one is A big one... whatever your feeding Stop it..... Want more details, check this site out, u won't be sorry.... http://caninehearthealth.com/

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Dogs/I-need-advice-about-my-dogs-congestive-heart-failure/show/1492168#

[Paulette59]

I have just read your question and really feel for you. I have just lost my poor old girl of 16 years just over two weeks now. I miss her so much. Anyway, she had collapsing trachea followed by an enlarged heart. It only got worse over about 1 year. Poor thing was on a multitude of meds. All of this requires x-Ray's / scans to diagnose. The cough is a good sign of a problem, but you need to be accurate. So poor love was on Bricanyl to keep her airways open. You don't mention any heart meds? She was on Vetmedin for her heart which later changed to Cardalis. Also Furosemide to reduce excess fluid. At the end when she started a really bad honking cough , the vet x-rated her and her heart was very large and he said she would have had pain, which the thought nearly killed me and I then had her put to sleep, bless her. I would question the vet and if your not happy, find another. Try and search for one with good recommendations. After all, it is your pet and your money paying for the service. I wish you loads of luck.

[maureen24]

My dog is 11 and had a severe case of heart worms when I adopted him. I had him treated and he has been very happy. Three years ago he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He has been taking a diuretic and anapiril 2.5 mg per day. He has bouts of coughing when he gets excited. Sometimes he coughs at night. I rub his chest and he settles down. He still loves to play and act like a puppy. His nose is always cracking. I am looking for something to help him. I live in Thailand and getting things shipped here is sometimes a challenge and expensive.  Any natural suggestions? I have been looking online and only found products for sale.
Thank you.
Maureen

[No_more_sunshine]

My dog is 12. He has CHF end stage. He is on lasix every 8 hours unless he sounds worse then I give him more. He is also on vetmedin and spironolactone which is another diuretic. He got a lot better on the combo of lasix/spironolactone. He is 25 pounds and takes 25mg of spironolactone 2 X a day. About 30-50 mg of lasix. In the us you can get Torsemide which is better than lasix when lasix stops working. If your dog is still coughing DO NOT get cough syrup. It is fluid on the lungs or enlarged heart causing this. Increase and add other diuretics. There are also heart compounds you can get that contain things links coenzyme Q10 that are very beneficial. My dog is also on blood pressure meds called benazepril. He has had a very progressive case of CHF but these meds have really helped. You can also get a pill that has Spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide in combination that works well. Spironolactone is a potassium sparing diuretic. This helps keep your dog from depleting his potassium. I hope all this helps someone.

[No_more_sunshine]

Maureen a lot of the meds I mention below are human meds you can get at a regular pharmacy. Your vet can write a prescription for them all except the vetmedin. It is only for animals. My family doctor even wrote me a couple of the prescriptions when I told him what I needed and you can find the correct doses online also. The Spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide are really good. Especially combined with Lasix OR Torsemide.

[wandag738]

All of these dogs seem to be old. My baby is only 5 and has been diagnosed with CHF. She is only on lasix now, but I've detected an irregular heart beat. We go back to the vet in a week. Has anyone else had a dog so young have
CHF. I have taken her to another vet and his diagnosis was the same.

[stacealita]

My Cavalier King Charles-Japanese Chin mix was diagnosed with CHF last month, and she is only 7. She is currently on Lasix and Vetmedin, and still coughing a little. Very restlessness at night. I pray that we will get the right combination of meds soon, so she can be comfortable and happy go lucky like she used to be.
How is your baby doing?

[wandag738]

All of these dogs seem to be old. My baby is only 5 and has been diagnosed with CHF. She is only on lasix now, but I've detected an irregular heart beat. We go back to the vet in a week. Has anyone else had a dog so young have
CHF. I have taken her to another vet and his diagnosis was the same.

[Archielloyd]

Yes I hear of this as I work in animal welfare. I have a king Charles spaniel with CHF and when I get talking to people who also have had king Charles with the same condition many of the times their dogs are still young. Mine was 9 when he was diagnosed. Unfortunately some breeds especially like mine just have that dna defect that causes all of this crap

[Ticklesmama]

I make chicken and rice for my pug with CHF, kidney failure, pancreatitis, blindness and deafness.  She will be 13 in February.  She no longer will take her meds for heart and water.  I refuse to force her anymore.  She gets nothing but my homemade food and one benedryl in the morning hidden in a small piece of sliced cheese.  Her coughing is real bad without the benedryl.  I was told it works better than cough meds and I think I agree.  She yawns and can't rest good some nights (and days), she forgets she has already ate, she walks into anyone or thing in the normal path of the house.  She has stress and cold seizures if I take her to the vet or outside to potty when it is freezing or snowing. YET, even though the vet wanted to put her down in the spring, she still has quality of life.  Yes, she sleeps ALOT but she also wags her tail, tries to play a little, and loves her belly rubbed if only for a moment or two (because she can't breathe on her side or back).  I hope I know when the time is right to let her go.  She has been doing so much better without the meds, but I don't want her to suffer.  It costs just under $300 to have a vet come to our house when that time comes and that is what we will do.  Anything else I should watch for, to let me know the time is here?

[Archielloyd]

Isn't benadryl for allergies?
If your dog has CHF the coughing is caused be fluid in the dogs lungs making your dog breath more heavily and making your dog uncomfortable. Also giving your dog less oxygen around the body especially the brain. I would reconsider the meds.my vet told me that people refuse the meds not because they say they don't work but because of finances. And these dogs live a shorter life.

[Inga16]

I don't know when you post this last but it sounds like you need another vet involved. For the coughing I would use little remedies honey for kids 1/4 of tsp. my dog is on tussigon and I give him the honey with this so he's not dependent on the drug also what grade is you pet chf murmur

[baileypb1955]

You are not being selfish as long as your baby has some good times.does she get excited when she sees you?..how is her appetite?...does she still love to lay by your side?

As long as she does these things and is not constantly out of breathe..she still loves being with you, I would not cut it short. ...you will know..when she finds no joy in being with you. Good luck and God bless you and your baby...

[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.

[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.

[juststopit]

My 15 year old chihuahua, Brutus was diagnosed with chf almost 3 years ago. His vet is excellent and prescribed lasix, benazapril,and vetmedin. We cook all his meals, for him which makes a huge difference, meat and vegetables only. The vet is shocked at how healthy he is.we do have rounds of coughing about every 3-4 months, at the time we increase the lasix until he stops coughing, usually about a week with the increased dose,then back to the normal dose. The vet says it's normal with chf to have coughing at 3-4 month intervals. The vetamin is really a great product also that opens the blood vessels.

[vidal1]

Hi. My dog Moby will be 16 next month. Yes I caught his chf in time from finding it in another dog we'll call his brother. On both I used "water pills' from walmart that worked better than lasyx prescribed by the vet. He sometimes took more and then less on some days. I also added flax ground to each day of their diets. The brothers cough stopped immediately that I know he would cough himself to sleep. Sad I had not caught it earlier and yes the vets don't look into more natural ways of treating animals. Vidal

[sonbud2]

my Chihuahua diagnosed 12/9/14 enlarged heart prescribed enalaprin but at 1/2 dose seemed to cough more and so weak. I found pet well being and young at heart and started using it 2 weeks ago, he is now on full dose YAH and has had no prescribed  meds for 1 week. he seems so much better, still rests a lot but has energy and seems happy. would you please share how well it worked for your baby please. thank you

[broken_hearted_]

I'm very sorry for anyone whose dog suffers from this insidious disease.

My little nine year old chihuahua x mini foxy died from CHF three weeks ago. Three weeks before his death he was running and playing like a puppy. The only real symptom he ever had was coughing. He also had dynamic airway disease so I was often told his cough was just a 'nuisance cough'. I always knew when his cough changed and of course X-rays proved me right.

In early July he went into mild CHF but we were told it was well controlled with meds (Pimobendan, Fortekor, Lasix, Amplodipine, Codeine, Theophylline...) About two months later I thought he'd developed an arrhythmia so we took him back to the cardiologist. His arrhythmia was only mild. His lungs were clear on X-rays and his heart was strong. Twenty four hours later we had to rush him to the ICU his lungs full of fluid and he had small heart tears in both his atriums. He lived two more weeks in and out of the ICU on oxygen. We didn't get the chance to euthanise him peacefully. He went into cardiac arrest in the ICU and died. It was horrendous.

I'm completely heartbroken and still in shock. It was very hard to realise at the time that all the meds were just buying time. The vets kept trying to give us hope he would stabilise but he deteriorated too quickly. We were told eighteen months from early onset and we only got four... CHF is so cruel. I highly recommend that if you have any doubts about the treatment you are receiving to get a second opinion fast. If nothing else you will know you did everything you could.

[calicopig]

Sorry to hear of your loss.  Pretty much the same thing happened to my little maltese last wk.  She was fine when we went to bed.  Started coughing during the night.  I took her to the vet first thing in the morning.  They did x-rays and said her heart and lungs look good and gave me cough meds.  Within hours she started having trouble breathing and wouldnt eat.  I took her back.  They said her lungs filled up with fluid and her heart bled out into her chest.  I had to have her put down immediately.  I am still heart broken.  I had no idea I would take her to the vet and not bring her home.  I had her 10 yrs from a puppy.  I'm lost without her.