Comments on: Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs

By: Pat

Pat — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:40:02 +0000

My cocker will be 11 y.o. in 7 weeks – by accident the vet checked her heart & found a murmor, x-rays revealed an enlarged heart, fluid around the heart & lungs. She goes for the echocardigram tomorrow afternoon. She is a loveable mush and is the heart and soul of my life! I have been uncontrolably crying the past 24 hours since the diagnosis. I understand there is no cure for her “valve” problem, so when her time comes it does, but I am hoping she goes on her own without euthanasia….it would kill me to make that decision but I will not allow her to suffer one bit – she doesn’t deserve that, she’s been a total joy to me every day of her life. I am devasted, it’s like my life’s been turned upside down. She means everything to me,she’s that one in a million dog we have in our lifetime….a real soul connection…and a happy go lucky little girl that only wants to retrieve a ball all day or smile and give you kisses….I am frightened by the prospect of the future and what it holds for us – I am scared to face it – I’m alone, she’s all I have really…my kids are grown, I’m self employed with over 300 employees – you’d think I’d be stronger….this is the most difficult thing I’ve ever faced. My Millie is the true love of my life & my soul mate….pray for her, that she goes peacefully when it’s her time, and in the meantime has continually a good quality of life left. Your stories have meant a lot to me….thanks to everyone for sharing

By: Cathy

Cathy — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:24:05 +0000

I’m so sorry to hear about your cocker spaniel. We have 2 cockers at home and have owned several others previously. Our Sonny is suffering from CHF and has been doing a lot of coughing recently. He has been on meds for over a year. I understand your love for the breed. They are so much like children. I hope you are feeling a little better. If you would consider adopting a cocker in the future, I know of a wonderful organization. The website is campcocker.com. Best of luck to you.

By: Dana May

Dana May — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:48:28 +0000

My 15 1/2 year old cocker spaniel, Dusty, passed away from congestive heart failure on December 1st. We found out he had heart disease when he was 10 1/2. He started coughing soon after his 14th birthday and we put him on Furosemide. We had to increase the Furosemide after a few months, as his coughing returned. The Sunday before Thanksgiving we noticed a bloody mucous coming out of Dusty’s nose. I thought it was drainage from a nasty wart on his ear. The morning of November 30th, Dusty sounded like a coffee maker making coffee while trying to breathe. He went outside, did his business, drank some water, and lay down for a nap. 7 hours later, I woke him to go outside. He seemed ok the rest of the night. I went to bed around midnight, checked on Dusty at 2 am. He was asleep on the cold floor that must have felt good to him. At 4 am, he sounded like a coffee maker again. I sat with him & cried and decided at 5:50, he would need to go to the vet to be put to sleep. In the meantime, he started taking breaths in 3’s through his mouth. He could not breathe and sounded like he was drowning due to the fluid in his lungs. He was my best friend, the best dog in the world, and I will never get over this hurt. This was the hardest decision I have ever made in my life. I feel for any and all of you going through this with your beloved friend. Good luck! Do what you can to make them comfortable in loved in their final days. Fourpawsinheaven.com has a lot of stuff to help make you feel better about your final decisions. I printed a poem called “The Last Battle”, signed it “Love, Dusty”, and hung it on my frig. I also printed Rainbow Bridge with a pic of Dus as little puppy and one in his older days & hung it on the frig. It is tough! I cry uncontrollably about twice a day.

By: Roseanne

Roseanne — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:09:56 +0000

I have a 14 yr old poodle w congestive heart failure on lasix degoxin & so me enalapril

I am having a hard time getting the meds into her…she is so smart is refusing most food items I try to hide it in

She started throwing up today 3to4 times…but is still eating…any suggestions…she is not panting or having breathing problems she was coughing etc until her lasix was up to 2 per day about 2/3 wks ago…

By: Brigitte Smith

Brigitte Smith — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 05:16:14 +0000

George,

I’m sure you’ve tried it, but I find that peanut butter is one of the best things for hiding meds, especially if your dog really likes peanut butter.

Regards,
Brigitte

By: George Holtz

George Holtz — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:34:52 +0000

any help on how to get nasty pill in my westie, we`ve tried every food we can think of…..

By: George Holtz

George Holtz — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:16:18 +0000

We have adopted a 14 yr old Westie named Monty
He has lots of heart problems & the vet has given us about 6 different meds. They seem to be helping. However, one of the most importent meds , Vetmedin, is one he HATES. He can smell it in anything we try to hide it in & then won’t eat that food again. We have tried just putting it in his mouth & he panics & fights so we are afraid we will give him the heart failier we are trying to prevent. Any sugestions PLEASE?

Grorge & Pat

By: jeremy clifton

jeremy clifton — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:04:03 +0000

Sylvia,

where do you find these items? i want to talk to my vet about this before i go into it, but i do believe in these types of treatments and dont think that “modern day” medicine is all its cracked up to be. my dog has been on a medication for a week now and has gotten worse exponetially. She has a level 4 and last saturday the vet said that she couldnt hear any fluid in her lungs, but i cant thnk its long before i get into that part of it. She is our first and i would do anything for her, i just want to do the right thing. In reading some of the stuff in this i would rather put her down than for her to suffer, but i believe there has to be an answer out there and im hoping what worked for you may work for my baby girl too.

Thank you,

Jeremy

By: sylvia mellows

sylvia mellows — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:59:11 +0000

please email if u wish to know anything else.

By: sylvia mellows

sylvia mellows — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:49:20 +0000

i lost my dog last wednesday 30th september 2009.she started coughing 8 weeks ago and was told by the vet she had a very bad heart.shes been on vetmedin.fortekor and frusecare.the fluid still wouldnt go.she suddenly went down hill last tueday and was put 2 sleep on wednesday.i miss her so much it hurts.i have lots of all the tablets left if anyone would like them. my heart goes out 2 anyone in the same posituion i was.