Anyone have experience with heart failure in dogs? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cinnamonmon · 09-02-2012, 05:12 PM

My 12 yr old Maltese,Sugar, was just diagnosed with congestive heart failure, I took her in because she had a small lump on her stomach. I feared it was a mammary tumor which it was. We are waiting now to see if it's benign or malignant. However during the exam the vet heard a murmur and did more tests which pointed to CHF. He started her on some medicine(an ACE inhibitor)but didn't say a whole lot more. He mentioned she would probably need more meds eventually. I was in shock and didn't really ask a lot. She seems to be fading pretty fast and the symptoms I thought were just age are now seeming more ominous. I've read some online and it doesn't seem very hopeful which kind of surprised me. I'm an RN and I know with people with CHF they can often live quite awhile controlling the symptoms. I know it usually kills them but they can usually get a lot more time. Is it different for dogs? Anything else you can share or advice to give?

kjc · 09-02-2012, 05:59 PM

Sorry to hear this news... my 14 YO Yorkie was on Enalapril for 2 years. She was PTS due to Osteosarcoma of the jaw 8 months after being diagnosed with it, at 16 YO.

My cousin's dog was put on Vetmedin, a newer medication for dogs. She has nothing but good to say about it.

I'd ask the vet or get a second opinion, or both.

Cirlonde · 09-02-2012, 06:17 PM

Oh how my heart goes out to you! I wish that I had good advice for you, but unfortunately my only experience with CHF was very negative. We lost my nine year old poodle to it in 2009. It was the hardest thing I have ever watched...took him in because he seemed to have some sort of GI problem (vomit/diarrhea) and the vet found a heart murmur. Barely a week later, after much struggle and expense to get him back to health, I had to make the most difficult decision of my life and have him put to sleep. It was doubly hard because I had just lost two grandparents back-to-back to CHF.

I think that if we had caught the problem earlier, Zach probably would have had at least a couple more years. Sadly, his original vet never noticed the issue during his regular vet visits. Good luck and prayers go out to you as you deal with this. It is scary, but I have read that many dogs do manage well on the medicines.
-C

Yorkiemom1 · 09-02-2012, 06:47 PM

My matriarch was 8 I thinkl...senior memory is not as sharp as it used to be...ruptured chordae tendineae, which was leading to a regurgation and CHF....she was started on Vasotec and Lasix and she had excellent relief of her symptoms...she continued on a maintainance dose for the rest of her life...she lived until 16 years old...asymptomatic.....did fine.

yorkieusa · 09-02-2012, 07:13 PM

I remember humid weather made it worse. The Lasix does give excellent control though.

lynzy420 · 09-02-2012, 07:18 PM

I know how scary it is, how truly devestating to learn that our babies hearts are "sick"...like you I have a hard time taking it in, I did all my research on line and here at YT...even though the drs. talked, explained etc., I only heard "heart".....I suggest you do what I did and call the vet and explain that you were so overwhelmed with diagnosis etc., could they please answer your questions, I am sure they won't mind. For your own piece of mind.

Enjoy your baby and love her, she needs you now. Prayers for you and your sweet little girl.

nanahas3 · 09-02-2012, 10:24 PM

Wishing you the very best. Lolita was diagnosed and put on meds but her little heart was worn out from being overbred at age 7

. Praying for your little one.

lisaly · 09-03-2012, 02:13 AM

I'm so sorry to hear about Sugar. My little girl, Kiwi, had CHF, and after putting her on medication, she had an echocardiogram to determine more information about the cause. Kiwi was put on enalapril and lasix, but she couldn't handle the enalapril. My other little girl, Ashley, had no problems at all with the medication. Today, Vetmedin is used, and that seems to be a wonder drug. Attached is a thread about Abby, a King Cavalier Charles Spaniel, who is in CHF. She is one the sweetest and happiest dogs I have ever met, and she has really captured my heart. Abby has a loving mom and has a strong will to live life, and Vetmedin continues to help her.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...-yorkie-3.html

chestermama · 09-03-2012, 03:40 PM

my girlfriends dog has it and is on daily lasix which is a water pill to get rid of the extra fluid and another med for her heart

Zerelda311 · 02-14-2013, 01:52 PM

Our Gizmo was diagnosed with enlarged heart in March of 2012 and we lost her May 19, 2012. She was on lasix , vetmedin and numerous other meds. I was shocked at how fast we lost her. It was so bad at the end that she was gasping for air and had to be put on oxygen. I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Hopefully you will have a different outcome. Gizmo was 10. Praying for you both.

09-02-2012, 05:12 PM	#1
cinnamonmon Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: cincinnati Posts: 194	Anyone have experience with heart failure in dogs? My 12 yr old Maltese,Sugar, was just diagnosed with congestive heart failure, I took her in because she had a small lump on her stomach. I feared it was a mammary tumor which it was. We are waiting now to see if it's benign or malignant. However during the exam the vet heard a murmur and did more tests which pointed to CHF. He started her on some medicine(an ACE inhibitor)but didn't say a whole lot more. He mentioned she would probably need more meds eventually. I was in shock and didn't really ask a lot. She seems to be fading pretty fast and the symptoms I thought were just age are now seeming more ominous. I've read some online and it doesn't seem very hopeful which kind of surprised me. I'm an RN and I know with people with CHF they can often live quite awhile controlling the symptoms. I know it usually kills them but they can usually get a lot more time. Is it different for dogs? Anything else you can share or advice to give?

09-02-2012, 05:59 PM	#2
kjc I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 18,872	Sorry to hear this news... my 14 YO Yorkie was on Enalapril for 2 years. She was PTS due to Osteosarcoma of the jaw 8 months after being diagnosed with it, at 16 YO. My cousin's dog was put on Vetmedin, a newer medication for dogs. She has nothing but good to say about it. I'd ask the vet or get a second opinion, or both. __________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity

09-02-2012, 06:17 PM	#3
Cirlonde YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Norman, Oklahoma, United States Posts: 402	Oh how my heart goes out to you! I wish that I had good advice for you, but unfortunately my only experience with CHF was very negative. We lost my nine year old poodle to it in 2009. It was the hardest thing I have ever watched...took him in because he seemed to have some sort of GI problem (vomit/diarrhea) and the vet found a heart murmur. Barely a week later, after much struggle and expense to get him back to health, I had to make the most difficult decision of my life and have him put to sleep. It was doubly hard because I had just lost two grandparents back-to-back to CHF. I think that if we had caught the problem earlier, Zach probably would have had at least a couple more years. Sadly, his original vet never noticed the issue during his regular vet visits. Good luck and prayers go out to you as you deal with this. It is scary, but I have read that many dogs do manage well on the medicines. -C __________________ (`•.¸Proud Momma of Chloe Belle and Karli Sue¸.•´) ~.•* Jersey's Four Leaf Clovers *•.~

09-02-2012, 07:13 PM	#5
yorkieusa Crazy about Kacee! Donating Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 21,173	I remember humid weather made it worse. The Lasix does give excellent control though. __________________ Karen Kacee Muffin 1991-2005 Rest in Peace My Little Angel

09-02-2012, 07:18 PM	#6
lynzy420 Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: USA Posts: 7,652	I know how scary it is, how truly devestating to learn that our babies hearts are "sick"...like you I have a hard time taking it in, I did all my research on line and here at YT...even though the drs. talked, explained etc., I only heard "heart".....I suggest you do what I did and call the vet and explain that you were so overwhelmed with diagnosis etc., could they please answer your questions, I am sure they won't mind. For your own piece of mind. Enjoy your baby and love her, she needs you now. Prayers for you and your sweet little girl. __________________ The Above advice/comments/reviews are my personal opinions based on my own experience/education/investigation and research and you can take them any way you want to......Or NOT!!!

09-02-2012, 06:47 PM	#4
Yorkiemom1 Rosehill Yorkies Donating YT Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 9,462	My matriarch was 8 I thinkl...senior memory is not as sharp as it used to be...ruptured chordae tendineae, which was leading to a regurgation and CHF....she was started on Vasotec and Lasix and she had excellent relief of her symptoms...she continued on a maintainance dose for the rest of her life...she lived until 16 years old...asymptomatic.....did fine.

09-02-2012, 10:24 PM	#7
nanahas3 ♥Love My Snuggle Bugs♥ Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Missouri Posts: 4,290	Wishing you the very best. Lolita was diagnosed and put on meds but her little heart was worn out from being overbred at age 7 . Praying for your little one. __________________ *CharleneMama to Laddy and Kyra and Always in our hearts Lolita*

09-03-2012, 02:13 AM	#8
lisaly Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York Posts: 5,892	I'm so sorry to hear about Sugar. My little girl, Kiwi, had CHF, and after putting her on medication, she had an echocardiogram to determine more information about the cause. Kiwi was put on enalapril and lasix, but she couldn't handle the enalapril. My other little girl, Ashley, had no problems at all with the medication. Today, Vetmedin is used, and that seems to be a wonder drug. Attached is a thread about Abby, a King Cavalier Charles Spaniel, who is in CHF. She is one the sweetest and happiest dogs I have ever met, and she has really captured my heart. Abby has a loving mom and has a strong will to live life, and Vetmedin continues to help her. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...-yorkie-3.html

09-03-2012, 03:40 PM	#9
chestermama YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: washington Posts: 3,383 Blog Entries: 1	my girlfriends dog has it and is on daily lasix which is a water pill to get rid of the extra fluid and another med for her heart

02-14-2013, 01:52 PM	#10
Zerelda311 Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 122 Blog Entries: 1	Our Gizmo was diagnosed with enlarged heart in March of 2012 and we lost her May 19, 2012. She was on lasix , vetmedin and numerous other meds. I was shocked at how fast we lost her. It was so bad at the end that she was gasping for air and had to be put on oxygen. I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Hopefully you will have a different outcome. Gizmo was 10. Praying for you both. __________________ Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.