Experience with Congestive Heart Failure in Dogs?

[Wideman18]

My 10 year old min pin has CHF. He is on LASIK and another medicine for the heart it's self. We noticed when he began choking and hacking often. Try the meds. They have helped him stop hacking but we started them late and I'm counting the days with my baby boy. He is laying right next to me now at peace.

[tamlamagl1]

I have 10 year old female with CHF on Lasik and blood pressure pill.Now she has problem holding her bladder. Only been on meds for 2 weeks now but the coughing and hacking has stopped.Going to try adjusting dosage.

[chrissiesback]

Zeus has been experiencing heavy panting as well for a year & has gotten worse in the last 6 months. However, he also lost his brother after 11 years. So, I'm sure he has anxiety issues as well.However, My vet says his heart sounds strong. His appetite is grand and his stools seems good. How to tell if he has pain may be causing panting? We can't. So, we have decided that every day is a blessing when he is with us. He still wants to play ball, has awareness & still loves his belly rubbed. We don't wish to proceed with expensive tests, for my husband & I feel both don't want to know the known. We offer him lotz of love, compassion & friendship. Living in Fl, he gets beneadryl due to allergies or to simply knock him out when he is panting excessively. We also administer pain meds when we feel it is needed. Guessing game? Sure it is. We also have started him on monthly Adiquan (3 mths now) shots for comfort as he has weak hind legs. Are they helping? It's so hard to tell. If only they could talk. However, he will let us know when the time comes as all of our other dogs have done. You will just know! In the meantime~ give him lotz of treats & lovin. Best of luck

[Wideman18]

Tamlam,
Enjoy the tome with your baby. I lost my baby boy in May. Just a few weeks after my last post. His heart stopped one day while he laid in my arms. I miss him so very much. The bladder problems ate due to the Lasik. They cant help it. Best wishes.

[Hettycomie]

Setting here reading these stories with tears in my eyes. My precious 11 1/2 year old Chinese Crested is suffering from CHF. He's on 3 half Lasix plus Enalapril 5 mg (half pill x2 daily).His breed has seizures of unknown causes but he has started a collasping type now I think is related to the CHF. The Vet has put him on Phenobarbital 1/4 gr. Our Texas heat is hard on him so his time outside is very limited right now. The coughing is heartbreaking. I know the end is coming but I keep wanting to do more to help him. Thanks for sharing your information--I found it helpful.

[GINO my heart]

Panting can also be a sign of low blood sugar. I only know this because our lab JD is diabetic and he was panting alot once and took his blood it was 50, not saying that's what's wrong but maybe worth a look at

[Hoosea]

Originally Posted by Hopes

My 14 year old labrador (who on regular intervals seems to be about to die but always bounces back) has been excessively panting today. Google search indicates that it could be congestive heart failure.

He was last seen by the vet a couple of month ago. The vet understands that our goal is simply comfortable last years. We have no intentions of pursuing expensive treatments to prolong life past his comfort tollerance. However, we will provide him with any treatments that will relieve pain or make him more comfortable.

It's very likely he has cancer. He definitely has serious memory loss. His joints are weak. But overall he's hanging in there. He's fairly happy and content without discomfort most of the time. Every couple of months, he has a bad night and I give him benedryl so he can sleep. He's on a high nutrient diet because his body doesn't absorb nutrients easily. We recently started him on something that helps his achy joints.

My question is if congestive heart failure worth treating in the last stages of a dog's life? Has anyone dealt with this? Would I just be prolonging his misery?

I’m not sure how old this post is but sitting here looking at my 10 year old dog Izzy I can tell you that from my perspective helping her through the stages of this disease has been worth it. We to have explained to the vet that we’re not interested in spending thousands of dollars to give her what could be a very painful life and ending (we’ve gone through that with another pet and it was just heart breaking). They did give us many different options to treat the disease some which would’ve been an incredible amount of money but we went with the monthly medication route which is roughly about $50 a month. They did tell us that the time that she had maybe three months to live but we’re going strong at seven months and she’s doing better. I have no doubt had we not provided the necessary medication she would’ve died. How long we’re going to continue with this status Im not sure but I do know that at this time she’s happy, comfortable and living the best of her life possible. ❤️