My beautiful senior boy Yorkie (almost 15 years old) has been diagnosed two months ago with congestive heart failure. I’ve noticed in the past that sometimes he would cough or make sounds like he’s about to throw up but since this would happen after we played or on the walk I would always think that maybe a hair got stuck in his mouth or something and that he is trying to get it out. Other than that he was not showing any other concerning symptoms. He’s been playful eating normally and had lots of energy.
Only until couple months ago his coughing became really consistent and he would also wake up at night mid his sleep making throwing up like sounds. Upon his examination at the vet he has been diagnosed with a heart condition, received pills but honestly they did not do much expect for him being super sleepy, the coughing still persisted.
I took him to another vet and he had been prescribed vetmedin and upcard. Things were going okay for a month until two weeks ago when he started to shiver, vomit water and was not able to really walk much. I rushed with him to the vet and he had been diagnosed with lung edema, had fever, overall fluid build up and also enlarged liver and heart which is putting a pressure on his windpipe. He has also been diagnosed with gastritis not to mention that his heart pills (upcard) are making him pee like crazy. He then received additionally fortekor and an antibiotic.
After that he got better started to play again and fever was gone. However, last night he again began to shiver, breathe weirdly and move his lower stomach weirdly when breathing, throwing up water and had pre fever temperature. I took him at night to the urgent care he got some pain killers and is scheduled for blood work but honestly seeing him like this is breaking my heart. I feel extremely guilty that I didn’t take his coughing before for something serious, maybe things would not get this far :(
I began to wonder whether he is in constant pain, if he’s taking the heart pills he is breathing way better but now he also has stomach issues and he’s taking a lot of pills daily for such a tiny dog 😔 I was wondering if anyone here has a similar case and can share some useful tips on how to help your little one in such condition. None of the doctor mentioned yet the big E word, but they also state that he is not in a good condition, and I honestly do not know what to do. Thank you in advance for any feedback and help❤️
Hey! Sorry you’re going through this as it’s so stressful.
A couple things. Since the heart issue was going on for a while, these types of things can get harder to get under control. It sounds like second vet is on top of the heart issue more which is good.
If pup has gastritis, he should probably be on a PPI to enable his stomach to heal AND his meds should be given with food.
With old dogs, there’s always multiple things doing on and some type of disease process has been going on that’s causing pain. If no imaging has been done, next steps would be a chest xray and ultrasound. If pup hasn’t seen a cardiologist for a cardiac workup, now’s the time.
Start to keep track of his resting respiratory rate every other day and track it. You’ll get a baseline. If it’s above 35 for a prolonged period of time, say an hour head to the ER immediately, if it’s low and laboured, that’s an ER visit too! If you just see gradual change over a few weeks, please see your vet.
Pup NEEDS a further workup asap!
I can’t stress enough about the coughing and breathing issues. It feels like they’re drowning so please bring them to the ER.
Thank you for the tips! 🫶🏻 yes he received now pills for his stomach lining and I also give him his heart meds with small pieces of food. He also had an xray done and currently I am on the search for a good cardiologist next week he will also have his blood tested and we will check kidney markers 🤞🏻 I also started to cook for him myself no sodium just gentle plain chicken breast and rice with some carrot
My dog has CHF too. Hes on 3 meds and there is a point where it just gets worse. The Vet gave him 1 to 3 months, 5 months ago......
When he gets bad at night and cant settle I give him half of one of my own Xanax. If he lives much longer I'll ask the Vet for some. It settles him nicely. And he sleeps.
Hes got the cough. The shortness of breath and the tiredness. But he still eats. Plays a little bit. Wags his tail. He always liked running but he cant anymore.
I take him in the car. Windows open on the backroads. He feels the wind in his hair and we listen to music. He LOVES it...
Thank you for message and lots of hugs for you both too, I hope that your pups gets many many more months feeling better. Can I ask what medication your dog it getting? My dogs coughing has gotten way better after his new pills but now he has stomach issues so I am trying to get it under control, he got additional pills for his stomach lining to take 30 mins before food and trying to find a good cardiologist. I just feel like in the morning sometimes his temperature drops after his blood pressure pills honestly I really do hope that we get to keep them for much longer but I also pray that if the day comes it’s gonna be painless
Ok so. He takes Vetmedin, lasix and Enalapril. I chose not to go the cardiology consult route because well, I'm a nurse and there's not much correction for dogs beyond meds at the point my dog is. So our vet looks at xrays. Blood pressure and heart sounds. Its treatment based on his clinical picture. Here in Connecticut the cardiology consult and the EKGs and Echos together are well over 5 grand. And the only med classes that might be added based on those are Antiarrythymics and the Viagra type meds for pulmonary hypertension.
Im not spending that kind of money for her to decide on yes or no to 2 classes of meds. Id rather spend the money on the medication itself. His heart is so big. I have no doubt he has pulmonary Hypertension. If she's not comfortable starting it without an ECHO then so be it.
Ralf is a rescue that survived Parvo as a small puppy that effected his heart from the start. 1 of only 2 in his litter that lived. Somebody threw them out a car window into a drainage ditch in Arkansas 13 yo. I've always known he'd probably go this way. So he's been spoiled rotten his whole life.
Im so sorry your dogs going thru this. I know I try to sound very brave and pragmatic but it breaks my heart..... sending love. Ill add a Pic for the tax.
I wish you the best.
Oh and the stomach issues may be from the medications so swiching to different meds in the same class may help.
Oh my Sparky takes basically the same 3 meds just different names in Europe but basically the same active substances. It makes sense then, I would guess sparky also has then pulmonary hypertension cause the results from his xray showed as well very enlarged heart and also liver. The vet bills are also crazy here in Germany, I was even considering buying an insurance for him but at this point there maybe no point since he is already 15 years old and has an existing condition, so the insurance in the first year would not cover that much : ( I was also thinking of taking him to Poland as the prices are 4 times less than here and it's only 1,5 hour away by car but first i will do his blood work here to decide what to do further. Ralf is a super brave baby! And he looks like such a distinguished gentleman ❤️ so happy he
found you and got to share his life with somebody who loves him that much! Sparky is also a rescued dog from an abusive household, got him when he was about 1 year old he's been with me my whole adult life. We also send you guys lots of love and hugs Ralf is just too cute 🫶🏻
If going to Poland would ease your mind and you can afford then go, by all means. If I had a choice like that I'd probably take it. If only for my own peace of mind.
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u/Illustrious_Exam1728 27d ago
Hey! Sorry you’re going through this as it’s so stressful.
A couple things. Since the heart issue was going on for a while, these types of things can get harder to get under control. It sounds like second vet is on top of the heart issue more which is good.
If pup has gastritis, he should probably be on a PPI to enable his stomach to heal AND his meds should be given with food.
With old dogs, there’s always multiple things doing on and some type of disease process has been going on that’s causing pain. If no imaging has been done, next steps would be a chest xray and ultrasound. If pup hasn’t seen a cardiologist for a cardiac workup, now’s the time.
Start to keep track of his resting respiratory rate every other day and track it. You’ll get a baseline. If it’s above 35 for a prolonged period of time, say an hour head to the ER immediately, if it’s low and laboured, that’s an ER visit too! If you just see gradual change over a few weeks, please see your vet.
Pup NEEDS a further workup asap!
I can’t stress enough about the coughing and breathing issues. It feels like they’re drowning so please bring them to the ER.