Dog Health > Living with your pets heart disease
Angel Maddy
Forever Loved.- 12/20/00-02/05/1- 2 | 
 | | Barked: Thu Aug 11, '11 3:40pm PST |  | |  | | You know, I'm not really sure what makes them not a candidate for it. Your cardiologist will know though. My cardiologist and regular vet will communicate back and forth on occasion whenever we go through a bad spell and she needs to switch things up, mostly because the cardio is around 3 hours away so it's not the easiest place to get to.
The murmur was discovered on Maddy when she was 6 I think. It never went anywhere until about a year ago when she started to develop a slight cough, then collapsed when on vacation. That was the most horrific episode we've dealt with, coming in a close second was her acute renal failure episode this past January caused by taking Previcox for a back injury (avoid NSAIDS! especially dogs on meds that are rough on the kidneys like heart meds are). She's 10 now, turning 11 in December if we can make it there. The vet is pretty confident we can though, she's been doing remarkably well and responds to everything we do. |  |  | |  |
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» There has since been 0 posts. Last posting by Angel Maddy, Aug 11 3:40 pm
Dog Health > Living with your pets heart disease
Angel Maddy
Forever Loved.- 12/20/00-02/05/1- 2 |
| | Barked: Wed Aug 10, '11 3:23pm PST | | | | | The drug he's talking about is called Vetmedin. It can definitely be a life saver, but also VERY dangerous for a dog who isn't the right candidate. The only way to know that is to go to a cardiologist and have a workup done. It's a few hundred dollars, but at least you'll know exactly what the diagnosis is and in turn what meds schedule you will go on.
Enalapril and lasix/furosemide are the first two drugs most dogs go on. Enalapril and Benazapril (easier on the kidneys), both ACE inhibitors, will help each pump of the heart count. Lasix will make your pup want to pee quite often but it gets all that horrible fluid out of there so they can breathe and lay comfortably.
I've been dealing with an advanced heart dog for the past year and there have been definite ups and downs. You just need to remain strong and advocate for the best care you can give. I've spent way more money than I could have ever imagined possible this past year keeping Maddy healthy and happy, but in the end she's so worth it.
If you're not a member yet, please consider joining the yahoo group I posted below. Those members are fantastic and will give great advice. The first thing they'll tell you is about the cardiologist though.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/CanineCongestiveHeartF ailure/ | | | | |
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