Recognizing the signs of a dog dying of heart failure and knowing how to comfort a dog with congestive heart failure are important, especially if your dog has been diagnosed with heart disease. To help guide you on this journey, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby invites her friend, end-of-life care veterinarian Dr. Dawnetta Woodruff to share some words of wisdom. Dr. Woodruff explains what to expect if your dog has congestive heart failure, how to care for your dog, and when it may be time to say goodbye.
When your beloved canine companion has been diagnosed with heart problems, the possibilities and uncertainties are often overwhelming. Your veterinarian may have given you a brief overview of heart failure. Or he or she may have gone over things in great detail. Either way, a new diagnosis of canine heart disease means that you have a lot of information to consider. And you likely have many questions.
Two of the biggest concerns are often, “How can I keep my dog comfortable through the final stages of congestive heart failure?” and “Will I be able to recognize the signs my dog is dying of heart failure and know when it is time to say goodbye?”
Understandably, you want your dog to be with you for as long as possible. But you also want to prioritize his or her comfort and quality of life. So what does this look like when your dog has congestive heart failure (CHF)?
Heart failure basics
To really grasp the complexities of these questions, we need to start with a basic understanding of heart failure. The canine heart is like the human heart—it has four chambers, a smaller right and left atrium and a larger right and left ventricle.
These chambers are made up of strong muscle that contracts in a specific rhythm to move blood throughout the body. As blood moves through the heart and into its associated blood vessels, there are heart valves in place to prevent blood “backflow” and to ensure blood is pushed forward to its next destination.
If the ability of the heart to pump blood to the lungs and body changes, the heart’s function decreases. And eventually the end result may be congestive heart failure (CHF). In other words, fluid accumulates in the body or lungs due to the heart’s inability to adequately do its job.
Sometimes heart failure is due to leaking of the valves, such as occurs in mitral valve disease in dogs. Other times, a condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs weakens the heart muscle itself, leading to heart failure. Or potentially the dog could have heartworm disease in dogs, a congenital heart defect, or other heart problems.
Regardless of the cause, when the heart muscle can’t pump effectively, or when the valves do not prevent backflow, this disrupts proper blood flow through the heart and vessels. As a result, blood backs up in the vessels, pushing fluid out into the lungs or abdomen. At that point, the dog is in congestive heart failure in dogs. Depending on which side of the heart fails, heart failure can be left-sided, right-sided, or both.
Diagnosis of heart failure in dogs
If the vet catches heart disease in dogs early, there may be no outward signs of heart failure. The only clue may be that your vet hears a heart murmur in dogs during a physical exam. But in other situations, you may see more obvious symptoms such as coughing, trouble breathing, or being a lethargic dog.
In either case, your vet may recommend chest X-rays as a diagnostic starting point. X-rays are a good way to evaluate the size and shape of the heart and to look for fluid accumulation in the lungs (i.e. pulmonary edema).
Additionally, your vet may refer you to a veterinary specialist near you, such as a veterinary cardiologist for further diagnostics. This may include an echocardiogram (i.e. heart ultrasound). The echo lets the vet see inside the heart while it is beating to give a full picture of what is causing your dog’s heart disease. And it helps your dog’s medical team know what medications will be most beneficial.
Treatment and monitoring of heart failure
Once your vet has diagnosed your dog with one of the types of heart disease, it is important to give your dog his or her medications on time and not miss doses. The various heart medications help your dog’s heart beat stronger, decrease abnormal heart rhythms, or help keep fluid from accumulating in the lungs or body. Thus, it is critical to carefully follow your vet’s instructions regarding these medications.
Additionally, you should bring your dog back to the vet for regular checkups. That way he or she can track the progression of your dog’s heart disease and modify the treatment plan as needed.
How do you recognize worsening heart failure?
It is also important for you to be on the lookout for signs the heart failure is progressing, including:
- Exercise intolerance—Your dog may tire quickly on walks or have no interest in play. Or your dog may only be able to catch the ball a few times or often need to “catch his or her breath” during play sessions.
- Increased fatigue—Dogs with heart failure may sleep many more hours a day than they used to.
- Muscle wasting—You might notice your dog looking thin and losing lean muscle mass.
- Coughing—Initially, you might hear your dog coughing and gagging in times of activity or excitement. But he or she may progress to coughing even at rest.
- Elevated heart rate—Your dog may have a “pounding” heart that can be felt or even seen.
- Restlessness—Dogs with congestive heart failure can’t get comfortable in any one position. Or they may only sleep for a few minutes before moving.
- Panting—Even when at rest or when the ambient temperature isn’t overly warm, your dog may still be panting.
- Decreased appetite—Dogs with heart failure may not eat well or may need to pause while eating to catch their breath.
If your dog is is experiencing any of these signs of worsening heart failure, it is important to see your veterinarian or schedule a recheck with your cardiologist right away. He or she may add additional medications or adjust the medication dosages to try to get the heart failure under control again.
Consequences of fluid accumulation
As part of advanced heart failure, your sweet pup will have fluid that accumulates within their abdomen (in right-sided congestive heart failure), or within their lungs (in left-sided congestive heart failure). And you might notice your dog’s paws or legs look swollen from fluid building up there as well.
Regardless of where the fluid builds up, it is evidence that your dog’s heart failure is progressing from stable or “compensated” heart failure to unstable or “decompensated” heart failure. And it means your dog is becoming at risk for a respiratory crisis.
As a dog’s heart failure progresses to its end stages, he or she will have more and more difficulty breathing. Your dog’s gums might look either muddy brown or bluish-grey due to lack of oxygen. And you might notice your dog breathing fast, extending the neck and holding the head at an odd angle, using the belly muscles to breathe, or moving the whole body with each breath. These are signs of respiratory distress.
Air hunger
A dog who is in respiratory distress experiences “air hunger.” This is similar to the way a person feels when they have a severe asthma attack. The body can’t get enough oxygen, and trying to get enough oxygen causes a lot of physical and mental stress. Air hunger has been compared to “drowning from the inside.” As you can imagine, it is a very difficult thing to experience. And it can be very stressful to watch your cherished friend going through such a traumatic time.
Seek help ASAP if you suspect your dog is in advanced heart failure
Should your dog be showing these symptoms of respiratory distress, look “bug-eyed” or stressed while sitting still, or you are otherwise worried about your dog, you need to make an emergency vet visit right away. Additionally, if you notice your pup has a “pot-belled dog” appearance from fluid in the abdomen, it is important to seek care quickly.
How can you help comfort your dog with congestive heart failure?
A respiratory crisis can strike at any time. So it is important to understand how best to help your dog before and during a crisis.
Have an emergency plan
If your dog has CHF, it is important to have an emergency plan before a crisis hits. Know if your vet provides after-hours emergency services and where the nearest emergency room or urgent care is located. And review the signs of advanced congestive heart failure so you can recognize them.
If your vet gives you certain medications (such as furosemide) to administer during a crisis, know where they are so you can find them in an emergency situation. But also be prepared to get to the vet as fast as possible.
Know how to keep your dog comfortable on the way to the vet
When dogs are experiencing respiratory difficulty, you can do a few things in the car on the way to the vet or at home to help them be more comfortable.
- Prop their chin up on a pillow to help extend their neck. This may make it easier for them to get enough air
- Have a fan nearby to move air past their nose to increase comfort.
- Consider purchasing an emergency supply of pet oxygen that you can administer during a crisis (e.g. Pawprint Oxygen). This supply will not last long (typically 15-30min). But it may help you and your dog feel better on the way to the veterinary ER.
Understand what an emergency visit for CHF may entail
Once you arrive at the ER or veterinary clinic, the veterinary team will jump into action to stabilize your dog. When your dog is in an advanced heart failure crisis, he or she may need oxygen, IV medications, or even a chest tap (i.e. thoracocentesis) or an abdominal tap (i.e. abdominocentesis). And the vet may recommend hospitalizing your dog to further stabilize the heart failure before sending him or her home.
Promptly making an urgent care or an ER visit can potentially save your dog’s life when he or she is experiencing a respiratory emergency secondary to heart failure. Best case scenario, your dog responds well to the medications, and their heart can once again compensate. This gives him or her some “bonus time” to spend with you.
However, a stable patient who has recently been through an emergency situation may not stay stable for long. At some point, your dog’s disease will become so advanced that even the best medicine and the best medical team won’t be able to stop the respiratory crisis. The most challenging thing with heart failure is that we never know if the next crisis may be the one that doesn’t respond to therapy.
Take steps to reduce the chances of a respiratory crisis
Since a respiratory crisis is traumatic for all involved, dog parents may understandably also want to avoid it if possible. Sometimes, the signs of worsening heart disease are very subtle. And we may not notice them until the crisis is about to happen.
However, keeping a journal of your dog’s activity levels can help you to notice trends that could point to worsening heart failure. And monitoring your dogs resting respiratory rate (RRR) can also help you detect problems quickly. Typically, RRR for a normal dog should be 15-30 breaths per minute. For dogs with heart disease, an elevation in this number can be one of the first signs of respiratory compromise.
To monitor your dog’s RRR:
- Choose a time of day that you will consistently take the reading.
- Make sure your pup is truly resting, and hasn’t just had a lot of activity.
- Use a clock or a stopwatch to count how many times your dog breathes in 15 seconds (one rise and fall of the chest equals 1 breath).
- Multiply this number by four to get the RRR in breaths per minute (bpm).
You may want to use a blank calendar sheet, an excel spreadsheet, or even a shared Google Doc to track the RRR. That way everyone in the family can watch for trends and your vet can look at the data too.
If your dog’s RRR is gradually climbing, if it rises above 35-40 bpm, or if it makes a big jump (more than a 25% increase from the typical baseline value), report this to your veterinary care team. They may want to make medication adjustments or schedule a recheck based on your observations.
How long can a dog live with congestive heart failure?
Sometimes, with medical therapy and careful monitoring, a dog may live for several years with controlled (or compensated) heart disease. It may take a long time for the disease to progress. And the dog can have a good quality of life for much of that time.
However, in other situations, the heart disease changes rapidly within just a few days or months. The dog may go downhill quickly and have a much shorter window of time with a good quality of life.
For example, in a study of 54 dogs with advanced CHF due to mitral valve disease, the average time between onset of congestive heart failure symptoms and onset of advanced heart failure was 163 days. But it ranged from 10 to 743 days. And the average survival time was 281 days after the diagnosis of advanced heart failure. However, some dogs in the study were euthanized within a few days of being diagnosed with advanced heart failure. And others lived for about two more years.
Thinking through when to put down your dog with heart failure
This whole discussion about heart failure and the potential for a respiratory crisis may sound a bit daunting. And it is. After all, taking care of dogs with CHF is not an easy task. You must give them their medications on time and they may require a special diet. Plus, making sure they are stable requires a lot of diligence and a bit of luck. It can be exhausting for the patient, and sometimes caring for a sick pet becomes too much for you too.
You may be wondering how to know when it is time to put down a dog with congestive heart failure. Should you make that decision before they ever have a crisis? After the first crisis? Or should you allow them to pass with a medically unassisted death? There is no one right answer for every dog. In fact, if you have two dogs with heart failure, you may make a different decision for each of them.
Questions to help make the decision clearer
Asking yourself these questions can be helpful:
- Does your dog take medications well? Or does every medication dose cause stress for you and your pup?
- How severe was your dog’s heart failure when it was first diagnosed? How quickly has it progressed?
- Is your dog healthy other than his or her heart disease? Or does he or she have several other chronic health concerns?
- Does your schedule allow you to keep the medications on a good schedule? How long must your dog stay home alone with no human around?
The answer to all of these questions can help you to see the bigger picture. If your dog takes pills well, heart disease is their only ailment, and you work from home, you will likely be able to help your dog stay stable longer. But if pill time every day is stressful and causes breathing issues, your dog also has osteoarthritis in dogs and kidney failure in dogs, and you spend nine hours a day away from home, it may be kinder to make an earlier decision for euthanasia.
There is no “one right day” to make the decision. Rather there is a window of time where euthanasia is a very appropriate decision to make. In some cases, we need to make the decision earlier in the window, and in other cases, we can wait longer while still being kind to your dog.
Take air hunger into account
One thing to consider specifically with CHF in dogs is the topic of air hunger that was mentioned earlier. Some families prefer for their dog to pass naturally, if possible. When that is the family’s wishes, they are often hoping for their dog to peacefully pass away in his or her sleep.
This can sometimes happen. However, with congestive heart failure, an unmedicated passing is more likely to be painful and difficult for your dog. Air hunger is a very traumatic thing to experience. And at the natural end of CHF, a dog has air hunger to the point of dying while drowning in their own fluids. Dying in this way is distressing for your dog. And is also a difficult final memory for all who love him or her.
For this reason, many veterinarians will encourage families to make a decision sooner with CHF than with other diseases such as mobility problems or kidney failure. If your dog’s congestive heart failure is worsening, his or her breathing is becoming more labored, your dog is in a respiratory crisis that can’t be resolved with therapy, or you are seeing other signs of a dog dying from heart failure, the kindest thing may be to help him or her skip over the hardest parts that are still to come.
Words of comfort for saying goodbye
The decision to euthanize a dog with congestive heart failure never feels like something we are ready for. Our mind can logically come to terms with the decision as a kind and merciful option. However our hearts are not logical, and they will never feel ready.
Even still, when we watch our precious canine friend struggling, and we know that we cannot fix the disease, we come to a point where watching them continue on is harder than allowing them to be at peace. This is when we know we are as ready as we can ever be.
Dogs are very good at sensing a person’s intentions, and they are very intuitive. I believe if they could talk to us, that they would tell us they understand that we are making the decision to say goodbye on a good day, before every moment of joy is gone.
Have you lost a dog to congestive heart failure?
Please share his or her story below.
Aspen’s story!
Aspen is an 8.5 yo female blue nose all white pitbull with no medical issues her entire life! Less than 2 weeks ago I took her in to the ER vet to be evaluated for symptoms of no appetite, and even refusing her favorite treats, vomiting, diarrhea, and slight swelling in her stomach! She was guessed to have lymphoma was sent home with Prednisone medication and a referral to the humane society for an appointment to have the fluid extracted the following day, to my surprise they deemed her unsavable and suggested she be PTS. I couldn’t take her in to be PTS when she was clearly still so full of life. I continued her medication which increased her appetite again but didn’t reduce fluid build up, and had to be returned to the vet for chest tap and sent home again still presumed to have lymphoma, but as the fluid continues to build she was taken in once again and this time her diagnosis was different, at that point they began to think she doesn’t have lymphoma, she’s in stage 4 CHF, and was given a handful of days left and put on heart medication! As the fluid continues to build my baby is declining now and quality of life is decreased and she is finally looking very tired and I now sit in my car in the parking lot of the animal hospital spending our final hours with her before saying goodbye. I can’t begin to express how broken I feel looking at my baby who was seemingly healthy as a horse not 1 month ago and now has stage 4 CHF! I don’t understand this, she is such a good dog, and doesn’t deserve this! I feel so helpless unable to save her from this fate. She’s my ride or die souldog, dying to young! Either way I am saying goodbye to the best part of my life tonight and I can only hope my broken heart lets me go with her. She got me thru the death of both of my parents, my mom being the hardest as she was my best friend. My girl has been there to get me thru so much, I don’t wanna be here without her. I’ve spent my entire life feeling like I don’t belong anywhere as it is, we’ve been living in my car for so long there’s nothing keeping me here anymore. I truly believe a person can die of a broken heart and that will be me without her.
Hi Jen,
My heart broke for you as I read your comment. You have been through so much already and Aspen has been there for some of the hardest moments of your life. It may not feel like it now that she is gone, but you can get through this. Please consider reading these two articles—Pet Loss Support: Groups & Resources for Comfort and Grieving the Loss of a Dog After Euthanasia (& Finding Peace)—and reaching out to one of the pet loss helplines or groups mentioned in the first article. Alternatively, Lap of Love offers various pet loss support resources, including Lap of Love’s free pet loss support groups. You are not alone. There are people who can help you get through this and people who have been in your shoes. Sending much love and strength to get through these hard days without Aspen.❤️
I find that reading so many of these stories and the what ifs brings me a little comfort because I see I’m not alone. This site with the stories have really helped me with my grieving process. My little baby Roxy was 11 and almost 12 in 3 weeks. She was the biggest part of our lives even when my husband and I had our 2 girls, lol. We would always say “be careful with your sister, she has bad legs” or your sister is getting old, please leave her alone” Although, when we would say this to them, Roxy would bark at us almost like saying leave them alone, I’m fine, lol. These are the great memories I will take with me. She was there for all the good and bad in my life and was more than my friend, my baby, she was my companion, my hero and she picked me up when I was at my worst with a few losses in my life. Then she got Lyme disease that was being managed constantly, then she got a meniscus tear on all 4 legs for running like a little maniac. We were ready to provide her with any care necessary including surgery on all 4 but thank God she did not have to endure that, they said it was holding on by a thread so just rest and pills. She recovered but was never the same as far as jumping or running like she used to be but she was with us and pain free and happy. Then came the bad news of CHF, she had her first episode in December 2023, we hospitalized her and we picked her up next day after getting oxygen treatment and she got better, in April of 2024, had another mild episode which was being closely monitored and we changed meds but in July she had another heart failure and had to hospitalize her again for more oxygen and she got out ok but in early October, we noticed she wasn’t herself but she was eating, drinking so we made an appt with her cardiologist which wasn’t for 2-3 weeks down the road, I wanted to have her checked again because I was always paranoid it could be something bad but a week after that she stopped eating for about a day and I thought it was a tummy ache, she was very peculiar about her food, my picky eater I would call her. I took out chicken and made rice to cook the next day for her. She ended up throwing up the very little she ate the prior day twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. I never had a chance to make the chicken. She was with me all day since i work from home and i saw 2 seizures back-to-back which she would have from time to time due to her condition and we had an appointment coming up but then she had 2 other major ones and i called my husband panicking and he came home from work and we took her to the vet. She was 97 degrees, blue pale gums and she laid on me like she had never done before at a vets office, she was my anxious baby. She had lost a lot of weight in the past couple days and we decided to not have her suffer anymore. We believe her kidneys were shutting down because she also had a loose stool in the morning that was black. The what ifs had taken over my life for a few days. I still have what ifs in my head and it still bothers me, should i have done it now or waited? could i have hospitalized again? could more meds help? She was on 5 different ones , taking them twice a day. Did i make the right decision? i don’t have the answers and it kills me but i do thank all of you and Julie for all your kind stories and responses, This has really helped me.
Dear Jessie,
I am so sorry for your loss of Roxy. She sounds like an amazing pup, and it is clear she was a huge part of your lives. You did a great job caring for her and I am amazed she lived almost a year after her CHF diagnosis! I know you would have done anything to give her more time, but what a blessing you were able to offer her a peaceful passing and freed her from unnecessary suffering. I pray for your comfort and for healing for your heart. May Roxy’s memory live on and always bring a smile to your face.
Finn, our beautiful Irish Setter, was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy 2 years ago.
Our vet prescribed medication which kept him largely well for longer than anyone expected.
Finn began to lose weight and muscle around 4 months ago and life got a little slower and more difficult each day for him, but he had the strongest spirit and somehow kept gathering himself together,
When he wasn’t feeling good his coat would become dry and dull, but then would go back to being silky and glossy a few days later.
Finn developed a cough, and fluid built up in his abdomen which was so uncomfortable for him and difficult to control.
He had one last happy summer with our whole family, and our two little granddaughters who adored him, and he them – Finn was the most gentle soul imaginable.
We woke early last Saturday, after a night of discomfort for Finn, unable to know how to rest with his swollen tummy – but yet as always, he woke up happy to see us.
And that day we knew, I don’t know how, but we just knew that we had to say goodbye to our boy before he deteriorated further and there was no more happiness for him.
Our only wish was that he could leave gently and peacefully, and we were granted that.
The sun was shining as we drove to the vet surgery, the place was so quiet and Simona our vet was like an angel,.
I held our beautiful boy in my arms as he left this world.
Finn was so trusting, as if he knew that peace and rest were coming.
He made no sound, and our hearts quietly broke in two.
We did not find your site until after Finn had passed, we had no idea how this illness would progress, and it progressed exactly as described by you.
We made the hardest decision of our lives and your site has helped us to make sense of that decision
Thank you for the comfort it has brought.
Dear Anne,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Finn. It is clear he was dearly loved and lived a wonderful life surrounded by your family. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am so glad you were able to offer him a peaceful passing. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. It brings comfort to others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal, and the grief will fade. May Finn’s memory live on and always be a blessing in your life. ♥
My Ralphy was a pound puppy adopted from animal control. They said he was a pekingese, the vet said he was a severely obese shih tzu. He’s been part of our family for 14 years. Last year he was diagnosed with arthritis in his hips. A few months ago he was diagnosed with CHF. He’s started fainting in the last couple of days and we think he had a seizure this morning. I hate making this decision but I’ve decided it’s time. I’m going to spoil the tar out of him this weekend and call to make our goodbye appointment on Monday.
Thank you for this article and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences. You all have helped me make the decision to help my Ralphy pass peacefully.
Dear Amanda,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Ralphy. I hope he enjoyed his weekend of fun and that you were able to make the most of your time together. Thank you for sharing your story with us. May his memory be with you always and wishing you brighter days ahead as you continue life’s journey.
My Chance had a few episodes of “a cough” & was slow on a few walks. I took him to the vet on a Monday, they kept him waiting for an appt. They did chest X-rays & bloodwork. They said he hadn’t coughed while there. Told me he had a little chest rattle (bronchitis). Thursday he had an episode & was very slow to walk. Difficulty breathing. I called the emergency vet. I told them what the vet had said, they said to give him Benadryl & see his vet on Monday. Saturday & Sunday he had trouble eating, walking, breathing & let out 2 blood curdling yelps.. He collapsed in the bedroom, I rushed him to the emergency vet, they did an X-ray & said he was in full blown CHF, they gave him oxygen long enough for me to say goodbye to him. I replay should have’s in my mind constantly, I hear those 2 yelps over & over in my mind, hear the vet say “he hasn’t coughed once while he was here”. I cry myself to sleep every night. It’s been almost 4 months. I don’t want to live without him.
Dear Laura,
My heart aches for you as you mourn the loss of Chance. I understand how your mind tends to go over all the “what ifs” while grieving, but please don’t let guilt weigh you down. You did everything you could for your boy and made the choice to offer him peace and rest and spare him from unnecessary suffering. I am certain Chance knew how much you loved him and that your presence was a comfort. I hope with time you heart can begin to heal. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
Our 9 month old Great Dane puppy was fine and then started to get weak in the hind legs one day so we got her into the vet. They did some tests and didn’t find anything neurological. They did find a heart murmur that was present. (Never had it all of her checkups or her spay)This was a Thursday. On the following Monday she was coming inside collapsed and was gone before anyone could do cpr. We play all the what ifs. Does this sound hereditary or just something was wrong? Her heart?
Dear Kim,
I am sorry for the unexpected and tragic loss of your Dane puppy. I can only imagine how devastating this must be especially when left with more questions than answers. Without having examined her myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. Due to her young age, I would assume there was something congenital/genetic that contributed to her decline. It would be good to contact the breeder to let them know what happened. This way if any of the other puppies experience something similar the vet can push for a more thorough investigation. Try not to let the “what ifs” weigh heavily on your heart. May her memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I would like to know the side effects of not giving our dog the Vetmedin. He is in the final stages, hasn’t eaten for a week and not responding to the meds anymore. We will likely have to take him to our vets within a day or two.
We want him to be comfy and giving him the pills is not fun for any of us.
Thank you
Dear Wendy,
My heart aches for you as you spend these final days with your beloved boy. Without the vetmedin, the heart will likely have more trouble keeping the blood circulating which will cause the body’s tissues to have a lack of oxygen. You may not notice any difference at all since your boy is already in the end stage of his heart disease. You could potentially see more trouble breathing or signs of “air hunger”. If you are already planning to say goodbye in a day or two, I would stop the medication and focus on comfort care. I would have a plan in place in case you have to let go earlier than expected. Praying for your strength as you navigate this emotional path. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
I have an older Pomeranian. One day he was having issues with his hind legs. Took him to his vet and was given meds for neurological issues. During this appointment I Was told he has a murmur. Fast forward two weeks he’s throwing up bile. On a Friday I take him back him and was told he has CHF. (I’m devastated and am wondering why they didn’t give me meds for his heart at the first appt). At this 2nd appointment they give me meds in pill form I told them he wasn’t eating. Three days later (Monday) I take him back in. See another dr and explained he wasn’t eating and therefore couldn’t take the meds. He prescribed the liquid meds. The form of lasix was in office and the heart med had to be ordered. Took three days for the meds to arrive (express). This brings us to today. My lil guy ( Beast) is still not eating. I’ve been trying EVERYTHING. (He is still drinking water and going pee). The Dr told me to give him the meds 7 days. It’s only been 2 days. I am literally bawling my eyes out. I don’t know what to do for him. I am so lost.
Dear Pam,
My heart aches for you as you face this difficult situation with your senior pup. The reason your vet did not prescribe heart medications at the first visit it because there was no heart disease to treat at this point. A murmur doesn’t always equal heart disease and there are many dogs with murmurs that never develop CHF. Unfortunately, heart issues can sometimes progress rapidly with little to no warning. I am so sorry that despite everything you have tried your boy’s health has not improved. He may need a few days in the hospital to get things turned around and sometimes a dog’s body just doesn’t respond to treatment. I am still hoping for a miracle but more than anything I pray for your strength and comfort as you navigate this emotional path. Bless you and your sweet boy.
My heart aches for I have read each and every story on here. My precious GSD, sweet “INNA” had a short time here on earth. She was born with a murmur which we were told had cleared when I took her in for her second Vet appointment of her short life the Vet told me that she appeared to be overly scared, anxious, and nervous. I was treated as if I was not feeding her when I explained how much she ate. I honestly felt like I was being accused of not feeding her. I shared with the Vet her diet, amounts she was eating, and reassured she probably was just sick temporarily, I was given de-wormer “just in case she had heart-worms” which she did not. She has always been skinny. Seemed to have high breathing and heart rate. She was max 59lbs. She just turned 2 and we noticed over the last couple of weeks she began to decline more. This morning she collapsed on her feet so I took her a new, different, Vet ER, ran blood work on her, and did Radiography. Within minutes of me leaving the room they called me back in. It turns out, INNA’s heart did indeed have a defect or something going on since birth that really never did go away. Her heart slowly enlarged. The radiograph looked like it was nearly doubled in size before we sent her to heaven. She was very energetic and happy and because of her heart she wasn’t able to eat a lot unless it was exactly what she wanted and how she wanted it. I worked from home all her life and never left her side but for a few hours once a week. GSD’s are known to be picky, they are stubborn and can go on hunger strikes, and all of this combined can be quite confusing to navigate. I’m clearly still trying to process it. I just want everyone to know that Love is the answer. I hope this brings healing to someone else as well. To quote again what Mrs. Nanc Smith said before. “I believe dogs express God’s unconditional love like no other being He created, and so they were given the name Dog.” Thank you for letting me share my story of INNA
Dear Travis,
My heart aches for you with your loss of INNA. Even though her life was short, it is obvious she was dearly loved and well cared for. Thank you for being willing to share her story with us. It helps others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. Wishing you comfort and peace for your heart. Bless you.
I was blessed with finding my beautiful Chihauhau Tinkerbell (I called her Tinks) in 2012. In 2019 she was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Little did I know how much impact those two words would have on our lives. Our life became daily meds twice a day, trips to my local vet at least every 3 months (usually more often) and annual trips to a heart cardiologist 3 hours away. We did all of this faithfully for 4 1/2 years and then in March of 2024 the cardiologist informed me there wasn’t any need to bring her back. Her heart had crossed over into a size 6 which is the largest rating they have. Now it was just managing the meds. The meds increased from 4 different to 8 different ones all taken twice a day. But if it kept the CHF at bay, then fine by me. It worked from end of March until about the end of July then I started noticing other symptoms. The coughing had increased, she would stumble when she walked sometimes, she would sleep more, wouldn’t play as much and her gums would occasionally have a bluish – gray tinge to them. Then the worst one, the “air hunger”. She was my baby and I loved her more than I can ever say. It was just me and her for years and she truly was the Queen of my Heart, but I just couldn’t make her do any of it anymore. I just had to say good bye to my baby 17 days ago. I miss her every minute of every day and there will never be another Tinks, but after reading some of these stories I realize how lucky and blessed I was to have her for as long as I did after her initial diagnoses.
Dear Janet,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Tinks. She was a lucky girl to have you advocating for her and doing all you did to ensure she was comfortable and happy. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am certain she knew how much she was loved. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. It helps others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. May Tinks’ memory be with you always. Bless you. ♥
My baby boy left us last week
He was 16 and the most beautiful boy in the world he wasn’t eating so was put on pimobenden liquid. A few hours later he was sick I took him to the emergency vet (paranoid mother here I did everything every day cos I love him so much) get to the vets where he’d been for not eating the day earlier. I thought allergic reaction but they did everything he was in an incubator and by the late afternoon wasn’t breathing on his own. My heart is shattered because they said he wouldn’t make the night and would probably pass if we drove him to the over night hospital. I’m so upset heartbroken and angry. Was it the heart failure or was it the reaction. I’ll never know and I’ll always be so upset that he was given that liquid I know it is probably coincidence but you can’t help thinking 😭it’s destroyed me losing him
Dear Mim,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your beloved boy. Without having played a personal role in his medical care, it is hard to make specific conclusions as to what happened and why. From what you describe, it does sound like he may have been in impending heart failure and the pimobendan was not able to help and his condition continued to deteriorate until he became critical. I don’t think the medication had anything to do with the worsening of his symptoms but rather just couldn’t do anything to improve them. I know you miss your pup terribly and would have done anything to give him more time. I hope the memories of all the good times you shared will offer some comfort. Praying for healing and peace for your heart.
Hello everyone-
I read this article and it gave me good bit of solace. Our case was on the exteme side of things but we noticed our almost 7 year old chihuahua getting a little more winded with normal activity. Within a few weeks of noticing this, it got progressivley worse.
It got to the point where I knew this was far from normal. We scheduled a visit with her Vet and was surprised when we were told she had a murmur.
We were told to get a a echo performed and we were luck to have one scheduled, all we had to do was wait exactly 6 days. Within that time, she got much worse.. In the next few days she had increased panting, intolerant to even going outside which she used to love, and finally hard breathing even when at rest.
After seeing this I took her to emergency where her heart murmur was then diagnosed at a very high level. She was having what this article here mentioned here “Air Hunger”, tilting her head up and breathing with her abdomen.
Within a few days the situation got critical and in that very ER, the prognosis was severe.
We lost our pup that night and I am still grieving the loss. I loved her incredibly and looked forward to many more years with her. Please get your dogs checked up on at even the slightest hint of a heart condition. Within 5 days my pup lost her battle and it is a gut wrenching feeling.
She had most of the symptoms listed here but within a period of a few days…. It got bad very fast and frankly I am still so very shocked by it all.
Cheers to Cammy the chihuahua, a truly wonderful dog who brought me years of happiness.
Dear Leo,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Cammy. I can only imagine how emotional this must have been with so little time to process what was happening. What a blessing you were able to be with her during her last days. I am sure your presence was a comfort. Thank you for being willing to share your experience with us as it helps others to know they are not alone. May Cammy’s memory stay with you always. Wishing you brighter days ahead. ♥
Our Shorkie, Lucky (approximately named), was found abandoned at a Missouri rest area. He was a mess! Our neighbor’s cousin spent $500 on vet care, only to learn he couldn’t keep Lucky when he moved into a new complex. So he asked us to take the dog. (BTW, I posted on the Missouri pet lost site, and never a response.) We were blessed to have Lucky join our family and he was with us for 10 years, but not long enough!Unfortunately lately Lucky had developed CHF, but was doing pretty well on medication. Still active and loved to go with us everywhere.
Last Sunday I took him to my groomer so he could hang out while my other dog was groomed. I received a call from her while at church that Lucky was not good! He couldn’t stand up, and was bleeding! Rushed him to the vet, where I was told after he was scanned, that his lungs were full of fluid, and there was simply no more could be done for him. I couldn’t believe how Lucky could go from his vivacious self to such bad shape so quickly! I am a nurse and know a lot about CHF, so guess I was in denial! With the vet’s encouragement I chose to end his suffering. My heart shattered right there because as Lucky lay on the exam table he didn’t seem to be suffering or struggling to breathe. On the way home questions flooded my mind, that still haunt me: Should I have taken Lucky home and maybe he would have rallied around? Should I have taken him home and then to my regular vet in the morning? Should I have taken Lucky home and let him pass in my arms? I cry myself to sleep, so much so that I’ve had Migraines! I have been through this so many times that my curio has become a pet memorial corner. It never gets one bit easier with the passing of each of my babies, but the joy they give me, is worth the grief I must endure when I have to say goodbye. I believe dogs express God’s unconditional love like no other being He created, and so they were given the name Dog. Thank you for letting me share my story of Lucky.
Dear Nanc,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Lucky. I understand how your mind tends to ponder the “what ifs” while grieving, but please don’t allow guilt to weigh you down. You made a loving choice to break your own heart so your sweet boy could find peace and freedom from suffering. Thank you for sharing his story with us. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I just lost our Coco she was 14 1/2 years old. We believe she had a heart attack. But before we were able to take her to her Drs. appointment on Wednesday she passed away. We thought it was just something she had eaten. She was throwing up all day on Labor Day September 3, 2024 On Tuesday morning my husband carried her out to use the restroom she was able to walk back, but very slow and confused. She was having a hard time walking she was walking toward the right side and was going around in circles. She didn’t want to eat, but she did drink water. At 9 am she sounded like something hurt her she took a deep breath and died. I had so much guilt for not taking into urgent care I cried like I lost a person. She was a family member and I loved her so much. She was our little girl. It’s been three days, but I feel she left us a long time ago and it hurts. We miss her so much. She did have a heart condition and was taking heart medication. She had a Drs visit with her heart Dr a month ago in August 2024, and per cardiologist her test were all good. I could not understand why she passed away. But I had a dream and in my Dream God told me she came to our family to help us as we were going through something and she helped us and now here time was up and she had done a great job in our home. She was 6 1/2 months when she came to our family. She was our girl. We love you Coco girl ❤️
Dear Shelly,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved girl. I am sorry Coco’s passing was so sudden and understand how emotional this must be for you and your family. I am certain she knew how much she was loved and that her life was filled with joy just being by your side. May her memory always bring a smile to your face, and I wish you brighter days ahead.
These stories are heart breaking yet sadly, I have a similar story that took place 3 weeks ago. I have 3 rescue chihuahuas. Tripp, my 8 year old, has fathered dozens of babies. When I adopted him 4 years ago, his teeth were as black as coal. I immediately got him vet care & had 5 teeth removed. Shortly after I was told by our vet that he had a heart murmur. He would have seizure like squealing episodes about twice a month. They didn’t last for long as I would pick him up elevate his head and comfort him. He got on furosemide about a 6 months ago. However, he always had a horrible cough. 3 weeks ago, on a Sunday night ( Thank God that my son & I were home!) Tripp suddenly had an episode, which I thought he was having a heart attack but now I think it was Air Hunger. I wrapped him in his blanket and gave him mouth to mouth, as my 20 year old son drove us to the ER Vet. Upon arrival, they Immediately grabbed Tripp out of my arms & whisked him away to the back. The triage team came out & said that he had been stabilized, was in an oxygen tent & comfortable. Praise God! However, what I was about to hear, I was absolutely Not prepared to hear. The Vet shared that on a scale of 1 – 6 Tripp s heart murmur was a 5.Our options were to leave him on oxygen all night & have a cardiologist look at him on Monday or ………the worst. To say that this was all so shocking that this seemed to come on so strong and fast and now this was the end, was incomprehensible. I couldn’t wrap my brain around what any cardiologist could do for my little guy that would prolong his quality of life. I hope that I wasn’t wrong. I held him tightly in my arms, wrapped in his little blanket, talking to him and stroking his head. The vet said that Tripp would 1st get profenal ( I replied, He deserves it. He was the Best Little Fella & should go out of this world in as little pain as possible 💔). I can draw some peace, from the fact that He stuck his tongue out when he was relaxed, content & happy. When the Vet brought Tripp to me, when he was removed from thr Oxygen Tent, his little tongue was out. it’s as if he was saying, Mom, I’m not in pain. I’m good. It’s not good bye it’s I will see you later. I held my Tripp when he took his last breath. I sat with my son, sobbing uncontrollably for another 20minutes until I could hand Tripp back to the vet to have the funeral home pick him up on Monday to be cremated. It’s been 3 weeks and I can’t stop crying. I’ve lost pets before but this time it was different. Is it different because I witnessed Tripp in distress with Air Hunger or the abruptness of his passing,or the fact that he was so young & cute or All of the Above?! The trio is now a duo….I have so many pictures of Tripp on my phone dressed up at Halloween, laying on my lap, snuggled in my bed, traveling with us on Amtrak, Flying to FL, Flying to AZ, etc… it’s never ending.My son & I’s hearts are aching. I thank God every day that Tripp didn’t die in pain or alone.
Dear Angie,
My heart aches for you as you grieve the loss of your beloved boy. Tripp sounds like such an amazing little pup, and I can only imagine how much you miss him. What a blessing you were able to offer him a peaceful passing and I am certain your presence was a comfort. May the memories of all the good times you shared continue to bring you joy. Praying for brighter days ahead and healing for your heart. Bless you and your son. ♥
07/18/2024:
I’m 17, and my family and I today, lost our chihuahua-yorkie (Lily) mix to CHF. She’s been my best friend for 15-16 years now. I was the one who found her body, which was honestly the worst part of it all. She had been battling congestive heart failure for 3 years now. We stayed on top of her medicine and always made sure to give it to her with the right amount and the right time. She died by herself when she went to the backyard to go potty (it’s normal for her to be outside for a while as she tries to get comfortable to go) and I just feel like the worst pet owner for not realizing sooner that she was out for a while. She was stiff as a rock and I was in shock, trying to convince myself she was just in a deep sleep. I rushed inside to tell my mom, not even knowing what to say she ran out and told me she was dead. I’m still hardly processing it and don’t know how to cope or even breathe without her. We took her to the vet where they were going to take her, I was clinging to her and was crying so hard and yelling not to take her away from my arms. I have never wanted to not let go of something so hard as I did with her body. Everything in the house reminds me of her, everything smells like her. I’m laying in bed, typing this, snuggling her stuffie and bed to feel close to her again.
Fly high and rest in peace my little Lils. 🕊️❤️
Dear JadynRiver,
My heart aches for you as I read your heartfelt and emotional words. I am so sorry for your loss of Lily, and I understand how heavy grief can be. Please don’t let guilt weigh you down. You didn’t do anything wrong, and I am certain your girl knew how much you loved her. What a blessing she passed while outside in a place where she was most comfortable instead of at a hospital or emergency clinic. Everyone has their own path to take to walk through the pain of loss. Do what feels right for you. If you need to keep Lily’s stuffie and bed, do it. If you need to write your feelings out in a journal or post here daily, do it. I hope as time passes your heart will begin to heal and the grief will slowly fade. May Lily’s memory stay with you always and be a source of joy in your life. Praying for your comfort and peace. Bless you. ♥
06/28/24 Today we lost our sweet baby boy Mac due to CHF . We love him very much and I know that it will never be the same now that he is gone . The only thing that comforts me is knowing that my beloved Mac is no longer in pain . I will miss him very much . He is now resting peacefully .
Dear Marilen,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Mac. I am sorry his body was not able to keep fighting but glad he is at rest. Praying for strength and comfort as you face the emotional days ahead. Bless you. ♥
I lost my sweet little senior Chihuahua mix to CHF yesterday and it’s devastating. She was about 10 (we don’t know her exact age). One piece of advice I have for owners with dogs with CHF is to be really diligent with monitoring the resting/sleeping respiratory rate; seriously — it may be annoying but it needs to become a part of your routine to measure it daily and ideally a few times a day. It’s the first sign of worsening CHF, and you can sometimes avoid an ER visit if you monitor every day, notice that their respiratory rate is getting higher, and get in touch with their vet to adjust medications.
With my dog, I had her monitored for a 3/6 heart murmur for the last couple of years, which was stable until late March this year. Then, I noticed she had labored and rapid breathing and was coughing a lot. At that point, her heart murmur progressed to advanced congestive heart failure due to a ruptured chordae tendinae. The cardiologist vet put her on 4 meds (Lasix, pimobendan, benazapril, and spironolactone) and she needed medicine twice a day. She was pretty stable for around 3 months, but she had a respiratory crisis late last week and had to be rushed to the vet ER in the night. We noticed the same coughing, very fast breathing and her sitting kind of with her legs splayed and neck out and panting, so we rushed her in.
She was stabilized in the ER and released after around 16 hours, but later that night her respiratory rate was already up above normal. The next day her cardiologist upped her meds even more where she had to have medicine 4 times a day, including Lasix and pimobendan 3x and spironolactone and benazapril 2x. We watched her for the next 5 days. She had a resting/sleeping repository rate that was variable – sometimes good, sometimes pretty high. We also observed that she was very restless and moved positions often, and spent a fair amount of time hiding. She didn’t want to walk around the yard and would sit down and look at me after she did her business. She still had a good appetite though and would still bark at passersby. We were alarmed that she wasn’t responding as well to the increased medicines, but she also wasn’t in a crisis again. Ultimately, since she wasn’t responding as well as we had hoped to the medicines and still exhibited signs of respiratory discomfort, we decided to euthanize her at home. It was an agonizing decision, and I still don’t know if we did it too early; it is impossible to know the exact right time. But we wanted to avoid a scary death in an ER where she would experience air hunger, and that scenario felt like an inevitability if we did not euthanize her a little earlier before things deteriorated to that point. I feel devastated and sad, and guilty for my decision, but i take comfort in knowing that her death at home was so much more peaceful and comfortable than it would have been if we waited for her CHF to worsen, and I know it would have been really hard to predict the perfect moment.
Dear Chloe,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your beloved girl. I absolutely think you made the right choice to say goodbye when you did. It is ok to let go before all joy is lost and the only thing that remains is pain. We strive to give our pets a good life, but a peaceful passing is just as important. By waiting longer, you would have run the risk of not being able to choose that for your girl. I am certain she knew how much she was loved and what a blessing her final moments were at home. I am sure your presence was a comfort. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and offering support and advice to other readers. I pray as time passes your heart will begin to heal. Bless you and your family.
My 9 yr. old Chihuahua was diagnosed in Sept. 2023 with CHF.
She’s been taking Vetmedin 1/2 a pill 2×daily, and 1/4 tab of lasix 2× daily. For the past week we’ve noticed an increase in her breaths per minute, along with some wheezing sounds. She’s still eating well and wants to go outside to chase the squirrels.
I called our vet this morning to report the changes in her breathing and wheezing. I was told to take her immediately to the ER.
Money is not a problem, but I don’t want to put her through a lot of testing, needles, etc. She’s a very timid soul who would be very stressed out with that kind of environment.
I’ve decided to monitor her closely, as we already have been, and increase her Vetmedin to 3× daily and increase her lasix to 1/2 tab 2× daily. This increase had already been discussed previously by her Vet. My hope🙏is that this increase will help her quality of life a bit longer. However if it doesn’t, the decision to humanely euthanize will have to be made. I can’t let her get to the point of gasping for breath. I can’t imagine a worse ending and the panic I would feel if it were me.
I believe in miracles, and often pray for them during stressful times. I pray I’ll know when it’s time for my sweet Mia to pass peacefully, before any episodes take place.
My stress and sorrow are already setting in, in anticipation that this increase in medication doesn’t help. I’d rather help her pass a day early than a day late.
God bless all you pet parents who are dealing with this horrific disease, knowing that it’s a death sentence with no specific time line.
Dear Stephanie,
I am sorry your girl’s condition is declining and she may be facing her last days. I understand your concern and can only imagine how worried you must be. I hope the increase in her medications was able to provide some relief. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Praying for healing for your sweet girl and comfort for everyone involved.
My 13 year old chihuahua was diagnosed with a heart murmur and experienced coughing at night which had been ongoing for several; months. On Monday, she ate a good supper and her energy level was as usual. On Tuesday Morning I noticed her cough was worse. She then began having what looked like a seizure, but without the usual defecating and urinating that often accompanies a seizure in dogs. When the muscle tensing (like a seizure) would end, she could do normal things like jump on the couch or walk from room to room. Later in the afternoon, the seizure-like activity occurred again and she became very weak. I placed her on a potty pad and lay her on my bed. Within an hour she became very restless, urinated and defecated, let out a howl, and died. Was her seizure-like behavior a heart attack, stroke or congestive heart failure?
Dear Kathy,
I am so sorry for the tragic loss of your Chihuahua. Without having a necropsy done, I am not sure there is any way to know for certain what caused her death. While some seizures do cause dogs to urinate and defecate, this is not always the case. I can only imagine how emotional you must be and can understand your search for answers. I hope with time your heart will heal and pray for your peace. Bless you.
Thank you for sharing your hurt. My 14 year old Chihuahua Jack Russel mix had the same signs. I took him to the vet for his usual vaccines and told her about the problems he had been having. She said he had a very large heart murmur and signs were not good, CHF was certain. In the next few weeks he deteriorated rapidly. Having multiple seizer like symptoms. We set up an appointment for him to be euthanized. I still wondered if I was doing the right thing. I prayed the night before and asked God to please show me if I was doing the right thing. The next morning, my fur baby was standing beside my bed, head lowered and he had urinated everywhere. He was so weak. I knew it was time. Very difficult, but I knew it was the right thing to do. This was 5/9/24. I miss him terribly.
Dear Joannie,
My heart aches for you with the loss of your senior pup. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am grateful you were able to offer him a peaceful passing and free him from his suffering. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal and you will be comforted by all the wonderful memories you shared. Wishing you brighter days ahead. Bless you. ♥
My chihuahua is on Vetmedin, Lasix, Benazapril, Galliprant and Apoquel. She has a Grade IV heart murmur. She’s allergic to chicken and salmon and requires expensive dog food on top of expensive meds. Honestly, I can’t afford her care anymore, and it’s a struggle financially. I called the rescue that I got her from to see if I could return her. Because she is so expensive, they simply encouraged me to find a way to keep her comfortable. I guess they can’t afford her care, either. The thought of stopping her meds seems cruel. I don’t know what to do and feel as if my vet would judge me harshly if I asked about stopping the meds or putting her down. I just don’t know what to do. I want what’s best for her, but I just can’t afford that.
Dear Mimi,
My heart aches for you as you face this impossibly difficult situation with your Chihuahua. Please don’t hesitate to have an honest conversation with your vet. Let them know of your financial concerns and that you are willing to rehome your girl if needed. There may be generic forms of some of her medications that would come with a smaller price tag. Some vet hospitals have an angel fund that they can distribute as needed. Also, occasionally clients will return medications after a pet has passed away. While these medications cannot be sold, there are clinics that will offer them for free as long as the owner understands the safety of returned meds cannot be guaranteed. There is also the possibility that your vet might be willing to help find your girl a new home with an owner that is willing and capable to deal with all of her medical needs. If nothing else, it is humane to choose hospice care or euthanasia, but I definitely would not stop her medications and just allow suffering to occur. Please don’t feel bad or guilty about this situation. You are doing everything you can and there is no one to blame. Life is hard and sometimes it forces us to make even harder choices. Hoping you can find the help or advice you need to find a clear path forward. Praying for strength and comfort. Bless you.
Whatever you do, please don’t stop her medications. It would lead to air hunger which is incredibly stressful and scary for a dog to experience. As Dr. Buzby said, see if you can get returned meds from your vet. Humane euthanasia is definitely better than stopping the meds.
Can your dog with heart murmur lose movement of their hind legs completely and will they ever walk again ?
Dear Maureen,
My heart goes out to you as you face this worrisome situation with your pup. The presence of a heart murmur alone should not cause paralysis of the rear legs. There are many different possible causes and all of them require medical intervention right away. Once deep pain is lost, the chances of recovery (even with surgery) is very low. Please contact your vet as quickly as possible. Praying for answers and a positive outcome for you and your dog. ♥
We lost our Gracie, a 13 year old Schnoodle to congestive heart failure 5 days ago. She had always been a happy, healthy dog. She started coughing at night while resting.. We thought she was just trying to hack something up. Never a thought about a heart problem. After a week of that, we noticed she was breathing rapidly, called the vet and couldn’t get in for 2 days. Then she stopped eating and didn’t want to walk. At times she seemed confused. Called the vet again who advised getting her to urgent or emergency care. We did, still not thinking heart, but maybe stomach. We were shocked to learn she had a 4 heart murmur, had fluid in her lungs and was having congestive heart failure. She was put in an oxygen tent and was catheterized. Given something to relax. We were told they could drain the fluid and see how she did but she would not live more than a month. We made the decision to let her pass in peace. We made the decision for her, not us. I now wonder if we made the right decision. It’s killing me. We are still in shock. No warning. No time to prepare. The grief is unbearable. She had her yearly physical in February. She had a clean bill of health. WHAT HAPPENED?!?!
Dear Terri,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your senior girl. I can only imagine how much you miss Gracie but am certain she knew how much she was loved. I understand the grief that comes with saying goodbye, especially with how quickly things progressed. May her memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. Praying for comfort and peace.
I lost my little girl ‘Ruby’ a Cavalier King Charles a few days ago. to CHF, she was only 6 years old. She was diagnosed with Mitre Heart disease a year ago. Initially she responded well to treatment & we honestly thought that she would have more time than she was given. I wasn’t prepared for her final few hours as she deteriorated so fast. Despite taking her to the emergency out of hours vets we weren’t prepared for how soon she would deteriorate. I wish I had noticed the signs sooner although I had taken her to the vets 2 days previous to that final day, he said her heart was fine but maybe there was just more fluid on her lungs. He took a video of her breathing to get a second opinion from his colleagues as it looked very much like she was breathing from her abdomen. He told me to give her an extra half tablet of furosemide & sent us home without any other warning or advice. I am beating myself up because I had to leave her with my son over night thinking she was going to be ok. I wish I had known things were potentially getting worse as I would have given her all the attention she needed before we took her to the vets that final day. She became ‘air hunger’ & drowning in her own fluids in the end. The decision was inevitable at that point to put her to rest. I will be left with the scars imprinted on my mind of how she suffered in these final minutes of life. I will never get my baby back, let every day count you spend with your baby & seek as much information from your vet as possible. You are never prepared but be for-warned!! I honestly think that the vet I saw was so young & inexperienced I couldn’t blame him for sending us home 2 days previously. He sought advise from more senior colleagues. My advise is to ask your vet for as much information as possible as hard as it is to accept about how your baby will be potentially in those final few hours if you don’t decide to euthanise before it reaches ‘crisis point’ & ‘air hunger’ for your baby. I wish I’d have known sooner how awful it would be for what I & she experienced during those final few minutes I had left with her!
Dear Michelle,
I am so sorry for your tragic loss of Ruby. I understand how your mind tends to run through all the “what ifs” while grieving, but please don’t carry the heavy burden of guilt for how things progressed. You made the best choices you could with the information you had. I am not sure I would have done anything different if in a similar situation. It sounds like your vet did all they could to address her worsening condition while being cautious with the risk of administering too much medication and causing unwanted negative side effects. Sometimes things go badly despite our best efforts, and I assure you no matter how seasoned and experienced the vet, we all communicate and lean on each other for advice and guidance. I hope as time passes the grief will begin to fade. May Ruby’s memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you comfort and peace. ♥
My ruby cavalier, King Charles she is 11 1/2 years old. She has been doing wonderful. Then one day to be exact on Mother’s Day. I felt something was not right. She was like coughing something told me to take her to the vet. And they said from the x-ray she has an enlarged heart. I had to wait a couple of weeks to get the echocardiogram.
That day I found out she had an enlarged heart congestive heart failure, and she’s on a bunch of meds now morning and night. I’m kind of in denial. As I know the day will come. At this point she still has a great appetite. I do feel she is coughing more. In fact, she’s running in bed with me right now. As I am reading all the stories of other people With their loved pets… honestly, it breaks my heart for everyone that has to go through this. She is my first dog I ever had. In fact, I have two more cavalier king Charles. She is my oldest. I will be completely devastated when I lose her. As I am crying right now.. I feel I am very hyper vigilant. I watch everything she does. When I can and I’m home. I think she is coughing more. Yet another way she seems OK. I wanna feel like this. Can’t be possible. She’s gonna live forever. But I know that dreaded day is going to come. I’ve lost my dad and my brother within 10 months. I feel the loss will be just as bad. I’m sorry. for everyone on this post that had their beloved doggies. And I believe their angels sent here on earth. To be with us. They’re not with us for a long time. I just felt the need to write this. As I’m so upset now. she’s absolutely wonderful. Her name is Ruby. She is so good taking her medication. When she knows, I am going to give it to her. She jumps on the couch and cheats the pills out of the palm of my hand. It’s like she’s trying to say mommy it’s OK. I need to have them… she takes her medication like a champ. The day I found out she had congestive heart failure. I could not stop sobbing and crying in the vet. I really feel like my angel. Her name is Ruby. I feel she knows something. Even the way I talk to her is different now I’m so gentle with her.. I truly feel for everyone that lost their angels. My heart goes out to everyone on this post. And everyone in the world that was their beloved pet. I hope my baby makes a 12th birthday January 1. I’m just completely heartbroken.💔
Dear Kerri,
My heart goes out to you as you spend these final months with your beloved Ruby. I can only imagine how emotional this difficult season of life must be, but what a blessing you still have your girl by your side. Try to make the most of the time you are gifted. Spoil her rotten and find joy in each day. Praying for your strength and comfort. Bless you and your sweet girl.
I had the unfortunate very same experience with my dog Marty Monday night and he passed Tuesday morning.
I feel awful that I didn’t know more of what was happening and he went into air hunger. I was with him at the end and saw him struggling as he drowned. I did have him put to sleep to shorten the struggle but am feeling so guilty about haven’t not acting quicker that evening.
Dear Marilyn,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Marty. I am so sorry his final hours were stressful and worrisome. I am glad you were able to offer him a peaceful passing and I am certain your presence was a comfort. Hoping as time passes the grief will fade and your heart can begin to heal. Praying for comfort and peace.