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.
My Maci currently has CHF. Diagnosed 2 years ago. She is currently in the final stages. Her belly is enlarged even though she takes furosemide 3 times daily. She coughs often. I have to carry her outside to relieve herself. She refuses to walk any distance. Just yesterday she started refusing food. Today she ate a little. She is also on vetmedin but doesn’t seem to be responding well. I don’t know when it is time to say goodbye.
Dear Terri,
I am sorry Maci is not doing well, and her health is declining rapidly. It is ok to say goodbye before all joy is lost and the only thing that remains is pain. I would rather let go one day too early than one day too late and allow unnecessary suffering. I understand the emotional decision you are facing. Wishing you strength and comfort for the days ahead. Bless you and your sweet girl.
Hi Teri my name is Theresa and I just had to put my Gigi who was 12 down on Wednesday the 12th .she was diagnosed with 1st.a collapse trachea a year ago and was on hydrocodone and pimobendan for a heart murmur. Then six months ago she started to collapse and I took her to the er and she had congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension they put her on 4 different meds all different hours some with food some without she gave us such a hard time with taking the pills and was such a picky eater I fought so hard to do what I had to do to keep her going but even with taking the meds she still fought everyday to stay with us. Obviously I was not ready to realize how much she was really suffering and decided to get her groomed on that Wednesday because she loved being clean and hasn’t been since December. Well that day when the groomer gave her to me she was breathing so heavy and I thought she just needed to rest so I took her home and she was very reluctant to lay down and was very uneasy her head was up high and she literally was gasping for air. She barked at my husband when he came in and wagged her tail but she was not ok, we took her to the er again they swooped her out of my hands she was in respiratory distress with 5 minutes the dr came out and told us her heart stopped we had them recessatate her and her heart started again after they gave her something to speed up her heart and furosemide the dr didn’t think she would make it through the night so we made the decision to put her down while I held her but still felt like I really had no time to say goodbye I feel like she made the decision for us she saw my mom on the weekend she had a birthday on the 10th she got to come to my office which she did frequently because of her illness got groomed which she loved and she made the decision for me I am heartbroken beyond words I just wanted to share my story and hope it helps with your decision I just wish I knew that would be our last moments so I could say goodbye without the rush of it all.Good luck with Maci i hope she doesn’t suffer Theresa
Dear Theresa,
I am so sorry for your loss of Gigi. What a blessing she was able to experience some of her favorite things and see the people she loved most during her final days. Thank you for sharing your story and offering support and sympathy to others. Wishing you peace and brighter days ahead. Bless you. ♥
Theresa, your story is eerily similar to mine! I took my dog to the groomers and she collapsed after coming back. I think maybe our babies hearts couldn’t take the stress of being away from us and with the groomers. I still feel really guilty about it, even though I didn’t know she had chf at the time.
Dear Kristie,
My heart goes out to you with the loss of your beloved pup. Praying for comfort and healing. ♥
These stories are all so gut wrenching!
My boy is 16 and was diagnosed with stage 3 heart failure just 7 weeks ago, last week he was also diagnosed with kidney disease and there were indications in his blood work to suggest that there’s an issue with his liver. When the vet called with his results she kept talking about reducing his heart medication to take some pressure off of his kidneys – while my heart had hope my head knew what decision needed to be made. I agreed to bring him in the following morning for a review with the vet and the conversation about letting my boy go was had.
Tomorrow will be his last day with us and Thursday morning (13/03/25) will be the day he takes his rainbow run.
He’s had a few really good days this past couple of weeks despite his health issues – maybe this is just the ‘death rally’ but it makes me question if now is the right time ( I do know it’s the right time of course – his condition will do nothing more than deteriorate and being on the heart meds with kidney failure it will happen quickly)
We never consider making these choices when we bring our fur babies home and why would we? If we did that we’d never have animals! My head says this is the last act of love I can give him but my heart can’t comprehend it. He’s been with me my whole adult life, he’s my best friend, my furry soulmate… my heart breaks every single time I look at him, I can’t even begin to think about leaving the vets office without him on Thursday.
It is nice to know these are not just my thoughts and feelings, animal lovers across the world experience them but isn’t it just the loneliest time ever?
Dear AJ,
My heart aches for you with the recent loss of your beloved boy. You absolutely made the most loving choice to give him peace and freedom from his struggles. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am certain he knew how much he meant to you. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you comfort for your heart and brighter days ahead.
Our 12 and a half year old Shih Tzu was had his first fainting episode around 3 months ago and was diagnosed with CHF ~2 months ago. He was otherwise perfectly healthy, with the vet saying his blood work came back exceptionally good for a dog his age.
We originally tried to give him medication, but he refused to swallow it. Eventually, we made the decision to let him naturally progress without medication, then euthanize him if his condition got to the point where he couldn’t rest comfortably.
In his final days, his walking was very limited. He drank quite a bit of water. We gave him parsley juice and hawthorn tea since they’re supposed to be good for the heart, although he often rejected them, preferring plain water. His appetite was less than usual, although he did eat around 1 meal a day. We collapsed sometimes and when doing so, would defecate. He vomited a few times. However, he wasn’t coughing and was able to sleep / rest comfortably.
A few days ago, he collapsed and passed away suddenly. Thankfully, he didn’t seem to be in any pain. His heart just stopped. Before doing so, he came to sit next to us.
We are grateful our angel was able to pass away naturally and without pain. While we were originally upset that he left so soon, we feel that he was too good and was ready to move on.
Dear Rima,
I am sorry for the loss of your senior pup. I am certain he knew how much he was loved and am glad you are at peace with his passing. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. May the memories of all the good times you shared continue to be a blessing in your lives. ♥
I have started walking this awful path of CHF with my beautiful boy Jake he just turned 9 and is a mini aussie . This boy of mine literally saved my life not by just being there but i had developed my own heart issues and would pass out alot sometimes my heart even stopped momentarily mine was due to a nerve condition i didnt know i had he would lick my face , bark at me and doing this stimulated my nervous system essentially saving me I know i cant save him but I am going to do everything i can to give him the best months he has left The vet has put him on a few different medications and so far he is doing pretty good on them As everyone has knows these medications are expensive the one i struggle with the most is vetmedin I was curious if anyone has been able to find a discount card or coupon to help reduce meds cost any info is greatly appreciated My condolences to all who have lost their fur babies this is so hard to do
Hi Angie,
I am sorry Jake has received this difficult diagnosis. He is lucky to have you taking such good care of him. I am not sure if there are any discounts available for Vetmedin, but there may be a generic brand available. Please talk to your vet about these financial concerns. They can help look for options or guide you toward a different solution. Sometimes medications are cheaper if called into a different pharmacy or if ordered in a larger quantity. Wishing you all the best as you walk this unknown path together. Bless you and your sweet boy.
My dog is on three meds for heart disease, one of which is vetmedin. I buy them online and get larger dose pills and cut them in half or quarters. The meds are still expensive but this helps quite a bit.
I lost my girl Lola (Chihuahua) just two days ago and it was so sudden I am still in shock. I got her at only eight weeks old and she would turned 14 in October. She was the sweetest, sassiest, and most loving girl. She was healthy and did not need any medical care most of her life. Three years ago she gave us a scare when her back gave out and the vet diagnosed her with a slipped disc and said she’d never be able to walk again without surgery. As she was already a senior puppy, we opted to try a natural remedy when she responded so well to the Meloxicam. I began cooking for her, adding turmeric and antioxidants to her food, also joint supplements. Lola ran up until her last day! A bit slower than she used to in her prime but she did. Last Friday we took her to the vet for a persistent cough. He said heart and lungs looked normal, diagnosed her with a collapsed trachea which is common for the breed. He gave her a shot and sent her home with meds. I never got to pick them up. She came home panting and agitated and I attributed it to the stress of the vet and worked to make her comfortable. She ate, drank, and played and was agitated when she got excited. I planned on calling the vet first thing Monday morning. We said good night and within half an hour her breathing stopped. She passed in bed with family, where she always slept, and wearing one of her pretty dresses. My heart broke to hold her limp, lifeless body and think of how much pain she may have been in her last moments. We may have been in denial so we rushed to the emergency vet where they said that even if they could bring her back she’d have substantial brain damage due to the lack of oxygen. She explained it sounded like a blood clot due to how suddenly it came on, and cited CHF as a possible cause. I am distraught to know or think I missed the signs. These stories have been so helpful in realizing that sometimes the signs are too late and sometimes there are none. My girl was pudgy in her last few months but we thought it was normal due to her impaired mobility from her back issue. I will say she did rally in her last weeks and that makes me happy. She went out on her terms, in her bed, in her pretty dress. I am just heartbroken I couldn’t help her live better or longer.
Dear Lizzy,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Lola. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am thankful she was able to be at home with you during those final moments. I hope with time the grief will begin to fade, and you can find peace. May Lola’s memory be with you always. ♥
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I’m so happy I found these comments. Our sweet Zane is leaving us tomorrow and I can’t understand what’s happening and how it’s happening so fast. He was diagnosed just on Wednesday and it’s happening so sudden. He had been hacking while eating and we just thought it was because he was eating too fast. So we kind of shrugged it off. Then it got worse for 2 days and then he began his labored breathing. We took him in and our vet said these were the end stages. It’s been a nightmare. My heart aches and I feel like I’m feeling his pain in my chest. I keep thinking I can save him but he just declined so fast. Looking back now it had been happening but it just took a turn for the worst so fast. I’m so sad and so heartbroken. This thread has given me so much comfort. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories even though you won’t read this.
Dear Holly,
I am sorry for your recent loss of Zane. I can only imagine how much you miss him and understand what a difficult decision it was to say goodbye. But I am certain it was the only way to offer him peace and that he knew how much he was loved. Thank you for sharing your story with us. As the days pass, I hope the grief will begin to fade. May Zane’s memory continue to be a blessing and wishing you all brighter days ahead.
Holly, I totally understand and I feel your pain. I lost my 9 year old Shorkie today. she was diagnosed with a slight heart murmur in April with no signs of anything being wrong … it was aggressive and last week ….on occasion, she made a little wheezing sound. Today, she had 2 episodes and I rushed her to the vet. She got upset and started a full blown attack … they rushed her to an emergency animal hospital and was put on oxygen with an IV and medication to calm her down. nothing was helping her. I had to make one of the hardest decisions. I’m devastated … she was so precious. I’m crushed and I can’t stop crying … she was my little angel girl. The vet helped me by telling me that I had made the right decision. it doesn’t feel right … but the thought of her being frightened or in pain was as difficult. I held her and told her how much I loved her. it’s so hard … but, like you … these comments have helped me. It’s true … the happiest hello is the day a dog comes into your life and the saddest is the day it leaves. Today was that day.
Dear Susan,
My heart aches for you with your loss of your beloved girl. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am certain she knew how much she was loved. I can’t think of a greater act of kindness than to allow your own heart to break in order to spare your pup from further pain and suffering. I hope with time the grief will begin to fade and you can find peace. Bless you. ♥
Susan…. your story feels similar to mine. My Chihuahua was diagnosed with a murmur at 7 and passed suddenly at 9 years old. He was asymptomatic until his final day when he had a respiratory crisis and died in my arms on the way to the ER. He was on medication and followed every 6 months by a cardiologist and an Echocardiogram. But 2 months after his last visit, he just woke me up, couldn’t breathe and passed. I was, and am still in total shock and grief. It’s only been 4 weeks and I can’t stop crying. I thought we were doing everything we could, but the doctors told us that sometimes the disease progresses quickly like this, and there is nothing you can really do. This little boy was my heart and I pray every day I did everything I could for him. But the pain lingers, and the grief continues. I hope it gets better soon. I just wish I had my Freddie-boy a little longer. Peace.
Dear Steve,
I am so sorry for your loss of Freddie. You absolutely did everything you could to ensure he remained happy and comfortable for as long as possible. I am certain he knew how much he was loved and that your presence was a comfort during his final moments. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal and the grief will fade. May Freddie’s memory be with you always. ♥
I came across this page while researching to find out the clinical signs of end stage CHF. My sweet girl Lucy is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who I brought home when she was 8 weeks. She’ll be 13 yrs old in 29 days. Like so many CKCS’s she has mitral valve disease, and has been in CHF for a little over 4 years. Due to her breed and a heart murmur diagnosis at a couple years of age, I monitored her for signs of CHF and caught it in the very early stages. She’s been on Pimobendan & Lasix since December of 2019. In the last few months the cough has been coming more often and she pants constantly. After an updated chest x-ray last month showed a significant increase in the size of her heart we upped her Lasix. Initially I would only hear her cough a few times a week then it increased to a few times daily. Today it’s obvious the end is very near. The coughing is getting more intense and raspy to the point she starts to gag. Her resting respiration was 48 just a few minutes ago. The decision to let her go will be absolutely devastating, but I will not allow her to suffer. I will be with her, comforting her until her last breath… I owe her that much.
Dear Jill,
My heart goes out to you as you face these final days with your beloved Lucy. She is very lucky to have had you by her side for the past 13 years taking such good care of her. I know you are dreading this goodbye, but am certain Lucy knows how much you love her. May the memories of all the good times you shared continue to be a blessing in your life. Wishing you peace and brighter days ahead. ♥
My heart goes out to everyone who has shared their stories here, because I know exactly how you feel. We lost our chiweenie, Lisbeth, a few days ago to end stage CHF. Although we knew this day would come eventually, you are never truly ready for it when it does come. This all started about a year ago when we noticed Lisbeth would cough occasionally and that her resting respiratory rate was higher than normal, especially in the evenings. When we brought her in to see her vet, he noticed that her heart rate was lower than it should be. A chest x-ray showed her heart was enlarged, and they could hear a grade 4 murmur. We took her to a veterinary cardiologist in April of 2024, who did a full work-up including an echocardiogram. The echo revealed problems with both valves, the mitral valve being the worst, and the ECG showed second degree heart block. The cardiologist suggested a permanent pacemaker to correct the heart block, but there was nothing to be done about the valve issues. With her heart so enlarged she was not a good candidate for valve surgery even if we could have afforded it. A couple of weeks later she had the pacemaker surgery and tolerated it well. The cariologist was happy with what he saw at her 1 month follow-up, and she did great for a while. Then about a month or so ago things started to go down hill. She was literally using her entire body to breathe. Her belly was distended and she was hit and miss on wanting to eat. You could see her losing muscle mass. She had no interest in playing or any other activity and slept most of the day. Giving her meds (she was on 4 different meds 3 times a day) was a stressful chore for her and us. We brought her to the vet this past Wednesday, January 15th. The vet examined her and said he could extract the fluid from her abdomen and increase her already large furosemide dosage (she was 13.8 lbs and taking 20mg 3 x a day already), but that all this was just a patch to possibly make her more comfortable. We could see how she was struggling, My wife and I finally asked our vet what he would do if this was his dog. His response was “if she were my dog I would let her go. She’s fought hard but has suffered enough, and it’s only going to get worse from here”. Heartbreaking as it was, we made the decision to end her suffering. No matter how much you know that logically we did the right thing for her, you are never ready emotionally for the loss you experience. The bond you build with a dog who loves you unconditionally and what the loss of that companionship does to you can only be understood by someone else whose experienced it. I feel for all of you who’ve experience a similar loss.
Dear Hector,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of Lisbeth. I can only imagine how much you miss her but feel certain she knew how much you loved her. What a blessing you were able to give her a peaceful passing and spare her from unnecessary suffering. Thank you for being willing to share your story with us. It gives comfort to others to know they are not alone when facing a similar situation. Wishing you brighter days ahead and may Lisbeth’s memory be with you always.
My boy Pepe is going through CHF currently. He’ll be 8 this 3/16/25. He was diagnosed back in February 2024 with a grade 3 heart murmur. We took him back April 2024 for a recheck and was notified he has CHF (stage C). He’s on (3) different medications and was responding well up until September 2024 when he got overly excited when we would come home from a quick grocery store trip. He ran outside the front door to greet us and fainted on our front lawn. We rushed him to the ER vet and they said his bloodwork and ekg came back good. He just got too excited for his little heart. Since then, we’ve blocked off our upstairs so he isn’t able to run up and down when we are gone. Our vet prescribed Trazadone as well to help with his anxiety. This past December, we notice he’s been more tired lately. He still loves to eat and will come running for food! That’s what makes me believe he’s doing ok for now. More recently, he’s been having a cough at night but it only lasts a second or two.
I take him outside to let him urinate, which he sometimes does. He still has a hard time settling in at night.
I’m torn on when I should make the decision to let him go peacefully. He’s on a prescription diet and we give him salmon, rice, and carrots twice a day to help with his medication. He has no problems eating and drinking and has not lost any weight. It seems at night is the only time he’s having these occasional episodes. I’m so heartbroken. We are looking into a procedure called TEER for him but his echocardiogram still needs to be reviewed by the team to see if he’s a good candidate. I don’t want to lose my boy, but I don’t want him to suffer. I just don’t know when to let him go. Sorry for the scattered thoughts. I’ve been up all night to make sure he’s ok.
Dear Ronald,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult diagnosis with Pepe. I think it is good you are focused on his quality of life and want to ensure he doesn’t suffer needlessly. From what you describe, it sounds like Pepe is still doing fairly well and is finding joy in life. When the bad days start to outnumber the good days, and when he is no longer “living” but merely existing, then it is time to let go. I will post links to other articles with more information and guidance on when to say goodbye. Pepe is very lucky to have you taking such good care of him. Wishing you all the best as you navigate this tricky path. Bless you and keep up the good work. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
I lost my girl, Sunny, last week. We found her as a stray and were able to contact her previous owners through her info from her microchip. They said they had moved and had left her behind with a neighbor who was no longer responding their calls. We were happy to keep her and we were so lucky to love her for 2 years.
On her first vet visit we learned she was about 10 years old and had a heart murmur and elevated kidney levels. We booked her a cardiologist appointment right away and got her medication to help keep the CHF at bay. Our cardiologist explained that CHF could happen at any time, but with medication we could delay it. As time went on her kidneys also began to fail her. She was so strong, though! She slowly came out of her kidney crisis and began to enjoy her food again and had tons of energy!
She was a sassy and feisty girl who loved going on walks and sunbathing. she loved exploring parks and barking at other dogs. On November 23rd, we had the best day ever. We went for a walk at a park, she chased after squirrels, barked at dogs, and sniffed everything! It was perfect. She came home and was still asking to play with her toys. The next morning she went for a grooming and when she came home everything was different. She coughed a lot and became very restless. Her breathing became very fast so we took her to an emergency vet. She was diagnosed with CHF. The emergency vet team did an amazing job treating her and trying to find the balance of medication that wouldn’t hurt her kidneys too much. She had recovered from her kidney crisis, but her kidney levels were still high.
Ultimately, her kidneys couldn’t keep up with the heart medication she had to be on after CHF. We tried to keep her as happy as we could. She had stopped eating, so her cardiologist suggested we lower the frequency of the heart medication to give the kidneys a break. She was happy and eating for a few days before her breathing became labored and fast again.
We made the decision to help her rest after she spent a sleepless night. Last Wednesday, I kept my promise that I would put her first and help her rest. We said goodbye and I got to hold her as she fell asleep one last time. My heart is shattered, but I know we made the right decision. I miss her everyday.
Dear Em,
My heart aches for you with your loss of Sunny. Bless you for being willing to take her in and give her a loving home for the last years of her life. Even though you did what was best, I understand the grief that comes with saying goodbye. I hope with time your heart can begin to heal and the memories of all the good times you shared will still bring you joy. Thank you for sharing Sunny’s story with us. Wishing you peace as you continue life’s journey.
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.❤️
Jen, I’m so sorry about Aspen. my blue heeler, Texy, had humane euthanasia yesterday., Nov 18th. I am distraught. she had congestive heart failure. She got me through the loss of my last dog before her, and the immeasurable loss of my entire family, and domestic violence trauma etc. she was my lifetime, my emotional support dog. I don’t know how I’m going to survive this. I have nothing left. no love. no friends. and I’m 60 years old with a painful,
auto immune/mobility disease. you are probably much younger. I urge you to seek counseling immediately. you can get it free, I’ll leave my email address here in case you need help finding help. Please don’t give up. This pain will pass. I’ve been through it before. if you find it. it’s an impulsive decision. please give yourself time to heal. it takes time. think of all the mothers in the world that lose little babies, children and older children and they survive. you have to hold on. Please listen to me. I’ve been in your shoes and I’m there again now. I’m so scared. my heart hurts profusely. I don’t know you but I send love to you . you are needed on this Earth. You are a beautiful Soul. We need God people like you on Earth. please email me if you want to talk, or write. I can help you. May God be with you. You treated Aspen like a child. like Gold. it’s normal what you are feeling.. very normal. I feel the exact same way you are feeling. email: [email protected]
Dear Laney,
My heart goes out to you as you mourn the loss of Texy. Bless you for reaching out and offering support and empathy to others while walking this emotional path yourself. I am praying for comfort and healing for your heart. Wishing you brighter days ahead and may Texy’s memory stay with you always. ♥