[Lara's mom]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Thank you but I do feel guilty that I didn't know more before that might of helped avoid this from happening. I am getting an x-ray of Max's heart this month and hope it is not a repeat of Corky. Will let everyone know what I find out.

Wrong!!! You did the very best you could do with the knowledge that you had at the time. How on earth could anybody be expected to do more?

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Wrong!!! You did the very best you could do with the knowledge that you had at the time. How on earth could anybody be expected to do more?

I agree. You did everything you could have done. Trust me, you did a lot more than 90% of dog owners would have done.

[CorkyMax]

Not very good news at all. I rushed Corky to the vet yesterday. He hadn't been very good for the past week or so. The meds didn't seem to be working. Yesterday, he went to get up from laying down and could hardly move--staggering and just out of it. I called the vet and told them I was bringing him in NOW. I had to carry him to the car as he just was not able to move on his own. In the 20 min or so that it took to get in the vet's office--Corky could at least walk on his own by now. The vet did an exam. I already knew his heartbeat was not good and that the fluid was building up again, stomach distended and the vet confirmed it all of course. Then a fine needle Aspirate was done--there was some blood in the sample of fluid. The reason for the staggering, etc---The heartbeat was very irregular ---flipflopping different directions and missing some beats and the heart rate was over 200. Did an EKG reading to try to figure the best med to give. So now Corky is also on Diltiazem to try and slow the heart beat down.
He appeared to be going to have the staggering again this morning so I gave him the med an hour earlier than I was due to give it--I think it helped. But I am afraid Corky will not be here much longer as things have progressed toward the worst. I have to take him back Friday afternoon for another EKG to see if this med to slow the heart down is helping the heart (This med does nothing as far as the rest of his conditions go). His birthday is a month away (june 13) and I don't think he will make that. It will be just luck if he lasts another week I am afraid. This will about kill me but if it is his time there is not much I can do about it--Have to accept it and let him go (for now). He is not in pain but I know he is not very comfortable and when he wants/needs to go -I do not want to hold him back! He is such a sweet, good dog!

He doesn't even want his favorite food--asparagus, anymore and I knew that was a bad sign. He is still eating but does not eat as much as he normally does--I have to force some of his pills now too as he won't take them all the time now wrapped in chicken or with cream cheese or peanut butter. His appetite is not as good--only wants meat. And I made liver treats the other day(1st in a long time) and he will take them. This past week I have been unable to coax him back in the house hardly at all. He wants to lay out there all night on the cold cement patio and I mean it is raining hard and in the 40's.
Been raining really hard last night and this morning (and more coming). I was up most of the night (morning) trying to get him back in--He was just soaked! Can't refuse to let him out as the furosemide is making him pee a lot---but not enough to get rid of the build-up that has happened this past week. This morning about 6am I had to go out with a leash to get him back in house and he didn't want to come that way either and I hate to pull on him with his condition as bad as it is. I was going to give both my boys a bully stick this morning but think I'll wait and use it to coax Corky inside tonight. Lol, I've never given this before but ordered a couple when I ordered more pills for Corky through Valley Vet. If your order totals at least $60.00--the $6.00 postage is waived and I needed about the price of these sticks to get to free postage.

Right now, Corky is laying (resting) on the glass coffee table-one of his favorite spots. Just hope he stays there until time for the next heart med.
Will find out how well the pill is working Friday so will prob. be back to tell if it is working or not.

[Lara's mom]

Oh sweetie...I'm so sorry to hear that. My heart is just breaking for you. I don't even know what to say right now. I'll email you. Please know that I'm praying for both you and your boy.

[cherylmartin]

Corky/Max

You know I am praying for you and thinking about you.

[Jeannie]

I wish Corky the best. I will be thinking about him and you.

[Todd]

I am so sorry. I am praying as well. I know how you must feel.

Speaking optimistically, I did a lot of research for you and here are some natural therapys that may help the conventional ones to slow the heart rate down that you may haven't be suggested yet...

Another method to slow the heart rate is to gently massage the carotid artery. This is another vagal maneuver. The arteries are found running up along both sides of the neck. Ask a professional medical doctor to demonstrate and show you how to do this correctly.

Keep a good level intake of potassium and magnesium because these chemicals will help to reduce the rapid heart beat. You can eat a variety of foods and vegetable and take daily supplements to ensure you are taking the daily recommended amounts. Consult your health care provider before ingesting any herbal or mineral supplements. Overdoses of potassium and magnesium can be very dangerous.

There is something new out there that you may want to look in to. It's called biofeedback. Take a look at these different links here on google;

biofeedback slow heart rate dog - Google Search

biofeedback slow heart rate dog - Google Search

Also have a look at these links where it talks about this therapy and use with dogs...

biofeedback dog - Google Search

biofeedback dog - Google Search

Again, I am so, so sorry for what has happened to you and you and your sweet dog will be in my prayers.

Todd

[CorkyMax]

Sorry to take so long answering-just wasn't in the best of moods. Was waiting also till after I got news on next EKG reading--which was late Fri. afternoon. He was a little better but not much so am having to increase the last heart med-diltiazem to double the amount given. Go back for another EKG this coming Wednesday.

Corky's body is in an almost constant quivering/shaking state. I only hope the increased meds will help---but will only help for so long (If it does at all) and I know the end is coming soon.

Thanks for your prayers and concerns. I have to accept that his time is coming soon and just love him up as much as I can while he is still here. Hopefully the next EKG will be better and that the increase in the dosage of the diltiazem gives him a bit longer stay. Actually at the moment he is resting/sleeping on the favored spot-the cool glass topped coffee table and is in a very rare time that he is not tremoring/shaking. His stomach is full of fluid now-ascites.--The furosemide is not doing as good as it was at first and he coughs more because of this. Even if the diltiazem finally helps the heart arrhythmia, (This does nothing for the fluid build-up) still have to try to get rid of some of this fluid --may have to add yet another med to the furosemide.

But Corky is not telling me that he is ready to go yet and I am still hoping when he does go, it will be quick and painless. If he gives me the signal that he doesn't want to be here anymore--I will have to comply and put him down. He still enjoys his food (If it is 'good stuff'--meat mainly)---He is picky now whereas he use to eat whatever I gave him with gusto. Pills now mostly have to be wrapped in raw meat whereas cream cheese and peanut butter worked before. (No wonder, I guess, that he is not eating as much ---19 pills a day (7 times for the meds and 5 for the taurine and L-carnitine and 7 other vits. and supplements--He has had about a full serving of meat just being wrapped around the pills!!) He likes to lay out on the cold patio at night---heartbeat being fast, makes him hotter. I am only glad that it is finally starting to warm-up outside and not raining so much. (With Wi. weather though--you never know--it changes easily from one extreme to the other). He comes in every so often to check on me and gives me licks on the ear (kisses)---Lol, originally these kisses were meant for the mouth but I always turned my head so they landed on my ear instead so he now thinks that is the place and aims for the ear.

He come back in house around 5-6 am and comes to the bedroom doorway to let me know he is in and ready for me to get up. Good thing (Lol, accept I could sure use some more sleep--I stay up till usually 12:30--1:00) because It is almost time for his meds and I prob. wouldn't get up in time otherwise. He wants a belly rub--morning ritual! He stays in house most of the day as it is cooler in here during the day. He does not have quite as good an appetite but will still get off that coffee table to come into the kitchen when I am fixing his meal.---so another sign that he is not ready for me to have to put him down. His tongue still looks 'healthy'--nice bright pink, wags his tail, greets me at door when I've been gone---goes to doggy door ramp and waits for me to say goodbye to him from the car as I go up the road when I do go somewhere. The thing is--if the heart arrhythmia doesn't change--He could just get too weak and collapse and go just because of that--suddenly. This might be the best way but I hope I am with him when he passes.
Will be posting also again after the next EKG and what the vet has to say.

Again thanks everyone for your support--esp. Lara's mom, Cheryl, Jeannie, and Tod --And Yogi (via the phone) It does help to know that you are there for me and Corky.

[cherylmartin]

Corky/Max,

Prayers again today for you and Corky and Max.

Hugs

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by cherylmartin

Corky/Max,

Prayers again today for you and Corky and Max.

Hugs

Thank you Cheryl--greatly appreciated!

[Tucker]

Corky/Max - I am so sorry to read about poor Corky - I hope all our thoughts and prayers for you both can somehow reach you and help you get through this a little easier, if that is possible.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Tucker

Corky/Max - I am so sorry to read about poor Corky - I hope all our thoughts and prayers for you both can somehow reach you and help you get through this a little easier, if that is possible.

Thanks Tucker, I know you understand how I am feeling as you are going through pretty much the same thoughts with your baby. Hope things are still going as good as possible for you too!

[Tucker]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Thanks Tucker, I know you understand how I am feeling as you are going through pretty much the same thoughts with your baby. Hope things are still going as good as possible for you too!

Yes, unfortunately we do have this in commom Tucker also craves coolness and often lays outside on concrete at night - not sure why. Hopefully they can regulated Corky's meds and make him more comfortable. Positive and comforting thoughts are being sent your way.

[Tucker]

How is Corky doing? Hopefully things are stable .... you are both in my thoughts.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Tucker

How is Corky doing? Hopefully things are stable .... you are both in my thoughts.

Will be taking Corky for another EKG tomorrow and am hoping that it is a better reading this time since heart med dosage was doubled---He doesn't seem to be shaking/tremoring as much but the increase in fluid retention does not look good and is coughing more than he was because of it. There is another pill that can be added to the furosemide to try to drain this--See what the vet says tomorrow. It is starting to warm up here so am not as concerned about him being outside all night. He is sleeping/resting on the glass topped coffee table right now. Inside during most of the day--cooler, and outside at night when it is cooler there. Give Tucker a hug for me! Thanks for thinking about us, and you take care too.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Corky/Max

Will be taking Corky for another EKG tomorrow and am hoping that it is a better reading this time since heart med dosage was doubled---He doesn't seem to be shaking/tremoring as much but the increase in fluid retention does not look good and is coughing more than he was because of it. There is another pill that can be added to the furosemide to try to drain this--See what the vet says tomorrow. It is starting to warm up here so am not as concerned about him being outside all night. He is sleeping/resting on the glass topped coffee table right now. Inside during most of the day--cooler, and outside at night when it is cooler there. Give Tucker a hug for me! Thanks for thinking about us, and you take care too.

Good luck tomorrow. I will be praying for the both of you and I'm sure many others will be too.

[CorkyMax]

Corky's EKG was much better but still not what I'd like to see---heartbeat is still not normal but is not as erratic as before and has slowed down to under 200---maybe about 160 or so---Vet has to take in to account that the 'visit' may make it higher than if Corky was home doing his usual thing--kind of like when a person's blood pressure can be up more when in the dr's. office. The coughing is not the type where he could be 'drowning' in his own fluids. Vet thinks he coughs more because of the pressure on everything, and even though he does have the fluid in him, Vet doesn't think it has increased that much---so am upping the dosage of the furosemide to 1 and a half times what he has been getting. If that doesn't help, will prob. start using a needle to drain off some of the liquid--which could bring some relief for a week to 3 weeks time and then would have to do again. I know this is just all buying Corky a little more time and making him more comfortable as he is in heart failure and the end is coming no matter what. I asked the vet what he thought and what he would do if it was his dog--about putting Corky down at this time---He wouldn't yet---so was glad to hear that.
Corky just came in to let me know it was supper time so guess I better go feed him before he changes his mind! Had a very good appetite last night but not so good today so far so don't want to push it.

No appointments coming up but Vet is going to call me next week and see how things are going and will play it from there. Imagine the only thing that might be coming up is the draining of fluid if it becomes necessary.

[Tucker]

Glad to hear that Corky is holding his own - I am sure you are doing everything he needs to be happy and as comfortable as possible. Still keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers...

[Lara's mom]

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

[cherylmartin]

Hugs and prayers for you, Corky and Max