[CorkyMax]

Has anybody ever had Furosemide prescribed for your dog? Naturally there are possible side effects. I would like to know what kind of experience you had with it. My vet wants to give it to my Corky to try and figure out why he has this cough. I am hesitating because of the possible side effects. Thanks.

[Todd]

mmm... not sure about the medication, but have you posted a thread asking what we think could be wrong with your dog? If not please give me some info if you'd like. I love me some investigating!!

[Yogi]

Is it a dry hacking cough? More so when he is exercising? Less when he is just relaxed and lying down.....

[CorkyMax]

I know that there are many causes for this cough and vets have a hard time figuring it out a lot of the time. The Furosemide was suggested to find out if he is retaining moisture and to see if it would dry up the fluid and stop the cough. If it does work--It still will not rule out heart problems and some other things---It would stop the coughing if fluid in the lungs---prob. the best bet would be caused by bronchial 'things' but still could be to do with the heart---Which is my main worry! Corky has a grade 3 heart murmur (had it for years). He is going on 12 yrs. old--and having had the 5th rabies vac. about 11 mon. ago---Afraid of what it could of done to his immune system and being able to fight off trouble for one thing. He does appear healthy enough otherwise--great appetite and can run like the dickens without it appearing to bother him. If it wasn't for the cough--which has gotten worse in the past month or so--You would not know anything was wrong. This last Sunday he was coughing constantly--Was wondering if I should take him to the vet right then but it finally slowed down in the afternoon. (Always on a Sunday!!) He has had an ear infection. Culture showed 3 dif. strains of bacteria but treated him with meds that was suppose to clear up all 3 kinds. Still having ear infection!! I thought maybe the ear problem and the cough might be connected--Vet didn't think so but I still wonder!! Yogi: The cough does appear to be fairly dry but don't think it is a loud hacking cough---Vet kind of ruled out this kind--although of course when the vet was examining him--no coughing!!! And it is better when he is up and walking or running. Running -so far, has not brought on any coughing. Worst at rest--sometimes he starts coughing when he is asleep, or if he moves a little while he is resting I thought maybe the moisture in the air would be an influence but it can happen more at night sometimes and then again it can be sessions at any time. It can go sometimes for 4-5 hrs and no cough but once he starts --It is drawn out for a couple of hrs. He acts like he is trying to get something out of his throat and once (is all) he coughed so long, he did spit out a little white stuff--but only pure white. If this keeps up (and it prob. will) will prob. have to get x-rays of the heart. And in about 2-3 wks if nothing changes, I am getting his heartworm check. Todd: Thanks for checking on things. I have been doing a lot of research too--quite a bit today in fact. I noted that golden retrievers are a breed mentioned for heart problems/failure. And that some cockers can have a prob.related to not possibly having enough taurine in their system and causing heart problems. Corky is a cocker/golden mix. Max the pure cocker has a heart murmur also. Guess a lot of dogs get murmurs and they may not amount to much---Still think all the meds, vacs, and crappy dog food (although my dogs don't get this dog food!) contribute to these probs.--esp. when dog gets older and have been subjected to so much by this time!

[Todd]

would I be correct in assuming that he's already been checked for kennel cough?

Here's some info I found online;

Cough due to heart disease may be accompanied by a murmur or abnormal heart rate or rhythm. (He has a heart murmur right?)

Animals with heart failure, collapsing trachea and lung edema cough more at night than during the day. (you said he coughs more at night while sleeping right?)

Cough caused by heart disease may follow exercise or excitement. (Key word "after" not during. Does this apply to him?)

Middle aged to older dogs are more likely to have heart disease due to leaky valves. (He's an older dog right?)

Cough can be caused by heart disease, which is diagnosed by a chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram which measures the electrical activity of the heart, and often by a heart ultrasound which allows the veterinarian to view the inside of the heart, including the valves and the thickness of the walls of the heart muscle. Heart disease may cause heart enlargement that puts pressure on the airways causing cough or the heart may fail and lead to edema of the lungs.

*I think a really may have found something here (let me know what you think);

Mitral Valve Disease and Heart Failure

What is the mitral valve?

The heart has four chambers. The upper chambers are called atria (singular: atrium), and the lower chambers are called ventricles. The heart is also divided into right and left sides.

Blood flows from the body into the right atrium. It is stored there briefly then pumped into the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps blood into the lungs where it receives oxygen. It flows from the lungs into the left atrium where it is held a few seconds before going into the left ventricle. The left ventricle is surrounded by the largest and strongest of the heart muscles. This large muscle is necessary to pump blood to all parts of the body.

Each side of the heart has a valve to keep blood from going backward from the ventricles to the atria. The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is called the mitral valve. Because of the very large pressure created when the left ventricle contracts, the mitral valve wears out in many dogs. This wearing out process begins with a small leak that gradually gets more severe.

How common is mitral valve disease?

This is the most common cause of heart failure in small dogs. Large breeds have a lower incidence.

What are the consequences of a leaking mitral valve?

The earliest sign of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. This is produced by the turbulence created when some of the blood goes backward through the leaking valve and into the left atrium. Many dogs develop a murmur from the mitral valve as early as six years of age. This problem is especially common in small breeds of dogs; most of them will have a murmur by 10 years of age. A murmur does not mean that heart failure is imminent. But as time goes on, the leak becomes more severe and more and more blood goes backwards. This results in reduced pumping efficiency and, eventually, congestive heart failure. From the time a murmur develops, it may be a few months to several years until heart failure occurs.

How will I know if heart failure is present?

When the heart is not properly pumping blood, the blood moves more slowly through the lungs. This results in small amounts of fluid leaking out of the capillaries into the air passageways. This fluid collection produces the earliest signs of heart failure. These include attempts to gag up fluid from the lungs (as if trying to clear the throat), a chronic, hacking cough,

Does that mean that heart failure will occur soon?

Congestive heart failure begins when the body is not able to provide blood with adequate oxygen for the tissues. Without adequate oxygen, the body's cells become desperate and trigger a series of responses. Various hormones are released in an attempt to correct the problem. These hormones conserve fluid in an effort to increase blood volume and the output of blood and oxygen by the heart. For several months, these compensatory responses help the situation. Eventually, the increased fluid retention becomes a detriment. More and more fluid leaks out of capillaries causing increased gagging and coughing, reduced stamina, and increased fluid collection in the abdominal cavity and body tissues. Fluid in the lungs is called pulmonary edema, fluid below the skin is called peripheral or limb edema, and fluid in the abdomen is called ascites. When these are present, congestive heart failure is present.

What tests are done to assess the situation?

There are several tests that are used. All provide valuable information while looking at different aspects of heart function.

Listening with a stethoscope (auscultation). This valuable tool allows us to identify murmurs, their location and intensity, an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and it also allows veterinarians to hear lung sounds. This aids in their understanding of what is happening within the lungs.

Blood and urine tests. These do not give direct information about heart function, but they allow an understanding of other disorders in the body that may impact on heart function and treatment of heart disease.

Chest radiographs (x-rays). These provide the best look at the lungs and a view of the size and shape of the heart. In most cases, dilated cardiomyopathy causes tremendous enlargement of the heart. These changes are usually very apparent on x-rays.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This is an assessment of the electrical activity of the heart. It accurately determines the heart rate and to more accurately identify any arrhythmias which might be present.

Ultrasound examination (Sonogram, Echocardiogram). This examination uses sound waves which bounce off the structures of the heart and are read on a TV-like monitor. It gives the most accurate determination of the size of each heart chamber, and permits measurement of the thickness of the heart walls. This is seen on the monitor in actual time so the contractions of the heart can be evaluated. Certain measurements can be taken which allow the actual strength of the heart's contraction to be measured as a number and compared to the normal animal. Ultrasound may not be available in all private veterinary practices because of the additional training needed to learn how to perform the examination and because of the cost of the equipment.
The combination of all of these tests give the best evaluation of the dog and its heart function. If cost considerations prohibit performing all of them, two or three will provide much valuable information.

Is there a treatment for a leaky mitral valve and heart failure?

A leaky heart valve can be replaced surgically in people. This is usually not feasible in dogs. There are several drugs that will improve heart function, even in the presence of a leaky valve.

1. Diuretics. These drugs stimulate the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body.

2. Nitroglycerin. This drug dilates the veins throughout the body, especially the ones going to the heart muscle. This permits better heart contractions and allows blood to move more freely to the other body tissues. It is only effective for 1-2 days before the body builds tolerance (resistance) to it.

3. Digitalis. This drug improves heart function in several ways, including the regulation of excess hormones that have been released, slowing the heart rate, and strengthening each contraction of the heart.

4. Enzyme blockers. These are relatively new drugs that can directly block the compensation system that has gotten out of control. They are proving extremely effective in giving dogs added months or years of quality life.

5. Vasodilators. These drugs dilate the arteries and veins of the body to permit better blood flow. They may be used long-term because they continue to be effective, as opposed to the short-term effects of nitroglycerin.

6. Salt restricted diet. Dietary salt restriction prevents retention of excessive fluids. Several veterinary prescription diets are available to achieve this.

Not all of these drugs are used in each dog in heart failure. The results of the various tests will determine which ones are appropriate.

How much longer will my dog live?

There are many factors that must be considered before that question can be answered. The results of the tests are important, and the response that occurs within the first few days is another indicator. If response does not occur within a few hours to days, the prognosis is not good. Most dogs that stabilize quickly will live for many months or a few years.

[Yogi]

This medication is primarily used in the treatment of CHF (Congestive heart failure). Dogs with CHF go through a couple of stages. The fluid is not necessarily in the lungs which many assume is the reason for the cough but actually builds up around the heart putting pressure on it. When the dog becomes excited or exerts energy the heart attempts to expand as with any living animal with a heart. Problem is that the fluid restricts the expansion thus causing the coughing or dry hack. I went through this a couple years ago. Mine was on it for nearly 2 years before succumbing to CHF. She had no side effects and actually did very well. Was able to still be playful and energetic right up to the end. She passed away at just over 16 years of age.
Just to note, a dog with CHF can in fact have coughing bouts while exercising or during periods of excitement. Mine was living proof of that. Even my vet noted that the statement that it only occurs after, is misleading and simply incorrect. I researched it at the time and this threw me off originally as to CHF until he explained this to me. Not everything on the internet is correct so we need to be careful to get a veterinarians observation and input.
After about a year of the treatment the CHF started to get worse and at that time she went on Enalapril and a low dose of Digoxin. Digoxin is the one that can have serious side effects to the liver and kidneys.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Todd

would I be correct in assuming that he's already been checked for kennel cough?I had Corky in to the vet before and vet would of caught that---Also Corky never is around other dogs than the other dog I have. He does not have access to a park and I have never boarded him. He is mainly in my fenced in back yard when not in the house.

Here's some info I found online;

Cough due to heart disease may be accompanied by a murmur or abnormal heart rate or rhythm. (He has a heart murmur right?)Yes, he does.

Animals with heart failure, collapsing trachea and lung edema cough more at night than during the day. (you said he coughs more at night while sleeping right?) There appears to be more coughing while he is at rest--day or night and it seems to be triggered also when he does a little moving while resting.

Cough caused by heart disease may follow exercise or excitement. (Key word "after" not during. Does this apply to him?)He can go out and run and it doesn't happen while or after running. Does not show signs of being out of breath either. Appears very healthy at this time.

Middle aged to older dogs are more likely to have heart disease due to leaky valves. (He's an older dog right?)He will be 12 on June 13.

Cough can be caused by heart disease, which is diagnosed by a chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram which measures the electrical activity of the heart, and often by a heart ultrasound which allows the veterinarian to view the inside of the heart, including the valves and the thickness of the walls of the heart muscle. Heart disease may cause heart enlargement that puts pressure on the airways causing cough or the heart may fail and lead to edema of the lungs.I am hoping it is not heart disease but that is what I mainly suspect. I will be getting a chest x-ray next after trying the Furosemide and also a heartworm check if things don't improve. The vet doesn't think it could be heartworm as much but I am still going to check it. It will be time to do the blood test for that in a couple months anyhow but I may check it sooner.

*I think a really may have found something here (let me know what you think);

Mitral Valve Disease and Heart Failure

What is the mitral valve?

The heart has four chambers. The upper chambers are called atria (singular: atrium), and the lower chambers are called ventricles. The heart is also divided into right and left sides.

Blood flows from the body into the right atrium. It is stored there briefly then pumped into the right ventricle. The right ventricle pumps blood into the lungs where it receives oxygen. It flows from the lungs into the left atrium where it is held a few seconds before going into the left ventricle. The left ventricle is surrounded by the largest and strongest of the heart muscles. This large muscle is necessary to pump blood to all parts of the body.

Each side of the heart has a valve to keep blood from going backward from the ventricles to the atria. The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle is called the mitral valve. Because of the very large pressure created when the left ventricle contracts, the mitral valve wears out in many dogs. This wearing out process begins with a small leak that gradually gets more severe.

How common is mitral valve disease?

This is the most common cause of heart failure in small dogs. Large breeds have a lower incidence.

What are the consequences of a leaking mitral valve?

The earliest sign of a leaking mitral valve is a heart murmur. This is produced by the turbulence created when some of the blood goes backward through the leaking valve and into the left atrium. Many dogs develop a murmur from the mitral valve as early as six years of age. This problem is especially common in small breeds of dogs; most of them will have a murmur by 10 years of age. A murmur does not mean that heart failure is imminent. But as time goes on, the leak becomes more severe and more and more blood goes backwards. This results in reduced pumping efficiency and, eventually, congestive heart failure. From the time a murmur develops, it may be a few months to several years until heart failure occurs.

How will I know if heart failure is present?

When the heart is not properly pumping blood, the blood moves more slowly through the lungs. This results in small amounts of fluid leaking out of the capillaries into the air passageways. This fluid collection produces the earliest signs of heart failure. These include attempts to gag up fluid from the lungs (as if trying to clear the throat), a chronic, hacking cough,

Does that mean that heart failure will occur soon?

Congestive heart failure begins when the body is not able to provide blood with adequate oxygen for the tissues. Without adequate oxygen, the body's cells become desperate and trigger a series of responses. Various hormones are released in an attempt to correct the problem. These hormones conserve fluid in an effort to increase blood volume and the output of blood and oxygen by the heart. For several months, these compensatory responses help the situation. Eventually, the increased fluid retention becomes a detriment. More and more fluid leaks out of capillaries causing increased gagging and coughing, reduced stamina, and increased fluid collection in the abdominal cavity and body tissues. Fluid in the lungs is called pulmonary edema, fluid below the skin is called peripheral or limb edema, and fluid in the abdomen is called ascites. When these are present, congestive heart failure is present.

What tests are done to assess the situation?

There are several tests that are used. All provide valuable information while looking at different aspects of heart function.

Listening with a stethoscope (auscultation). This valuable tool allows us to identify murmurs, their location and intensity, an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) and it also allows veterinarians to hear lung sounds. This aids in their understanding of what is happening within the lungs.Corky has the heart murmur which had been put at a grade 3 --Now the vet is saying a 3 or 4--Whether it has changed 1 stage or not for sure-?--I don't know and wondering if the vet knows for sure. I think these are graded from 1-6, with 6 being the worst stage. He didn't hear, feel, see any problems that would indicate if something had changed or something was going on--but then you need an x-ray or some other tests/checks, etc to really tell more! He checked him a couple times within a week or so (When I had him in for ear infection too) and didn't 'see' anything

Blood and urine tests. These do not give direct information about heart function, but they allow an understanding of other disorders in the body that may impact on heart function and treatment of heart disease.He had a blood panel done which was pretty okay--His liver reading has been high for years---According to my vet--this is a common thing! I wonder why!!

Chest radiographs (x-rays). These provide the best look at the lungs and a view of the size and shape of the heart. In most cases, dilated cardiomyopathy causes tremendous enlargement of the heart. These changes are usually very apparent on x-rays.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). This is an assessment of the electrical activity of the heart. It accurately determines the heart rate and to more accurately identify any arrhythmias which might be present.


Is there a treatment for a leaky mitral valve and heart failure?

1. Diuretics. These drugs stimulate the kidneys to remove excess fluid from the body.

2. Nitroglycerin. This drug dilates the veins throughout the body, especially the ones going to the heart muscle. This permits better heart contractions and allows blood to move more freely to the other body tissues. It is only effective for 1-2 days before the body builds tolerance (resistance) to it.

3. Digitalis. This drug improves heart function in several ways, including the regulation of excess hormones that have been released, slowing the heart rate, and strengthening each contraction of the heart.

Took some of the text out here--Too long to post!

How much longer will my dog live?

There are many factors that must be considered before that question can be answered. The results of the tests are important, and the response that occurs within the first few days is another indicator. If response does not occur within a few hours to days, the prognosis is not good. Most dogs that stabilize quickly will live for many months or a few years.I hate to think about it but Corky's life expectancy is prob. not more than a couple more years--esp. if he has the life expectancy of the Golden Retriever--but if he goes with the Cocker Spaniel part of him, maybe an extra year.
Sigh! So either way --heart disease or not I am going to prob. lose him --long before I ever want to. I will never be ready for it whenever it happens.

Thanks Todd for taking the time to find this info. Guess I will have to just wait and see how things go with each step as it comes along. If the Furosemide dries up the fluid that may be causing the cough--I still will not know if it is the heart for sure but as Yogi has told me if it stops the cough that is a good thing and is helping anyhow. Will proceed with whatever I have to when the time comes to do something else.

This was too long a post, so had to shorten some of the quote as it would not 'take' otherwise!

[Todd]

Well, I wish you and your dog good luck. He is pretty old for his breed, so even if he did have a heart condition, it probably won't shorten his lifespan much considering he's already pretty darn old. By the way (if you don't mind me asking) what does his diet consist of? Also, along with conventional therapy I might try supplementing his diet with some fish oil. Here's an excerpt from an article I am currently working on for a dog health website;

Healthier Heart

Not only are omega fatty acids (found in fish oil or whole fish) beneficial when it comes to coat and skin health, for they are also very beneficial to your dog’s cardiovascular health. Statistics show that 1 in every 10 dogs die from Congenial Heart Disease. Even more shockingly, a global study conducted by several canine cardiologists representing the organization known as Cardiovascular Insight, concluded that 25% of all small to medium-sized dogs over the age of seven are likely to suffer from heart disease at some point in their lifetime.[1] Don’t let these statistics scare you. There is plenty you can do to greatly reduce the risk of heart disease in your dog. In order to ultimately reduce the risk of your dog contracting any form of heart disease, you must take a proactive approach by adding fish, regularly, to your dog’s prey model raw diet. Not only can adding fish help prevent heart failure in dogs, but it can help combat heart failure as well. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, dogs with heart failure had lower levels of EPA and DHA than their healthy counterparts. Supplementing with omega 3 fatty acids (present in fish) rich in EPA and DHA greatly improved the survival rates for all dogs.[2]

And yes incase you were wondering, dogs can in fact take human fish oil capsules.

[CorkyMax]

Originally Posted by Yogi

This medication is primarily used in the treatment of CHF (Congestive heart failure). Dogs with CHF go through a couple of stages. The fluid is not necessarily in the lungs which many assume is the reason for the cough but actually builds up around the heart putting pressure on it. When the dog becomes excited or exerts energy the heart attempts to expand as with any living animal with a heart. Problem is that the fluid restricts the expansion thus causing the coughing or dry hack. I went through this a couple years ago. Mine was on it for nearly 2 years before succumbing to CHF. She had no side effects and actually did very well. Was able to still be playful and energetic right up to the end. She passed away at just over 16 years of age.
Just to note, a dog with CHF can in fact have coughing bouts while exercising or during periods of excitement. Mine was living proof of that. Even my vet noted that the statement that it only occurs after, is misleading and simply incorrect. I researched it at the time and this threw me off originally as to CHF until he explained this to me. Not everything on the internet is correct so we need to be careful to get a veterinarians observation and input.
After about a year of the treatment the CHF started to get worse and at that time she went on Enalapril and a low dose of Digoxin. Digoxin is the one that can have serious side effects to the liver and kidneys.

Thanks Yogi for telling me about your experience with the Furosemide and what to look out for if I have to go to other drugs if this turns out to be CHF and it progressively gets worse. It sounds like I have to try it ---things will prob. not get better on their own no matter what is causing the cough. Thank you.

[Yogi]

No problem, as I said being that I have had far more dogs in my lifetime than most will come close to has unfortunately subjected me to the greater likelihood of dealing with health issues far more often than most ever will.
Abbey did great with this med and as we discussed, using it for the period as discussed is the best way that I found.
Good luck.

[CorkyMax]

Yes, I have been giving my 2 boys Double Strength Omega-3 Fish Oil-1200 mg (600 mg EPA/DHA)-Purified to eliminate mercury.--for a long time now--I usually give it about 5 times week. (And it is a human grade capsule (Puritan's Pride) I also give CoEnzyme 10 (30 mgs--although I have upped Corky's to 60 mgs in the past few days. And they get Vitamin E also. By the way since you are studying about the fish oil---Do you know that you should give Vitamin E because the fish oil can deplete this over time? They also get a low dose dog multi-vitamin to round things out--so to speak!

As far as the diet--I feed raw and some home-cooking. The raw consists of meat--chicken, hamburger, ground turkey, turkey (no fat or skin--turkey fat is very dense--worst kind), venison---never raw fish or raw pork (parasites), beef not very often--too expensive! I garden mainly to have fresh raw veggies--pulverized to break up the celuloid walls as dogs can not digest vegs. well otherwise. And living in WI--I freeze my veggies for winter meals!
Corky is crazy about raw asparagus and green beans as well as pea pods.
I will add a few 'good' bread cubes to it at times to soak up things that are too liquidy like tomatoes. I also add a splash of vinegar to this supper every night--about a teaspoon or a little more---Bragg Organic Raw~Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar--(The best and expensive--Hard to find but my groc. store carries it--lucky!) Oh yeh, Corky loves raw chicken necks too but I have to buy 40# at a time and usually don't have room in the freezer so he doesn't get a whole lot of them. I give variety in all things.

Home-cooking is mainly the 1st meal of the day and is usually oatmeal or malt o-meal (not chocolate kind!) I will add a raw egg yolk when it is cooled down enough so it doesn't cook the yolk. I add the white to the hot pan of cereal and stir till it turns white-thus cooked, although I give the white raw too at times. Controversy over raw whites depleting the B vitamins but have also heard that the yolk more than makes up for the small loss. And don't say anything about salmonella--If dog is healthy-Will not cause a problem. Actually there is more than 1 strain of salmonella found in a single bag of commercial dog food a lot of the time! I also add pure pumpkin from a can or from my garden (NO PIE FILLING w/the sugar added!) at times --little plain unflavored yogurt and if I have a few scraps of cooked chicken sometimes. I even put cinnamon in their hot cereal sometimes. I also add a quarter to a half a teaspoon of crushed fine egg shells most of the time for calcium. Meat depletes calcium and they are not getting the bones i would like them to have. If I could afford a 'good' grinder I would do bones that way! And once or twice a week I give them canned salmon or mackerel for a breakfast meal with added raw egg--white raw here too. I have been adding a little cottage cheese and a few 'good' bread cubes as well as the yogurt. I am going to stop with the cottage cheese and other things that have salt because of the heart problems--both have mur-murs for sure.

And once in a while supper is cooked if I get a deal on pork or chicken thighs/legs because I will not give raw pork and the chick. thighs/legs are too hard to cut the raw meat off of the bone. I cook (boil) the meat first--with some vinegar added to help leach out the minerals-calcium mainly--Take meat out of pot and add chopped (Been putting raw in the food processor lately and cooking it that way--pulverized---Figure it will cook faster and not destroy the vitamins so much---Heat destroys vitamins--the one thing I have against cooking over raw. You can imagine how much good stuff is left in commercial dog food! Also I don't have to mash after the cooking! I also add turmeric (Got that idea from Lara's Mom!) sometimes and sometimes--dried (or fresh when I have it) basil and oregano--These are good for digestion and other things I can't think of right now.

Better stop or this post won't make it either because of being too long!:mrgreen:

Oh, and I dehydrate sweet potato/yam slices for their treats which I sprinkle cinnamon on 1st.. And I actually found a 'better' milkbone with no bad preservatives---They preserve with mixed tocopherols (vitamin E). I pay a dollar for a 26 oz. box--Called Shep and I get it at an Aldi's store--Ever hear of that place?

[CorkyMax]

I took Corky in to the vet yesterday for an x-ray of his heart and a check for Heartworm. I couldn't wait it out for just trying the furosemide (which I hadn't started yet). The cough was happening too constantly and I didn't want to go through another weekend worrying about it becoming an emergency. His heart is enlarged pretty bad--I thought a copy of all the findings was sent home with me with other paperwork I received but either the vet forgot to include it or I had to ask for it! (He knows I always want copies of everything!?)--So I don't know if I am telling this exactly right--The enlargement was graded I think a 15 and should be about an 11--Vet said pretty bad. He does not have heartworm according to the blood test--Thank God for that much. I was prescribed the Furosemide and Enalapril. Have only given one dose of the furosemide--this morning--too soon to tell as I just gave it to him 2 hrs ago--although he is not coughing since and he was before--But can it work that fast?! The Enalapril I will start a little later today. The meds should make a big improvement but I just wonder how long he has. It is hard to say--hopefully another 2 yrs. at least!
Will keep you posted as to how well the meds are helping the cough. And thanks Yogi for all the info on the experiences you have had with the furosemide--or I'd prob. be still debating to take action! And Todd, thanks for all the time you spent gathering info on the heart disease.

[beaglechase]

my beagle is taking furosemide. he is a rescue...i adopted him from a vet clinic... he's 8-10 yrs old...so i'm guessing about 9...before i got him...they had him at the clinic for about a year....he had severe heartworm infestation, which they treated with immiticide, and then had been diagnosed with CHF which when i got him i was told his meds were vetmedin 2.5mg 2x daily, enalapril 5mg 2x daily, and furosemide 12.5mg 2x daily....all for life.....

my vet, not the same one i got him from....has told me i can discontinue the furosemide.... i thought the furosemide was long term and i'm confused....i've been reading about it, and most of the stuff i'm reading says long term use, but i've also seen articles about discontinuing after edema is gone??? the info i have from the first vet says to continue long term....

i love my old man beagle and don't want to do anything to jeopardize his health.... i'm in a quandry....please help!!!!!

[Lunareclipse]

If it's not hurting him, I don't see why you can't continue. You vet said you can discontinue use, not that you SHOULD discontinue use. If you need a second opinion, go to another vet.

[beaglechase]

thanks lunareclipse...love the doggie quotes!!!! i think when i went to my vet he didn't get all the info from the prior vet.....my current vet is a low-cost clinic.....this was his assistant, the main vet is really awesome, but since they are low priced...they are always swamped.....and i think was just an oversight.....

i read everything re:my dogs meds..... when bella was diagnosed hw positive, and i was told the treatment, i learned more about immiticide....it's use and consequences if i didn't follow instructions to a *T* and the heart and how it functions than i ever thought i would know in my life!!!! i read about the CHF treatment for baron, and learned all about epilepsy/treatments when bella started having seizures..... she is on meds now and is doing great!!!!!

both my babies are rescues and they have helped to heal my heart after losing my katie beagle to cancer 5 months ago..... i truly think it's no coincidence that DOG is GOD spelled backwards.....

[Lunareclipse]

One of my saint bernards died from epilepsy. She had a seizure that gave her a heart attack. If you ever need any advice or support in that area, I can help.