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Congestive Heart Failure - Could I buy more time with my dog?

My 12 year old, 21lb mixed breed dog was euthanized on 11/16/13. She was diagnosed with CHF about 18 months ago, but showed no symptoms until April of this year when she began coughing. Putting her on Enalapril and Lasix had significantly reduced her coughing and she was doing fine for w while. She seemed to be getting tired more easily, but other than that she seemed happy. Then one day in July, she got excited and fainted. I rushed her to the vet, who had increased the dosages of meds she was already taking, adding Vetmedin to the mix. Then in October she fainted twice more, but was doing quite well otherwise. Over sudden, on Nov 8th she started getting bloated. I took her to the vet on Nov 11th, as the bloating was significant by then. He gave her Furosemide, Midazolam, Morphine and Acepromazine shots, put her in an oxygen cage for about 8 hours, and increased (yet again) dosages of meds. Her murmur level was 6 of 6 by then. The following day (Nov 12th) she seemed a little better, but by Nov 13th she was bloated again. I took her to the vet again, who drained the fluids from her belly and said that she should be ok for 3-5 days. Unfortunately, she started getting bloated the very next day and began breathing really hard. She completely stopped eating and I noticed that she lost a lot of weight. She seemed very uncomfortable without being able to breathe well, so much so, that on Nov 16th I took her to the emergency vet somewhere else (our regular vet is not open on weekends). After examining her, the vet recommended a 24hr oxygen therapy. She also recommended a cardiologist visit and a more aggressive treatment. Knowing that the prior 8 hr oxygen therapy and med dosage increase was ineffective and that I my dog went through 3 emergency vet visits in in one week, I have made a decision to end my her life by euthanasia.

I would like to know what would be the prognosis in (the best case scenario) if I decided to proceed with the 24 hr oxygen therapy and the change of meds for my dog instead of euthanizing her? Is there anything that could've been done to prolong her life (good quality life that is)?
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Avatar universal
You made the absolutely right choice for your dog (and I think you know that already). Honestly, even if she were maintained on 24hr oxygen and you increased all of her meds, you are not treating her failing heart, you are only reducing the side effects like fluid build up in her chest and abdomen. You would only be buying her more time, which, doesn't sound great trying to keep ahead of difficulty breathing. So sorry.
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974371 tn?1424653129
I am so sorry to read this.  As difficult as it is, I feel you made the right decision also.  There just is no quality of life there and you would only be prolonging the inevitable.
It is an act of love and kindness to end their suffering.
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for your replies. I found some comfort in your words, because I felt guilty for having my girl euthanized. I am devastated that she's gone and I can't find peace within myself. I did not write about my feelings in my original post, as I wanted a constructive, honest answer, rather than consolation to make me feel better, and that's what I received from you. Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I mean I received an honest answer that it.
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