My dog has CHF

[Veronica57]

My almost 9 year old papillon was diagnosed today with CHF.  My vet took xrays of his lungs and showed me the enlarged heart and edema.  He always had a heart murmur which was a stage 3 in late November, progressed to stage 5 today.  He began coughing, and vomiting over the weekend so I knew something was up.  He had a Lasix shot today, nitroglycerin applied to his ear and is now going to take Vetmedin 1/2 tablet twice per day, Enalaparil, 1/2 tab twice per day and Lasix 12.5 mg. bid.  I'm sad that this has happened to him at such a young age, but pray we can have him around for a few more years.  My problem is......he has always been a stinker at taking pills.  If I put them in cheese he eats the cheese and spits out the pill.  Any suggestions?

[Kyburks1982]

Did he stay on the meds for the next 3 years? Did y I always get your meds from the vet or did you find a cheaper way to get meds? Thanks again for your time.

[Kyburks1982]

Sorry to hear about your dog Veronica. I’m experimenting the same thing right now, my papillon is 9 and just got diagnosed with exactly what your dog has. How did the meds work? How long did your dog survive after being diagnosed??

[Veronica57]

Winston lived for a little over 3 years but we had some pretty serious setbacks along the way.  My vet wanted to put him down a year earlier and I refused.....found that when he had a bad breathing episode a shot of Lasix would bring him out of it.  One morning he just wasn't himself and I knew it was time,  his breathing was so labored.  I've missed him so much since I put him down.  Sad thing is, my other papillon was his buddy and when Winston died we realized he was partially blind, deaf and had dementia.  He was surviving by following his brother around.  He also developed CHF and only lived another two years also.  Good luck with you Pap......its hard to watch them get old and sick, but I just loved on them and let them know I was there for them.  That helped me a lot in the end.  Let me know how things go from time to time.  You're going to have lots and lots of good times with your dog....it's a slow progression.  

[Kyburks1982]

Thank you so much for this info! She is in grade 3 or stage 3. I’m sorry to hear about your beloved dog but it sounds like you made his quality of life so good! I love my pap she is the greatest dog ever I hate to see her get old and sick. I will keep you updated!! Thank you so much for your response!

[Kyburks1982]

Did he stay on the meds for the next 3 years? Did y I always get your meds from the vet or did you find a cheaper way to get meds? Thanks again for your time.

[Veronica57]

Thank you so much for the help.  I have discovered the convenience of baby food.  I crush the pills and put them in baby food chicken or turkey.  Works like a charm.  I am hoping that I have him around for quite awhile longer.  Thanks again Jerry.

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry to read of your dog's heart problem.

Interesting question on getting a dog to eat pills.  Is it possible to break the pill(s) into smaller pieces?  I'd not do that without the vet's approval... but the smaller the easier to hide.

I have the same pill problem with our Westie.  He has some food allergies too limiting what I can offer a pill in.

Cheese is the usual trick, but works best if the dog really likes it.  Meat is often wolfed down, have you tired any?  I recall using some tuna with our dog and that works sometimes.  I also tried with no success forcing a pill down the throat.. but that works for some dogs.  Force the mouth open, place the pill far back on the tongue then hold the mouth closed and rub the neck.  I didn't have any luck with this method on our Westie.

Good luck all around, hope the meds gives all a better quality of life.