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Back to the Cardiologist

Sydneys Mom

Well-known member
Sydney has been on low doses of all his hearts meds (furosemide, enalapril, diltiazem, digoxin, vetmedin). For the past few weeks, I've been noticing some coughing coming back, and overall weakness in his hind legs. He's not panting but his breathing does sound nasally. He also groans alot and seems bloated.. We have an appointment with the cardiologist for Wednesday.

What it the usual course of treatment as symptoms become worse? Is it increasing the meds that he is currently on or are there other medications that help.

I'm having a real hard time with this. I feel like I'm losing a tiny piece of Sydney every day. He still has a good appetite, likes to walk around the yard and his major form of exercise is his constant wagging tail :p. But he does mostly sleep.

I guess I'm looking for your opinions and maybe some thoughts on what I should ask his doctor.
 
Hi,

Sorry to hear about sydneys condition getting slightly worse , it is tough.

When my dog scooby started to get worse the vet introduced PRilactone to help with the syncope episodes but as for the breathing we had to increase his dose of fruisimide and it seems to have helped. Scooby is the same he sleeps alot of the day now too , he has a little wander around and eats/drinks but he cant bark anymore and like you I feel iam losing a part of him with each passing day....

I hope the cardiologist can help him and take care.

Sharon and Scooby
 
I would echo Sharon, as my girl Lucy is on the same scheme of meds for the same reasons. We have had no syncope episodes for weeks now. :) If Syndey is looking bloated, perhaps some of that liquid can be aspirated off, or the diuretics increased at least short term. I have been told to do the latter a couple of times when Lucy is having any problems.

I think you do get to the point where you play it week to week, and then day by day. If a dog is still generally happy and content and not suffering and uncomfortable or struggling, Id just let them get on with their quiet sleepier phase of life they are now in.

I have learned to just take things as they come -- these dogs can really bounce back in surprising ways (my own vet says you just cannot make predictions with cavaliers -- they adjust to live with heart issues that would cause other breeds to go within days of onset).

I've now had three times in the past four months where I was sure we were looking at just a few weeks or days for Lucy. She is still snuffling about and demanding treats. :) But I also know she cannot keep going through these episodes and eventually the time will come for her to get her wings.

I hope your cardio can give a couple of suggestions to you. :flwr:
 
Thank you both.

Sharon, I have been reading about Scooby. What a fighter he is! Sorry Karlin, I didn't know that Lucy was going through the same thing. I know you both understand what I'm feeling, as do many others on the forum.

Part of my problem is that Sydney is my first dog! I don't know what to expect and all the information out there about the heart issues just seem to fly over my head. Just want to make sure I'm doing all the right things for him.
 
... Part of my problem is that Sydney is my first dog! I don't know what to expect and all the information out there about the heart issues just seem to fly over my head. Just want to make sure I'm doing all the right things for him.

I think that as long as your cardiologist is in the loop and making recommendations, I would follow his/her advice. I don't want to complicate things, but in the earlier stages of congestive heart failure (CHF), when the cardio starts prescribing a diuretic and an ACE-inhibitor for our cavaliers, we tend to give more holistic medications instead. But when the cavalier approaches the end stage, we go with what the cardio prescribes. The only exception has been Vetmedin/pimobendan. We are particularly cautious about that drug, because if the dog's heart is still strong, despite the CHF, it can do more harm than good. So we watch our dogs very carefully when they are on Vetmedin.
 
I don't want to complicate things, but in the earlier stages of congestive heart failure (CHF), when the cardio starts prescribing a diuretic and an ACE-inhibitor for our cavaliers, we tend to give more holistic medications instead. But when the cavalier approaches the end stage, we go with what the cardio prescribes. The only exception has been Vetmedin/pimobendan. We are particularly cautious about that drug, because if the dog's heart is still strong, despite the CHF, it can do more harm than good. So we watch our dogs very carefully when they are on Vetmedin.

Thanks Rod, but you have completely confused me as I know next to nothing about holistic medications. :sl*p: but I am willing to learn! Just for more info about Sydney, he is in a pretty serious state with his heart. The alaphebet list of his conditions is MVD, CHF, PAH, and arrhythmia. He was started on low doses of the meds so there would be room to add. Currently he's taking furosemide 25mg 1x daily, enalapril 5mg 2x daily, diltiazem 60mg 2x daily, digoxin .65mg 2x daily, vetmedin 2.5mg 2x daily. I would assume, in light of the change in his symptoms, some of these dosages will be upped.

So, I guess my question to you would be, what is the holistic approach and what harm can the Vetmedin cause? Thanks for your help.
 
Update on cardiologist visit

:updte:

Well, we were at the cardiologist yesterday. The good news is that the medications are helping to keep the fluid out of his lungs. The bad news is that he had fluid in his abdomen, around his heart and an enlarged liver. They were able to drain the fluid in his abdomen, so hopefully Sydney will be more comfortable now and his liver will go back to normal. The doctor said that this was the cause of the groaning. I can see the difference in his body size already, as they drained about a 1/3 liter. The doctor said it varies from dog to dog, but he may have to get his abdomen drained every so often and this type of fluid build up is better than having the fluid in lungs. Do any of you have experience with this type of draining?

Also, his medications were tweaked. The dosages of furosemide and vetmedin have been doubled and spironolactone has been added. He needs to go back next week for a recheck.

Today he just seems content to kick back and watch me do my thing around the house.
 
Hi Joyce,

Iam glad you have been to see the cardiologist today and that draining the excess fluid from his abdomen should give him relief......

He is on the same tablets as my dog scooby and new drug should help with any potential syncope episodes he may get in the future.

I hope sydney gets some stability and keeps on going..... I have thought so many times that scooby was going to lose his battle but he fights on...

Sharon and Scooby
 
UPDATE: More Medication, Viagra

UPDATE: More Medication, Viagra
Last week, when Sydney had abdomenal fluid drained, his cardiologist added another diuretic AND increased the doses of some of his other heart meds. Yesterday, one week later, we were back for a recheck. His abdomen is starting to fill with fluid again and the pressure in his lungs in increasing. Rather than increase the doses again which can damage his kidneys, we added Viagra to the mix. I hope this helps him. The good news is that they did a kidney panel and his kidneys are functioning great!

I know I should be happy that there are still treatment options for Sydney, but I just can't stop crying today. I have a constant knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat. I feel so afraid and lost. I don't even want to leave the house, just want to sit here and watch him sleep. I'm afraid he's going to wake up and need me and I won't be here. I know I'm rambling, I'm having a bad day and needed to get it out. I need to send this now, tears are getting on the keyboard. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I know all of you understand.
 
Last edited:
UPDATE: More Medication, Viagra
Last week, when Sydney had abdomenal fluid drained, his cardiologist added another diuretic AND increased the doses of some of his other heart meds. Yesterday, one week later, we were back for a recheck. His abdomen is starting to fill with fluid again and the pressure in his lungs in increasing. Rather than increase the doses again which can damage his kidneys, we added Viagra to the mix. I hope this helps him. The good news is that they did a kidney panel and his kidneys are functioning great!

I know I should be happy that there are still treatment options for Sydney, but I just can't stop crying today. I have a constant knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat. I feel so afraid and lost. I don't even want to leave the house, just want to sit here and watch him sleep. I'm afraid he's going to wake up and need me and I won't be here. I know I'm rambling, I'm having a bad day and needed to get it out. I need to send this now, tears are getting on the keyboard. Thanks for taking the time to read this. I know all of you understand.

What is the purpose of the viagara?
 
Hi Joyce,
Sorry to read that you are having a bad day, I've just started down the road of heart meds for Trapper and while he is in much better shape than he was a couple of weeks ago, I'm beginning to understand how difficult this can be :hug:
 
Hello Joyce

We are all here supporting you and Sydney ,all our thoughts to you two.

brian and
pops,daisy,rosie and lily :flwr:
 
I've just started down the road of heart meds for Trapper and while he is in much better shape than he was a couple of weeks ago, I'm beginning to understand how difficult this can be :hug:

Thanks Shirley...Sorry about Trapper. All the meds DO help. For me, the difficulty comes when I realize that is all the pills do, help. There is no cure and I know the symptoms, at some point, are going to get worse.


We are all here supporting you and Sydney ,all our thoughts to you two.

Brian, this is why I come to this forum. Thanks.
 
Just remember you are doing the best you possibly can for him to keep him comfortable. It sounds like you have a good cardiologist overseeing his treatment. I know its really difficult to think about it but try and remember that Sydney lives in the moment, he doesn't know why you are feeling sad. :hug:
 
Oh Joyce, I'm another one going through something very similar with my Victoria at the moment, and finding it even harder as it's coming so soon after losing my precious Megan too. She's on a similar mix of pills as Sydney, and I must say that I think the Spironolactone has been particularly helpful in cheering her up a bit. The trouble is that all these medications work well for a while and then, as the heart fails more and more, they just stop having such a good effect.

I've had several Cavaliers with heart failure in the past and they've all had problems with fluid in their lungs, but Victoria is the first to have such a swollen belly. I even got my vet to run blood tests and do an ultrasound scan in case there was something we were missing, but he thought all along that it was "just" her heart failure and, of course, he was right.

Nicki has made a suggestion about an older diuretic which she found helped reduce the belly fluid in the past and we are going to try it for the next few days, so I'll let you know how we get on.

Like you, I know that we are just "buying time", and it's so very painful to contemplate the inevitable, especially when they are pottering about and not seemingly in any great distress. It's especially hard for you as Sydney is your first dog and, marvellous as this Forum is for advice and support, it can be quite confusing if you've nothing to compare it with.

I think you must trust the vets you know, follow their advice, and just let Sydney tell you when he can't cope any more. Because he will, you know - all my previous doggies have taught me that, when their time comes, they somehow manage to let you know, even though you can't possibly imagine it now.

Meanwhile, let's all hold each other in our hearts, all around the world xx
cavsroundtheworldclipart.gif
 
Sandra and AnnMarie, you've both made me cry, but these are good tears knowing you care. Sydney's cardiologist is very through. I know we are doing everything we can for him and that the main thing is that he is still happy. He is such a sweetheart and lets the doctors poke and prod him without complaint. I come to here to learn from everyone here that has had experience with all these issues and to learn how best to help Sydney, BUT I also come here because I know the support I receive here isn't just words, but very sincere.

AnnMarie, I'm sorry that you too are going through the same thing with Victoria. I will keep you both in my thoughts and pray the the medication continues to help her.
 
I have written my post about 4 times now and each time I have deleted it. I wanted to share my experience with you as someone who just lost her dog(a peke) who had the heart issues. I wanted to go into detail but I don't think this forum needs that. I have shed tears just remembering back 2 months ago. But I will only write this, you are not alone. This forum is a great support system for those with health issues, I wish I knew of a forum to go to when I needed it the most. Wagtails is right, your CAV will tell you when its time. I needed him to tell me and I asked him to tell me. He finally showed me in no uncertain terms that it was time. Trust in your vet they will be there for you every step of the way.
I just want to give you a hug :hug:
Becky
P.s. sorry if this does not make sense. Trying to think while crying. sorry
 
Becky, hug received and thanks, I needed that. Sorry for the loss of your peke. I appreciate your sharing what is still a such an emotional event for you. I sitting here crying as I write this, but Sydney is watching me and wagging his tail so for right now everything is OK.
 
I don't have any good medical advice, but I just wanted to send you a big hug from Brooklyn and I. You must be going through a roller coaster of emotions right now, so let me know if there is anything I can do to help. We are thinking of you and Sydney!! :hug:
 
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