summerwalk
Member
Hi,
My cav Da Vinci is refusing to eat this morning. His appetite has been gradually getting worse over the last two weeks, but I have cajoled and enticed him to eat with some success, but this morning he flat out refused.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
He has been taking a cocktail of meds for 5 and 1/2 months due to MVD. He was at the "moderate" stage of MVD only in May, 2011 according to his cardiologist. Da Vinci is at the "severe" stage of MVD now. He will be 8 years old in several months. We have a vet, but we work with a cardiologist 100% on this. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since May this year. He had a CHF in September (couldn't breath and gasping for oxygen) and had to go to ER. A couple of labor breathing alarmed us to go to see his cardiologist several times since then.
To make a long story short, his latest med protocol is:
Furosemide 40MG 3x a day
Spironolactone 12.5mg 2x a day
Enalipril 5mg 2x a day
Vetmedin 2.5mg 2x a day
I have no doubt that this regiment has been saving his life, but it is also robbing him of his appetite. Da Vinci had been a voracious eater. He loved treats and loved food. He was a full of life for so many years. Not anymore. He is subdued and doing very little activities. I DID expect less activities, but refusing to eat is tormenting me. The loss of appetite has been so sudden I don't even know how to cope with it. Because of his refusal, giving him meds is becoming more difficult and almost impossible. I had to fight hard this morning to finish off his meds. By the way, we've been cooking for him ever since he started taking meds. We used to mix kibbles (salmon) and various cooked meat. Lately on salmon, beef and chicken, carrots and rice, etc. Up until just two weeks ago, he's been eating rather well. For the last two weeks, it has been going down the hill precipitously.
I read plenty on this forum that many cavs at this stage would refuse to eat and end up with losing weight and eventual loss of life.
I am turning to you folks who have gone through this med regiment to see if I can do anything to have his appetite back. Is one of the meds he is taking more culprit than others perhaps? Have you changed the cocktail to get his appetite back?
I appreciate any help you can give.
Thank you.
My cav Da Vinci is refusing to eat this morning. His appetite has been gradually getting worse over the last two weeks, but I have cajoled and enticed him to eat with some success, but this morning he flat out refused.
I am at a loss as to what to do.
He has been taking a cocktail of meds for 5 and 1/2 months due to MVD. He was at the "moderate" stage of MVD only in May, 2011 according to his cardiologist. Da Vinci is at the "severe" stage of MVD now. He will be 8 years old in several months. We have a vet, but we work with a cardiologist 100% on this. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since May this year. He had a CHF in September (couldn't breath and gasping for oxygen) and had to go to ER. A couple of labor breathing alarmed us to go to see his cardiologist several times since then.
To make a long story short, his latest med protocol is:
Furosemide 40MG 3x a day
Spironolactone 12.5mg 2x a day
Enalipril 5mg 2x a day
Vetmedin 2.5mg 2x a day
I have no doubt that this regiment has been saving his life, but it is also robbing him of his appetite. Da Vinci had been a voracious eater. He loved treats and loved food. He was a full of life for so many years. Not anymore. He is subdued and doing very little activities. I DID expect less activities, but refusing to eat is tormenting me. The loss of appetite has been so sudden I don't even know how to cope with it. Because of his refusal, giving him meds is becoming more difficult and almost impossible. I had to fight hard this morning to finish off his meds. By the way, we've been cooking for him ever since he started taking meds. We used to mix kibbles (salmon) and various cooked meat. Lately on salmon, beef and chicken, carrots and rice, etc. Up until just two weeks ago, he's been eating rather well. For the last two weeks, it has been going down the hill precipitously.
I read plenty on this forum that many cavs at this stage would refuse to eat and end up with losing weight and eventual loss of life.
I am turning to you folks who have gone through this med regiment to see if I can do anything to have his appetite back. Is one of the meds he is taking more culprit than others perhaps? Have you changed the cocktail to get his appetite back?
I appreciate any help you can give.
Thank you.