# My Dog is in Congestive Heart Failure **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 9, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857 "2009-05-09T16:37:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/1 "2009-05-09T16:37:38Z")
I took my dog [Grace](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Pets/Grace.jpg) to the vet today. She’s lost a good bit of weight in the last two months, and I was worried about her. She was dumped near my farm 4 years ago, and at that time my vet said she was about 7-9 years old, so now she’s 11-13, reaching the upper lifespan of dobies. They’d diagnosed a heart murmur at that time, too, but said there was no real treatment and just keep an eye out that she didn’t gain too much weight, or if she started coughing of fainting. Heart issues are pretty common in dobes. So now we’re going to start meds and see how that does for her, but I need to face the fact that she’s probably reaching the end of her life. StG ---
**Author:** ![Katriona](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/katriona/32/113_2.png) [@Katriona](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katriona)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/2 "2009-05-09T16:41:19Z")
My hell-hounds are sending good doggie thoughts to Grace. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/3 "2009-05-09T18:03:35Z")
Knowing they are on the downside does not make it easier. I feel for you. Losing a companion is so sad. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/4 "2009-05-09T18:23:07Z")
Sorry, **StGermain**. These short pet life spans suck. ---
**Author:** ![Novalyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/5 "2009-05-10T01:02:32Z")
I’m so sorry about Grace. My dog is actually in the emergency clinic at this moment for acute heart failure apparently brought on by CHF. I had her in the vet twice this week for funny breathing and they did not find anything wrong, despite doing blood work and x-rays. May I ask how your vet knew that it was CHF? Is there something I should have seen coming? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/6 "2009-05-10T01:43:20Z")
Aww. I’m sorry. I have an obese sheltie (my fault, I know) who is almost 13 and has a heart murmur, too. He’s starting to have “accidents” and has a hard time getting up to go outside, or just to go in another room. It’s sad. I’m sorry, **[[[St Germain and Grace.}}}** ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/7 "2009-05-10T02:17:04Z")
\*\*Thanks, everyone, for the sympathy. Novelyne\*\* - I took her in, told them she’d been diagnosed with a heart murmur four years previously, that she’d dropped about 10 lbs in 2 months. They could see that she was retaining fluids. He listened to her heart and lungs and made the diagnosis. He said they could do bloodwork and x-rays, but that would just raise my costs and the treatment would be the same anyway. So she’s on lasix (a diuretic) and something else, we’ll see how she does in a week. There’s another med they can try, but the vet wanted to try the least expensive option first. The office visit including meds, cost me $30. My vets came to Tennessee from Oregon to retire. Their clinic was supposed to be a small, extra-income thing, and they’re now so busy they’re planning to add on to their clinic. StG ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/8 "2009-05-10T19:52:07Z")
I am so sorry. Give Grace a hug from me. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2009, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/9 "2009-05-10T20:06:59Z")
I an so very sorry. That’s what I lost my little Pap boy to a year and a half ago. It was totally unexpected with him, he was young for a Papillon, only 10. ((((hugs)))) to you and Grace. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/10 "2009-05-11T13:43:08Z")
I’m not seeing much reduction in the retained fluid after two days on lasix three times a day. Shouldn’t she be showing an improvement? StG ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/11 "2009-05-11T15:56:14Z")
My goodness, Grace is a big doggie! We have a Dobe also, as you may remember because you posted in my early help-me-with-this-beast threads. Grace is lucky that someone left her for someone like you to find. I hope she starts feeling better soon. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/12 "2009-05-12T02:26:38Z")
**Dung Beetle** - You think she’s big - look at [Jake](http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j127/StG61/Pets/Herc.jpg). **Novalyne** - How’s your dog? StG ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/13 "2009-05-12T02:58:41Z")
Oh, Grace. Good vibes to you. And to you StGermain, not only for Grace’s trouble, but for being so good and making her your dog when someone else dumped her. I wish comfort to you both. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/14 "2009-05-12T03:05:58Z")
I’m actually the lucky one to have found Grace. I’ve had a doberman for the last 20 years or so. When my neighbor saw Grace get dumped, I took her in, because I love the breed. Just a week after I brought her into the family, my 14 year old dobie rescue Simon died in his sleep. That’s why she’s Grace - someone brought her to me when I would need her most. StG ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/15 "2009-05-12T08:04:27Z")
Hope Grace is showing some improvement. Give her some ear scritches and belly rubs for me. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/16 "2009-05-12T14:20:40Z")
You and Grace are both lucky. You are a great dog mom. I hope that things are going better for Grace. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/17 "2009-05-12T15:32:11Z")
Sorry to hear this. ---
**Author:** ![Novalyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@Novalyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novalyne)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-is-in-congestive-heart-failure/495857/18 "2009-05-12T23:55:43Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > **Novalyne** - How’s your dog? > StG She’s hanging in there. It turns out it’s her lungs, not her heart, so that’s a whole 'nother ball of wax. I hope that Grace is continuing to do well!