This post will be long, but I want to document it like I did back when she had her HGC.
On 3/25/18, it was an ordinary Sunday. Actually, it was quite fun. Since we went to see the Easter Bunny. It was fun.
The evening was uneventful, but then she started coughing later in the night and did that throughout the night. I KNEW I had to take her to the vet. Because when she was first diagnosed with heart disease, I was warned that coughing is one of the thing to look out for. So I took the next day off and we went to a drop off appointment. They told me she has fluid in her lungs. The coughing and the fluid are results of her heart disease. We were given diuretic and antibiotics (this is given just in case the coughing was not because of her heart problem). We came home and she had dinner and her first dose of medication. Shortly after, I noticed her panting, she was breathing very fast. We then took her to the ER. Her oxygen level was low and she has fluid in her lung (we knew that already). Long story short. She has heart failure. She stayed 2 nights at the ER, so that they can make sure her lungs are cleared and that her oxygen level is stable enough to go home. It was a tough for me and everyone. After she came home, she was weak and didn't care fora lot of things. Then Monday (4/2), I was to go back to work, since she was slowly doing better. But I noticed she was not acting like herself again. So I took her back to the regular vet. They did some tests and what not and noticed her kidney number is extremely high. So they immediately put her on fluid treatment. And the only thing that we did differently before her going in ER is she was taking diuretic, and they upped it since she was at ER. They felt it was necessary to help cleared the fluid (thus coughing. When she was released, she has no cough and her lungs are clear). So it must be the reason that messed up her kidney number. We were warned at ER, sometimes when treating heart problem with med can have undesirable side effect on other organs... as in this case. So she had fluid treatments for 2 days and she was off the diuretic. This is week 3 since all the craziness. She is finally back to her normal self... mostly. But I get what I can. She will eat her food now. For the past few days, I had to blend her food into a soup and hand feed her with a syringe. Because she didn't want her food, so I had to "force feed" her, but she didn't mind when I feed her by hand. Now she will eat that from the cup directly. Maybe she will even eat it solid again. And her kidney number is almost back to normal. This weekend we will go back again to discuss her med etc.
I was told that it will happen again and again and again until her heart completely failed her. This is not easy. And I have to do what is best for her and I will treasure our time together even more. But it is soooooooooo good to have her home and that she is feeling better. :)
Gigi now has a Go Fund Me page, any amount you can give can help me to pay off her bill and for further treatments.
Here are just some of the highlight photos. Please go to her Instagram page to see more updates.
Below is an articular about Heart Failure.
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) in Dogs
When the heart can’t deliver enough blood to the body and fluid
consequently backs up into a dog’s lungs or abdomen, it’s called
congestive heart failure. There are many causes of congestive heart
failure (CHF) in dogs. CHF can be brought on by high blood pressure,
congenital heart defects, heartworm disease, or a variety of other
disorders. A dog with congestive heart failure may cough, have trouble
breathing, experience fatigue, loss of appetite, or might die suddenly.
Depending on the underlying cause, treatment can help reverse congestive
heart failure, and medications are available to help relieve its
symptoms.
When the heart starts to fail in its ability to pump enough blood, the body can usually compensate to ensure that tissues receive the blood and oxygen they need. As the disease increases in severity, these compensatory mechanisms become overwhelmed. The heart is then unable to pump enough blood to the body, so fluid backs up, most often into the lungs, causing congestion –– hence the term congestive heart failure.
Though many conditions can lead to congestive heart failure in dogs, one of the more common causes is chronic valve disease. When valves of the heart degenerate they may fail to function properly, leading to an increased burden on the heart and eventual CHF. Dilated cardiomyopathy is also a frequently observed cause of CHF in certain breeds of dogs. In this condition, the chambers of the heart become enlarged, which weakens the muscle walls so that they are unable to pump adequate amounts of blood to the body.
As a result of either disease, fluid may back up into the lungs, making breathing difficult, or into the abdomen, giving the dog a pot-bellied appearance.
Other causes of congestive heart failure in dogs include:
Dogs with severe congestive heart failure may require initial hospitalization and oxygen therapy. There are many medications that veterinarians may recommend to help reduce fluid buildup, improve heart function, and/or normalize heart rhythms. A low-sodium diet may also be recommended to help minimize fluid accumulation.
Most dogs with congestive heart failure require medications for the remainder of their lives. Periodic blood tests, radiographs, and echocardiograms are often needed to monitor treatment success and disease progression.
This article has been reviewed by a Veterinarian.
Overview
Congestive heart failure is a broad medical term that means that a dog’s heart can’t deliver enough blood to his or her body. It can be caused by a failure of the left side, right side, or both sides of the heart.When the heart starts to fail in its ability to pump enough blood, the body can usually compensate to ensure that tissues receive the blood and oxygen they need. As the disease increases in severity, these compensatory mechanisms become overwhelmed. The heart is then unable to pump enough blood to the body, so fluid backs up, most often into the lungs, causing congestion –– hence the term congestive heart failure.
Though many conditions can lead to congestive heart failure in dogs, one of the more common causes is chronic valve disease. When valves of the heart degenerate they may fail to function properly, leading to an increased burden on the heart and eventual CHF. Dilated cardiomyopathy is also a frequently observed cause of CHF in certain breeds of dogs. In this condition, the chambers of the heart become enlarged, which weakens the muscle walls so that they are unable to pump adequate amounts of blood to the body.
As a result of either disease, fluid may back up into the lungs, making breathing difficult, or into the abdomen, giving the dog a pot-bellied appearance.
Other causes of congestive heart failure in dogs include:
- Defects in the heart walls
- Fluid in the sac surrounding the heart
- Heart rhythm abnormalities
- Heartworm disease
- Increased blood pressure
- Endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves)
- Tumors
- Pregnancy
Symptoms and Identification
In the early stages of congestive heart failure, your dog may show no signs at all. As the disease progresses, signs may include:- Coughing
- Difficult or rapid breathing
- Difficulty exercising
- Weakness or lethargy (tiredness)
- Fainting episodes
- Gray or blue gums
- Abdominal distention
- Collapse
- Sudden death
- Blood and urine tests, including CBC, biochemical panel, heartworm test, and urinalysis
- Chest radiographs (X-rays) to assess the heart, blood vessels, and lungs
- An electrocardiogram (ECG)
- An echocardiogram (an ultrasound exam to evaluate heart structure and function)
- Blood pressure measurement
Affected Breeds
All dog breeds may be affected by congestive heart failure, but Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, and Cocker Spaniels may be genetically predisposed to certain types of heart failure.Treatment
In some cases, such as congestive heart failure that is caused by heartworm disease, treatment of the underlying condition may resolve some or all of the heart problems. If the problem is caused by a congenital condition (a heart defect that the dog has had since birth), surgical repair may be an option. In most cases, however, the problem cannot be cured, but treatment can help improve dogs’ quality and length of life.Dogs with severe congestive heart failure may require initial hospitalization and oxygen therapy. There are many medications that veterinarians may recommend to help reduce fluid buildup, improve heart function, and/or normalize heart rhythms. A low-sodium diet may also be recommended to help minimize fluid accumulation.
Most dogs with congestive heart failure require medications for the remainder of their lives. Periodic blood tests, radiographs, and echocardiograms are often needed to monitor treatment success and disease progression.
Prevention
There is no known means of prevention of canine congestive heart failure except through judicious breeding programs designed to eliminate any hereditarily affected animals from the gene pool.This article has been reviewed by a Veterinarian.
More info: [1] [2] [3]
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