Another dog with a heart problem

erica74

My german shepherd was recently diagnosed with a heart problem which involves dilated cardiomyopathy. I have been told he is in right sided heart failure, to hear those words is awful. Unfortunately this is the second dog I've had with this problem so to say I'm devastated is an understatement.

He is on vetmedin, frusamide and yesterday, moduret was added in as a second diuretic as his big problem is the amount of fluid in his stomach and his left back paw.
He did have incredibly swollen balls when we brought him to the vet originally about 2 weeks ago but they have recovered 100% and are now normal size and not weepy from his licking them. His balls were so swollen he was having trouble walking but since they've shrunk back down, his movement has improved.
He takes the vetmedin no problem as they're a chewy beef flavoured tablet but I have to pop the frusamide and moduret down the back of his throat and make him swallow them.

All in all, he's doing okay, has never collapsed (I am clinging on to this as a positive), he seems breathless occasionally, maybe every few days, and he can still do most things - poop, wee, stand up, sit down, sleep, walk.
He's quite cold as his heart isn't pumping everything around properly and he doesn't seem to have a lot of saliva in his mouth, plus his mouth and lips are cold. We have the fire lit beside his bed pretty much 24 hours a day now.

His main problem is the fluid in his stomach and eating. His stomach is still so swollen with fluid that he is very very reluctant to eat, which is obviously leading to him having even less energy and possibly affecting his healing as he's not getting important nutrients.
He won't eat dog food (wet or dry) at all, he won't even eat the raw dog food I feed one of my other dogs.
For a while he was happy to scoff sausages but I had been hiding the frusamide in them and I think he noticed so now he won't eat sausages. For a while he was happy to eat cooked slices meat so ham and that sort of thing but he got sick on the way home from the vet yesterday (I think it was because he was moving around a lot because he's in discomfort with the various swelling) and he threw up ham so now he won't go near it.
All along since this whole process started he has seemed happy to eat chicken so I've been giving him chicken. Because his stomach is still so full of fluid, I've been feeding him little bits throughout the day rather than a meal as he seems to find that more manageable.
Does anyone have any advice on food for him? My concern is that he has lost weight and if he continues to not eat much, he won't be able to heal.

He's only 5. I had my last dog with this problem put to sleep when he was only 4 as he was incredibly sick, moreso than this dog is. I'm really not ready to let go of another young dog.
Any advice appreciated.

Funnily enough, I actually have a few health problems myself so every morning and evening the dog and I take our meds together :pac:

Here he is, new ball from the pet shop, because when you're sick, you get whatever you want.

erica74

Sadly after doing really well initially, he has gone downhill since Tuesday and is now in respiratory failure. We think we're going to bring him to the vet today and he may not be coming home again.
He hasn't eaten in 3 days and is having a lot of problems breathing. Then, all of a sudden, he'll stand up on his own and we'll think we're mad to even consider letting him go - it's so hard to know where to draw the line.

We think we're going to bring him to the beach before we bring him to the vet. He probably won't be able to walk very far but we think he might enjoy one last stroll on the beach.

He seems like he's already gone, when he's looking at us, it's like he's looking right through us.
We keep telling him our old dog, who was his best friend, will be waiting on him, to mind him and show him where to go.

I know my pain isn't even a fraction of his pain. This is so hard.

We've had him since he was a tiny pup, when he used to fall asleep running around after us. He cried the whole way home with us for the first time and pooped in the van.
He has always chosen his ball over food, every time.
Today I think we're going to make sure he has a ball to bring with him.

duvetdayss

I'm so sorry that your beloved dog is so unwell. It's truly heartbreaking to watch them suffer. It sounds like he is definitely surrounded by love and care and has a wonderful family

volchitsa

Gorgeous dog. I'm so sorry to hear he's so unwell, your second post brought tears to my eyes, it's so sad.

No words really.

bubbles o hara

Erica, my heart is breaking for you and your fur baby. We lost our fur girl to heart failure two years ago and I'm still in pieces.
You'll make the best decision for your brave boy, however difficult it is for you.

I wish I could take his and your pain away, but all I can do is send hugs to you both.

erica74

Thanks everyone. We let him go in the end. It was heartbreaking but we know it was the right thing to do. When we were in with the vet, he couldn't stand and the sound of him struggling to breath filled the room. The Vet said that we had done everything we could but that he would just continue to go downhill.
It was an awful experience, second time through it. It's also the second time one of our other dogs has gone through this, she said goodbye to our last dog and this one. I'd love to know what she is thinking.

Anyway, thanks again for the messages and my heart goes out to anyone else who has been through this.

finno

erica74 wrote: »

Thanks everyone. We let him go in the end. It was heartbreaking but we know it was the right thing to do. When we were in with the vet, he couldn't stand and the sound of him struggling to breath filled the room. The Vet said that we had done everything we could but that he would just continue to go downhill.
It was an awful experience, second time through it. It's also the second time one of our other dogs has gone through this, she said goodbye to our last dog and this one. I'd love to know what she is thinking.

Anyway, thanks again for the messages and my heart goes out to anyone else who has been through this.

So sorry for your lost,Same thing happened my dog its so heartbreaking to
make the call but you did the right thing.
With my dog it came out of the blue woke up fine and walked, by mid afternoon
it all went down hill and we decided put her to sleep at 2:30am.
Broke my heart

aonb

its so so so hard to have a beloved friend put to sleep
at the end of the day though, its the last true act of love
letting them suffer or holding on to them because we cant bear the alternative is so unfair on them, but when you love them so much its so hard to make the decision.
Keep telling yourself that he was loved and happy for 5 years, and you in turn were lucky enough to have his love and companionship too. Thats the important thing.

Irish Stones

Your story brought me to tears, erica74, I feel so sad and sorry for what you and your beautiful dog have been through.
Taking the decision for the last step is always difficult, even when we know it's the best thing to do. It seems that not always best things are easy to accept.
I'm sending hugs to you and a kiss to your angel!

erica74

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

Ms Doubtfire1

I have posted this before but...so sorry for you. x

The Last Battle

[size=+2]If it should be that I grow frail and weak 
And pain should keep me from my sleep, 
Then will you do what must be done, 
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won. 
You will be sad I understand, 
But don't let grief then stay your hand, 
For on this day, more than the rest, 
Your love and friendship must stand the test. 
We have had so many happy years, 
You wouldn't want me to suffer so. 
When the time comes, please, let me go. 
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend, 
Only, stay with me till the end 
And hold me firm and speak to me 
Until my eyes no longer see. 
I know in time you will agree 
It is a kindness you do to me. 
Although my tail its last has waved, 
From pain and suffering I have been saved. 
Don't grieve that it must be you 
Who has to decide this thing to do; 
We've been so close -- we two -- these years, 
Don't let your heart hold any tears. 

-- Unknown [/size]