[SnowWa]

I posted earlier - but thought I'd mention that heart failure (CHF) is exactly that. It is a condition where the heart is failing and just can't do the work that it is suppose to do. Remember the heart is a muscle - and if this muscle can't work well - it is a serious problem.

With our patients, we can actually measure the ability of the left ventricle at work. This is the part of the heart that sends blood back to our body. With our CHF patients, we see the left ventricle's ability to work decrease over time. This is what heart failure is all about.

Heart failure can be treated, but it can't be cured - and over time it does worsen. One of the most serious problems with heart failure is the fluid buildup, and, this should be kept to a minimum for as long as possible. The drugs that your dog is on are helping with this. Without these medicines, you puppy would not live long at all. With them, he will certainly do better for a longer period of time.

Our heart sends blood to the lungs to get oxygen - this blood returns to the heart and is sent throughout our bodies. No cell in our body could stay alive without oxygen. Can you imagine how much harder our heart would have to work if our lungs were filled with fluid.

Also, the heart becomes enlarged because it is having to work so hard.

You can look Congestive Heart Failure up on the Internet. Whatever it says about people having CHF is the same thing for your little puppy. There is a lot of information available.

But again, your puppy has a very serious condition that there is no cure for. It can be treated and he can be kept more comfortable and live longer if you carefully follow your vet's advise.

I am sorry. I know this is a sad experience for you. My uncle has CHF. He has been living years with it, but it continues to worsen as time goes by. I can't count the times he has been in and out of the hospital or the number of medications he is on. It is an unfortunate situation.

Any amount of time a puppy is given with this condition is only an educated guess. But, it is an estimate based on other animals who have had the same problem. That's the best our doctors and vets can do for us. And, unfortunately, these estimates are generally close to being correct.

Your faithful care is the most important thing you can do for your little guy now.

Best of luck! Carol Jean