| Jody Renfroe | 11-07-2007 09:56 AM |
My Cockapoo, Chipper, had an enlarged heart w/congestive heart failure. We had to have him pts at age 11, about 8 months ago. He wasn't diagnosed until he was 9, and they told us then that he would start to cough. We began to notice that when he drank water, he'd cough like he was choking. The reason for the cough is that the area around the heart fills w/fluid and since the heart is already enlarged they can't get enough oxygen. With the decreased oxygen, Chipper started to pass out. It wasn't too long after that that we had to have him pts.
The vet will give you diuretics to help decrease the fluid and antibiotics and medicine to help with his heart. The medicine isn't very expensive. I can't help but wonder if our little boy had been diagnosed earlier and we'd started him on the meds, if he wouldn't have lived longer. The vet's just didn't catch it when he was in for his visits. He was very, very active right up until the end. We still cry for him often.
I'm sorry that your baby is ill, but, since they've caught it at an early age and you can get him on the meds, maybe he'll make it to a ripe old age. Just watch his salt intake - including treats. Good luck to you both, you'll be in my prayers. | 