Update on Zuzi
 

My 14 year old little Yorkie, Zuzi, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure yesterday. She's been coughing a lot for the past several weeks and the vet and I thought it might be kennel cough.

She had a terrible kidney infection which slowed her down and we got that cured but her heart is enlarged 3 times bigger than it should on the right side and her liver isn't so good either. She has kidney stones but they aren't bothering her.

So off to the vet again making it 3 times in 3 weeks. The vet said she didn't think it was kennel cough because she wasn't getting better but it is her heart. Zuzi is now on 5 different meds.

2 for her heart, 1 for the congestive heart failure (a diuretic), cough medicine, and an antibiotic because they think she might have a mild case of pneumonia. She's also on a special diet now (which she LOVES). She has more medications than I do!

She did pretty well last night but woke up around 2:30AM coughing. I gave her some cough medicine and her dose of diuretic and she settled back down and slept great. I think the diuretic which pull the fluid away from her heart and lungs is going to really help with the coughing. I'll probably have to give it to her twice a day. The vet was hoping we could get away with one dose a day so she wouldn't have to drink too much and get up in the night to potty. I rather have her go out than cough.

The vet said if we didn't treat her she be gone in a month or two. We can hope that with meds we will have her for maybe a year. I think it will be somewhere between there. Her heart is pretty bad and her liver isn't much better.

If you could, please send good thoughts or prayers to little Zuzi. She's been with us for so long and through so many changes in our lives. I can't really imagine her not being around. So, we will just enjoy her as we can and hopefully we will know when the right time is for her.

Thanks,

Shelley

Prayers and good thoughts for you and Zuzi....God Bless!:)

aw Shelley, I am so sorry to hear that. You sound like such a good mom to Zuzi. I will be praying that you have lots more good quality time with her. It is hard to watch them grow older, but try to remember that since she has been with you this long, it testifies to how happy she has been and what good care you take of her.
Hugs
Sonya

oh, I'm so sorry to hear that Suzi has CHF. It sounds like you are a very good mommy and getting her the care that she needs. I pray that the meds will help to minimize the effects of the CHF.

I wish you all the best for Zuzi.:)

Prayers going out for your little Zuzi. Hope she will be more comfortable now with the meds.:animal-pa

Get well thoughts and prayers for Zuzi

Prayers and positive thoughts coming from Virginia.

{{hugs}} for you and Zuzi.

Sending good vibes ... :)

I am sending prayers and positive thoughts your way...

Adding your precious little girl to my prayer list.
Hopefully they will be able to stabilize her with meds and make her symptom free!

Im so sorry, prayers are on the way

Sending Zuzi all our prayers.

Sending positive vibes to your Zuzi!:)

My Lady will be thirteen this year so I know how difficult it is as they get older and you have to come to terms with not having them forever.

Try to just treasure the time you have together and not focus on how much time that will be. A co-worker had a poodle with congestive heart failure that was given six months. Dear Magnum surprised them all and lived three more years! :D

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers for Zuzi and me. I'm enjoying her company and taking it day by day. As long as she's not in pain or suffering we will keep her with us. So far so good.

She's been through so much in her life. She was mauled by a chow about 10 years ago and about a year ago my Labradoodle caught her scalp with a tooth when Zuzi tried to steal Liberty's pig ear from her. Not a good idea to try to steal something that good from an 80lb dog! Liberty didn't even bite her it was more of an accident, Zuzi went up when Liberty went down to mouth her. If she meant to bite Zuzi it would have been all over. Needless to say she had 3 staples in her scalp. Trooper that she was she did fine. :animal36

She's mostly blind and deaf but still is a happy little camper. She's content and so are we. Thanks again to all of you and your good thoughts and wishes. Here's to many more days with my little pal. :thumbup:

Shelley

Zuzi feels a bit better
 

Zuzi seems to be coughing a bit less now that she's on 4 different medications. It's so scary to hear her hack knowing it's her heart that is the problem. I gave her a well needed bath last night and she had the zoomies. Of course all that excitement of her bath and running around made her cough.

I blow dried her because she was getting cold and now she looks and smells so pretty. Unfortunately she has some matting up near her neck because she has gotten sensitive to brushing and it's been difficult to groom her lately. I'm going to tackle a tiny bit every day. I got a lot done yesterday but it was stressful for her.

She used to love being brushed but I think her skin is more sensitive than it used to be and if I pull on her hair it hurts too much. It's tough getting old. ;)

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

Shelley

I'm so glad for you both that Zuzi is feeling better.:animal-pa

I am glad Zuzi is feeling a little better . Get well thoughts and prayers are on the way .

awww bless.....sounds like shes had an overall pretty good life with you mommy. She looks happy the lil old girl. I had a mini poodle who was in the family before I was named Coco and I had her until she was 18! She was such a sweetheart and she was a happy old girl too. Slept with me everyday of my life. So many happy, happy years......I miss her. Glad shes doin so well. Amazing what love can do huh?

Feel better, Sweetheart. Sending a prayer for you. xoxo

Each day with Zuzi is a blessing, isn't it? It is hard to watch them become "little old pups" and 14 years is wonderful. Warmly, Deborah

Keeping Zuzi in my prayers.