Enalapril for dog heart failure: Kidney risk or dry cough side effect?

I am sorry to hear about Abbey's problems! Enalapril is used for heart disease as well as other problems such as kidney protein-loss and high blood pressure. We do, however, like to monitor kidney values via bloodwork when giving enalapril along with lasix. Side effects of enalapril can include nausea, diarrhea, or inappetance. In some dogs we can see listlessness or lethargy as a result of drop in blood pressure. Some dogs can also get elevations in potassium levels. It would be best to have a more thorough workup if your vet suspects fluid in the lungs. A cough can be the result of numerous causes in older dogs and the only way to truly tell if there is fluid buildup in the lungs would be an x-ray. The x-ray would also let us evaluate heart size and check for other causes of coughing (infection, tracheal disorders, chronic bronchitis, masses). Depending on what is seen on the x-ray, an ultrasound of the heart may also be recommended (if we do see enlargement of the heart and fluid build up in the lungs this would be the next diagnostic step). Bloodwork would also be recommended to check the kidney values and the potassium levels when on this medication.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If that medication is causing side effects then the short answer is yes. Enalapril can affect the kidney values and cause a dog to not eat so your veterinarian is stopping that medication probably to try to get Binx to eat better. Your veterinarian knows his medical history well so they would know well if this was a good decision but that is likely the rationale. I really hope that your boy starts feeling better soon. Good luck!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Troy. Poor boy! Do not give him extra enalapril. It sounds like he may need more furosemide. Dogs with heart disease have fluid build up in their lungs because the heart doesn't pump correctly causing the coughing. Furosemide is a diuretic, which means it gets rid of excess fluid helping stop the cough. Take him back into the vet to get more furosemide. I hope this helps!

It sounds as though Dixie is going through a lot at the moment! Yes, Dixie should absolutely continue taking the enalapril and furosemide, unless otherwise directed by the prescribing vet. The hydrocodone/homatropine medication is a cough suppressant, but may make her a bit groggy. The heart valvular insufficiency can progress to congestive heart failure, which can cause a cough to develop as a result of the fluid accumulation in and around the lungs. If her cough continues or worsens, Dixie may need to go back to her vet for another exam and chest x-rays, and may need additional medications to manage her heart disease. I hope that all goes well for her!

Unfortunately, there are no OTC medications you can give your dog for her cough. The cough will be related to her heart disease, and is likely caused by a build up of fluid in her lungs. There are medications you can get from your vet that can help with that help with called diuretics. An example of a diuretic would be furosimide. I would speak to your vet today about possibly putting her on a diuretic to help with her cough.

Hello. CHF is a dynamic disease & thus can change. But usually symptoms worsen with time & age. This may be a very complicated question in that Max may never had CHF to begin with. It is sometimes a bit difficult to determine if a pet may only have mild heart enlargement, perhaps a mild cough & the diagnosis is heart failure, when in reality, all Max has is a case of chronic bronchitis. I am absolutely not saying that your vet was wrong, just a possible explanation why Max seems to be doing better off the medications. My suggestion is to try & have Max evaluated by a veterinary cardiologist. He may just need a dose adjustment to his meds, or he may not be in CHF. I would not just stop his meds without talking to your vet, but he may need a true cardiology workup. I see you are in NC, so if you can get to the veterinary college affiliated with NC State, that would be an excellent place to start. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about E. Low blood pressure is the most common sign of toxicity. Other signs include lethargy, excess salivation, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and cough. If you see any of those signs, rush him into a vet immediately. I hope this helps!