My dog has an enlarged heart. How to ease her panting and breathing?

Unfortunately the dilation of the heart cannot be reversed, but the medications will help to slow its progression and improve the other side effects of enlarged heart. The vetmedin helps the heart pump faster and harder, the furosemide reduces fluid build up in the lungs and the benazepril stops maladaptive pathways being activated. You should see a difference in him within a week or two, the medication can help to improve quality of life greatly.

Poor Mickey! I would take him back into a vet today, or at the very least give your vet a call. It could be that the current dose of medication he is on is not working as well as it used to, and the heavy breathing is caused by a build up of fluid in his heart. Additional medications can be added on as needed to treat heart disease, and doses of the medication he is currently on may need to be adjusted. I would also reduce his activity, especially if his breathing gets worse when he is more active. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I’m sorry to hear that Allie Mae was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. It sounds like she is still having some difficulty breathing which can explain why she is reluctant to lay down. Laying down can cause some compression of her rib cage and make it harder for her to breathe. I would recommend having her evaluated by your veterinarian as soon as possible, because it sounds like her heart disease is not well managed. Heart failure causes fluid to build up in the lungs, and this can be life-threatening. She may require further cardiac work up and changes to her medications. I hope this is helpful!

If Troy is having breathing difficulties that are directly related to his heart problems, then he likely has pulmonary edema, or fluid in his lungs. This can be treated with the drug Lasix, but it must be carefully dosed under the advice of the veterinarian who is familiar with his case, as it can cause issues with dehydration and kidneys if not properly monitored. It should also be considered whether Troy may be having breathing problems because of his anatomy, as Pugs often have difficulty breathing and can easily overheat in very warm weather.

Poor Tata. The furosemide medication that she is on right now is supposed to help clear fluid out of her lungs. If she is still having issues breathing then I would ask your vet if she can safely up her dosage. There is a wide safety range for this medication so chances are she can up. Just remember that heart failure symptoms will never completely resolve with medication. Your goal is to make Tata as comfortable as possible. Best of luck with your pet.

There are many medications which can be used to support a failing heart and should be used alongside diuretics in order to help support the function of the heart, reduce fluid build up in the lungs and abdomen and control blood pressure if required. Unfortunately, no cure is available and medications should be adjusted as Zoe's condition changes; many dogs can live for months-years with a heart condition depending on the severity of other health complications which can also occur as they age. Without a full history of all her complaints and recent tests it is impossible to assess her medium-long term prognosis

He is seeking an environment in which he can breathe better. Heart failure patients may have fluid in their lungs and that makes it difficult to breathe. He may need a diuretic or if he is already on one, the dose may need adjusted. If possible, keep a fan going in the house near him, keep the house cool. I would recommend an X-ray to see if he has fluid to help adjust his medications. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach