My pug has an enlarged heart and heavy panting. What treatment?

I am so very sorry to hear about Troy. You don't mention if his enlarged heart is causing any symptoms yet (coughing, weakness) or if your vet has him on any medication, or if there is a heart murmur present causing enlargement or if he has something like a dilated cardiomyopathy. If you are interested in discussing his heart issue more, you can consider a personal consultation with a veterinarian. As far as his arthritis goes, we often do a combination of medications. We usually start with a joint supplement containing glucosamine and chondroitin. The more common ones we use include Dasuquin or Cosequin. You can find these online and in some pet stores. A fatty acid supplement is also a good idea (such as Welactin) because the fatty acids can help decrease inflammation in the joints. These products must be given daily for a month or more before we can see results. If those are not enough, then pain medications such as a canine NSAID (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory) are usually started. Some popular types used in dogs are Carprofen, Deracoxib, and grapiprant- these are generic names of the drug but the trade names may vary by country- here in the US they would be Rimadyl, Deramax, and Galliprant). In cases that are still having trouble we may add on secondary drugs such as Gabapentin, Tramadol, or Amantadine.

Unfortunately brachycephalic dogs like pugs (flat nosed dogs) often have breathing problems due to the shape of their head. This can also cause congestive heart failure which aggravates the condition. I suggest you take Neffer to your vet to rule out a heart problem. Your vet will be able to assess why your pug has problems breathing and problems with exercise and will discuss improving air intake by surgical means (e.g. opening the nostrils further, or reducing the size of the soft palate). Panting may also be a sign of Cushing;s disease, which should also be ruled out. This can be done with a blood test.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am so sorry to hear about Bizou! Unfortunately, if he is in congestive heart failure, the only treatment is the lasix pill (furosemide). Depending on how severe his condition is, he may not survive without hospitalization with oxygen and injectible lasix. Your vet may have a strong suspicion of this if Bizou has a heart murmur and many crackles in the lungs (we can hear with the stethoscope). However, even that is not enough to definitively diagnose it. I have seen a couple dogs I was sure were in heart failure and when I took the x-rays, it turned out to be pneumonia or cancer. If you can at all afford it, go for the xrays so you at least know what you are dealing with - if it's cancer instead of heart failure, that may change your approach. If it is heart failure, it will give a clue as to how serious. If you can't afford the x-rays, treat for whatever the vet thinks is most likely. If heart failure is it, the most commonly prescribed medications are furosemide, enalapril, and pimobendan (though there are others). Finally, if he is still struggling for air, his tongue/gums are any color other than bright pink, or the vet thinks it is serious enough to require oxygen, and you cannot pay for treatment, I would strongly consider euthanasia. Dying by gasping and struggling for air while drowning in your own fluids is a horrible way to go - I've seen it several times. Please feel free to reach out to me via consultation if you'd like to to have a more detailed conversation with you. Best wishes to you and Bizou.

Unfortunately pugs are extremely brachycephalic dogs and it is not rare that they cannot breathe properly and fall unconscious due to lack of oxygen. You will need to take your dog to a veterinarian for assessment and an exam. The extremely flat face and nose causes two problems: the opening of the nose is often obstructed and can be surgically enlarged to help with breathing. Also the soft palate is often way to big as there is no snout, and often obstructs the larynx, cutting off the air flow. This can be surgically adjusted. Both these conditions can also cause heart failure. Please take your dog to a veterinarian or veterinary surgeon for an exam soon.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Some common issues in pugs and other small breed dogs that can result in trouble breathing include heart disease and pneumonia. There are other conditions such as inflammatory and infection diseases that can affect dogs. I highly recommend that you have Leo evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics include thoracic radiographs and bloodwork. Good luck and have a good night!

Oh no, poor Sunny! Try sitting her up and making sure she is cool and comfortable. I would speak to your vet about medications if she isn't on them already. Those can help with the symptoms of heart disease from the enlarged heart. If she is already on medication, she may need additional ones or the dosages adjusted to help control her symptoms.

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.