My chihuahua with heart disease is breathing fast. Is it an emergency?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Yes, that would be considered an emergency. The main reason is that dogs with heart murmurs and heart disease can develop congestive heart failure which is a medical emergency that would warrant evaluation as soon as possible for Maya. The veterinarian would be able to check for this possibility and treat accordingly. Usually if congestive heart failure is confirmed, she may need oxygen therapy, diuretic medications and medications to make her heart work better. Good luck! Wishing Maya the best!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I'm sorry to hear that Gelly is breathing heavier today - it is possible she is currently in congestive heart failure, meaning she has fluid building up in her lungs. If she is currently receiving Lasix (Furosemide), you can probably give her another dose of that and see if this helps. If she is still breathing rapidly and with abdominal effort, I recommend having her evaluated by a veterinarian right away. If she is unable to get the fluid off of her lungs, she will be unable to oxygenate her blood and can go into respiratory arrest and die. I hope this is helpful!

Yes, you can give another dose of the salix to try to help. If this does not show any improvement I would encourage you to find any vet that can you in as you may need injectable medication and oxygen therapy to help

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Bambi. I'm wondering if she has something like a collapsed trachea causing her breathing issues. You see problems with breathing in the condition with excitement and exercise, and it does worsen over time. This can explain what is going on with her. Without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain this is the cause. I recommend having her seen by a vet in the morning. The vet can diagnose what is causing her problems, and can discuss treatment options with you. If she does have a collapsing trachea, treatment options include medical management or surgery. I hope this helps!

Oh no! This sounds very serious and the Lasix alone probably isn't enough to control her symptoms. If she is this sick you should definitely take Roxy back in to the vet to perhaps up her dose of Lasix (there is often a wide range that you can give pets until symptoms resolve) or give her actual heart medication. If the heart is not addressed directly (with medications), then no matter how much Lasix you give, the lungs will continue to fill with fluid due to the direct relationship that is shared between the heart and lungs. This website link discusses the use of both Lasix and heart medications (Enalapril) together in pets with signs of congestive heart failure, which is likely Roxy's condition. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=537

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Frank! If Frank is having trouble breathing it is best to have him seen sooner than later. It is fine to give an extra dose of furosemide but he may need oxygen and an IV dose of furosemide. It is best for Frank to be seen as soon as possible. I hope this helps and I wish Frank the best!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Rocco. I'm sorry he isn't doing well. It could be heart disease, but it could also be a respiratory infection. As long as he isn't in respiratory distress and having severe trouble breathing, you can wait until the morning. Should he go into respiratory distress, this cannot wait until the morning. In that case, please take him into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website. I hope this helps!