My dog has tick fever, swollen leg/chest. Can I give Lasix safely?

I am sorry Scooby is not feeling well. Typically this swelling is called edema. Edema is when fluid accumulates and can be due to many things. The test results you posted do not have tick titers. If you are concerned about tick disease I would test for tick titers. Also another piece of information that would be helpful is a protein level. When protein levels are low it allows edema. The doxycycline itself will not cause edema. However if Scooby does not have a tick born disease it is possible the doxycycline is not going to be useful in solving his problem. I hope that 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

I am sorry to hear about your loss and my thoughts are with you. Generalized edema could have been caused by a lack of albumin in blood due to albumin losing enteropathy from kidneys. This condition can be secondary to a kidney disease due to the infection disease (from ticks). I understand that the mechanism is not easy to understand but can lead to severe consequences. Anemia in Scooby case was not that severe and possibly another cause could have been present (as your veterinarian is suspecting). Unfortunately I do not think steroids could have helped much and modify clinical worsening. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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.

Yes Lasix can help dogs with CHF but the dosage can only be determined by the prescribing vet. Legally we cannot prescribe it, and its usage has to be monitored by a vet as it can have some serious side effects like dehydration, weakness, collapse, balance problems, electrolyte imbalance, lack of urine production, and a racing heart beat. There are other medications that can be used to control the symptoms of CHF, they won't cure it, but they will make her more comfortable. I'd talk to Lucy's vet about Lasix and other medication. I hope this helps.

Lasix is a diuretic medication used to decrease fluid in the lung if there is evidence of congestive heart failure. The best way to diagnose heart disease is with an echocardiogram, but since mainly veterinary specialists perform this procedure veterinarians often prescribe Lasix based on heart changes and evidence of pulmonary edema fluid on x-rays. If Fred's diabetes is well regulated it may not be worthwhile to change his food. There are some therapeutic diets that are formulated to have lower sodium and increased amounts of omega 3 fatty acids that may benefit patients with heart disease, but since diet plays an important role in glucose regulation there's a chance Fred's insulin requirements could change with a new diet. Depending on the type of heart disease diagnosed or suspected some veterinarians recommend a taurine supplement or fatty acid supplement. You could ask your veterinarian if either of these would be recommended in Fred's case.

Syncope or fainting is common with progressive heart disease and it is possible she may also require additional medications alongside the lasix which are diuretics which reduce fluid build up on the lungs, if fainting is happening. I would recommend an emergency vet visit to assess fluid build up on the lungs and to try stabilise ger condition