Can an enlarged dog heart shrink? How can I extend my dog's life?

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.

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

I am so sorry to hear about what is happening with your pet. If your dogs diagnosis is congestive heart failure, then the usual pills that the vet will place a dog on our furosemide and enalapril. And if the correct diagnosis is congestive heart failure, then these pills do a very good job of controlling the clinical symptoms associated with this disease. However, there are many different heart diseases that a schnauzer can get. Some of these are mitral valve disease, heartworm disease, etc. The only true way to diagnose the disease is to have a set of x-rays as well as an echocardiogram which is a heart ultrasound. The good news and what you have going in your favor is that the most common disease in a miniature Snells or is congestive heart failure. And if this is the case, the pills that I assume you are on will most likely be able to keep her around for quite a while. I cannot give a prognosis as to how long, but your odds are pretty good that we are going to survive for a period of months to years. Thank you for reaching out to us. I hope I have helped.

Vetmedin does not increase the heart size. Since I don't know how much your dog weighs I cannot comment on the dose. If you would like to post again with her weight then we can maybe help you determine if that is an overdose. You can always talk to your vet about changing the medication - I would not change anything without speaking to them first. Is she taking any other medications for CHF like furosemide or enalapril? If so, the enalapril is most likely causing the increase in heart rate after administration. None of the medications however, will cause the hear to enlarge. The heart is enlarging due to the normal course of the disease. The medications only help to support the heart - they will not stop the progression of the disease. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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.

I'm sorry Brownie isn't doing well! It sounds like he has heart disease, which can be common in senior dogs. Unfortunately there is no cure for heart disease, but the symptoms can be managed with medication. The echocardiogram (ultrasound of his heart) will give more information on how his heart is pumping blood and how serious his heart disease is so that a prognosis can be given. This doesn't necessarily mean he will die soon, but it's unfortunately a possibility given his age. Hopefully the heart disease isn't significantly progressed and medication can help him, and the echocardiogram will provide more information. I hope this helps.

He is shaking either from pain/discomfort or as a side effect from the medications he is taking. Since I don't know what medications he is taking it hard for me to comment. The dosages may need to be adjusted. Since he is on heart medications it is best to contact your vet for help since they have the full medical history.