My senior dog has CHF and coughs. Will Lasix help her breathe easier?

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

It depends. Some dogs with appropriately managed congestive heart failure can live for years. Other dogs may only live days. Lasix is good for removing fluid from the lungs, but it is rarely used alone in treatment of congestive heart failure. Medications like enalapril and Vetmedin are commonly used alongside Lasix. I would recommend discussing these additional medications with your vet. https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/congestive-heart-failure/

Hi there, you could try increasing it to 30 mg twice a day. In general a standard dose is 2mg/kg twice a day. If frusemide should not work , a new diuretic could be added such as spironolactone. I would recommend to discuss this with your vet. Hope this helps !

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

Hello, and thanks for your question. Harry may need an increase in his furosemide dose, or sometimes I will tell owners to give an extra dose occasionally as needed - but it depends on the dog's symptoms, kidney function, and current dose of medication (whether the furosemide can be safely increased from the current dose). Furosemide cannot simply be increased indefinitely, or it can cause kidney problems or overly dehydrate the animal. Harry's normal vet will be the only one able to answer this question, since they know his current dose, weight, and medical history. 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.

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.