My senior dog with heart murmur is lethargic and won't eat after meds.

Hi, I am really sorry to hear that Miko is poorly and making little progress. I am sure the vet has not lied to you, or tried to keep anything secret. It could be that Miko has two conditions at the same time or that the antibiotics are not completely effective against the condition. If you think he is getting worse and your vet is closed, I would recommend a trip to your local emergency clinic. You could get a second opinion on Miko and could get something to make him perk up. All patients as they get old, they are more fragile and can take longer to respond to treatment. If Miko should be too poorly to be helped you could have an honest conversation with the vets too, as it is not fair to make him suffer. Hope Miko can get better, and that you find the right answers to your questions.

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I am sorry that Odie isn't feeling well. The heart on the x-rays is very big, so treatment for the heart disease is a good idea. One of the medications given typically with heart disease is a drug called Furosemide, and this usually makes them drink and pee a lot. Other medications for heart disease including Benazepril (Fortekor) and Pimobendan (Vetmedin). Benazepril can be hard on the kidneys so follow up bloodwork is recommended. If Odie is not improving with the medications he might need higher doses. Also, if he isn't eating and drinking, I would be concerned about another disease process going on, and would recommend bloodwork. You can always try a 24 hour emergency center if you can't get into your local vet for a consult. I hope he feels better soon. I wouldn't change any medications you are giving now without talking to a vet first, and it sounds like Odie needs to be seen soon. Best of luck with Odie.

Hello. It often takes a bit of time for some infections to clear, but if you are concerned, please have her rechecked as soon as possible. This may be an indication that a new, or another antibiotic needs to be added to her treatment. Another option is to have her re-evaluated at a referral clinic, one that has multiple specialists. Sometimes, it takes a fresh pair of eyes to diagnose a difficult problem. Do not wait to see what happens since she is obviously worse. I hope Ittle is feeling better soon & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If your dog does not start showing improvement after 48 hours of being on the medication and/or if his symptoms persist, then you should take him back to your veterinarian for a recheck. He may need additional diagnostics like blood work, X-rays, and/or a parvo test (depending on his vaccination status). He may also need supportive care like nausea medication and fluid therapy. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When I get a case like this, I treat for pain. An arthritis flare up, sore back, or soft tissue injury can be very difficult to find on an exam but can cause exactly what you are describing. Talk to your vet about doing a week or two of pain medication to see if that helps- many times it will. Best wishes to you and Mylo!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. I would agree with the veterinarian that the blood work does not look concerning at this time. If his appetite has decreased with antibiotics, I would recommend discontinuing the antibiotics and seeing how his appetite improves. If he continues to be inappetant or is lethargic, I would have the veterinarian recheck him to ensure everything is ok. If he continues to be itchy, I would recommend using a topical shampoo such as Douxo PS shampoo which can be found online quite easily and bathe twice weekly until resolved. I would also recommend using Essential 6 spot on by Dermoscent, which can also be found online. If he continues to be itchy, it may be time to consider switching to a different food or even consider seeing a veterinary dermatologist. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Yes it would be best to have her seen. Decreased appetite and lethargy are very common symptoms of many diseases, many of which may be treatable. The best way to know what is going on (diagnosis), how serious it is, and how to help her feel better is to have her seen. Most likely your vet will recommend some senior bloodwork and xrays to start. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!