Is my senior dog's pain linked to her heart murmur at 15 years old?

Any heart disease associated with blood clots may result in your dog coughing up blood. A heartworm infection increases the risk for pulmonary thormboembolism which may cause blood or bloody fluid to be pushed into the airways. Has he been tested for heartworm disease? Dogs with pancreatitis, some types of anemia, lung cancer, systemic bleeding, inflammatory diseases and hyperadrenocorticism will also be at an increased risk for pulmonary disorders which could cause this. Something is definitely causing him discomfort and pain. More advanced testing may be needed. Have you considered taking him to see a veterinary internal medicine specialist? I think that would be the next step. ( https://animalmedcenter.com/specialty/internal-medicine/ )

Heart disease is tough. This is true for humans or animals. Pets can quickly go from ok to not ok in minutes. Most forms of heart disease are progressive which means they get worse over time. Signs of worsening heart disease can be increased heart rate and respiratory rate, collapse, exercise intolerance, or coughing. There are many medications that can help improve quality of life. Please see your vet ASAP for an exam and possibly more tests or meds. Hope Boomer feels better!

The heart does indeed appear to be enlarged and the trachea (windpipe) pushed up by the heart which can cause discomfort and coughing. Murmurs and valve disease are quite common in chihuahuas (diet related dilated cardiomyopathy is generally associated with a milder murmur and larger heart). An ultrasound exam to assess the valves and the strength and thickness of the heart muscle or review from a cardiologist is recommended in order to determine the underlying issues as treatment to manage and reduce the symptoms are very different depending on the type of heart condition which is predominant

Good morning. I’m sorry Sky has a murmur. Cardiac murmurs are not a known side effect of metacam. However, age related changes to the heart valves as well as heart worm disease are common causes of murmurs. Sometimes anemia can cause a murmur as well. Blood work and a chest X-ray is usually A good place to start, and ultrasound of the heart can tell us the most informative. Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

I recommend getting her checked by your vet right away. She could have a disc problem in her neck or upper back that is painful. Your vet will do an exam, labwork, and x-rays, and based on these results will be better able to tell you what is wrong with her and what the best treatment will be.

I am sorry Lady isn't feeling well. The coughing and gagging could be from a heart problem. And your vet was right, you need a radiograph to help make that diagnosis. The best way to diagnose a heart condition is an ultrasound of the heart. The Rimadyl is an NSAID and helps with inflammation. For a 13 year old dog, it would be great for arthritis pain. I am sure your vet didn't prescribe medications for the cough because there is no official diagnosis yet, and some medications can cause harm if used inappropriately. I would highly recommend starting with the radiographs to find out why Lady is coughing. Good luck and kisses to Lady!

Hello. I would need to know a little more information about Walter's heart first, such as with an x-ray & ECG, but if he is not coughing, there are no crackles or wheezing in his chest, he seems to have good energy, & appetite is normal, then no, I would not necessarily put him on any medication. But I would recommend rechecking chest radiographs in 6-12 months. I would also recommend doing a NT-proBNT test. If the results are high, then Walter may be at risk for actually developing congestive heart failure, & treatment with pimobenden is indicated. A low to normal NT-proBNP, I would not start any medications yet. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.