As a canine home euthanasia expert in Tucson, I know your dog is often your constant companion and best friend. They often are at your side on your walks or hikes. Your canine companion is happy to lay next to you when you are relaxing at home together. But when your dog has congestive heart failure it can be hard to get your hands on user friendly information.
In this blog, I am going to educate you about congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs. I will also discuss canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) because this is a common cause of CHF. Finally, I will help you understand what factors you should pay attention to when you are considering humanely euthanizing your dog due to their CHF condition.
What is congestive heart failure (CHF) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)?
As dogs age, their hearts age as well. Thus, as dogs grow older their chance of developing CHF increases.
Canine congestive heart failure (CHF) is a common condition veterinarians evaluate and treat. CHF is a secondary disease, meaning it occurs after a more primary problem is operating in your dog. In small breed dogs a common primary problem that leads to CHF, is canine mitral valve insufficiency.
All of the heart valves ensure blood flows in one direction and into various chambers the dog’s heart is composed of. The mitral valve is one of the four valves located in the heart. With mitral valve insufficiency, leakage occurs in the mitral valve which causes blood to leak backward rather than maintaining a one-way flow of blood. This creates a blockage in the otherwise smooth flow of blood. This leads to fluid leaking into areas of the heart that impedes the heart to function smoothly. This leads to the clinical signs of canine CHF.
In large breed dogs, canine congestive heart failure (CHF) is commonly caused by canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs is a disease that occurs when the heart muscles become weakened and are not able to pump blood effectively through the body. Canine DCM causes a generalized weakness. Episodes of fainting are a common result of DCM. Dogs may experience an irregular heart rhythm from DCM.
Your veterinarian will diagnose your dog through a combination of a physical exam and a multitude of diagnostic testing including canine X-rays, EKG, blood pressure measurement, bloodwork and ultrasound. There are veterinary specialists called veterinary cardiologists that are able to work with your veterinarian. This veterinary cardiologist may be needed to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Observable signs of canine Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Coughing, especially in the evening
- Loss of energy, especially with exercise
- Difficulty breathing, even at rest
- Fainting
- Distended abdomen where your dog’s belly looks unusually large and feels very firm when touched
Treatment of canine CHF
Treatment of canine congestive heart failure (CHF) consists of a multipronged medication protocol, often including the following treatment components:
- a diuretic canine medication which helps your dog continue to excrete unnecessary waste product bodily fluids. One example of a canine medication for CHF is Lasix.
- a canine medication which helps to prevent unnecessary fluid accumulation. These medications fall into a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for Angiotensin Converting Enzyme. One example of a medication commonly used in dogs is Enalapril.
- a medication that helps to improve the canine heart’s ability to contract. One example is Pimobendan.
Please note I am simply giving you examples of canine medications that fall into the medication categories named above. Ultimately, it will be up to your veterinarian and their best clinical judgment as to what actual medications should be used. All of the above medications can aid in increasing your dog’s life span. Your veterinarian will help direct you with the best medication protocol to help your dog the most.
Typical progression of canine CHF and when to euthanize
Veterinary doctors often use the term “prognosis” to discuss how optimistic or pessimistic they feel, depending on the severity of the canine CHF your dog is suffering from.
Each dog is different, and if your dog has CHF, their particular prognosis depends how well they respond to the medication protocol. Each dog will respond to the medication protocol in a unique way. I wish I could provide you with a more specific prediction, but each dog is unique. As the CHF progresses, and quality of life diminishes, you may need to make the difficult decision of going through with humane euthanasia.
How do you know when it might be time to euthanize your dog? Here is a pet quality of life checklist you can use to most objectively assess your dog’s quality of life day to day. The right time depends on your dog’s quality of life, symptoms, and how well they are responding to treatment.
Key canine CHF warning signs it may be time to euthanize:
- Severe breathing difficulty
- Persistent coughing or choking sounds
- Labored or rapid breathing even at rest
- Bluish or gray gums or tongue (a sign of low oxygen)
- Extreme fatigue or weakness
- Little to no interest in walks or play
- Struggling to stand, walk, or hold posture
- Collapsing or fainting spells
- Loss of appetite and weight
- Refusal to eat or drink
- Weight loss and muscle wasting
- Abdominal distention
- Swollen abdomen from fluid retention
- Poor response to medications
As an expert local mobile vet, I want you to understand canine CHF can often be managed for months, or even years. But if the time comes for you to consider humanely euthanizing your dog, please click here to go to my quality of life checklist. Using this checklist can allow you to methodically assess all the important aspects of your dog’s functioning, so you make the very best decision you will not regret. After having practiced humane and compassionate in-home euthanasia for over 25 years, I can tell you that my heart goes out to you. Reach out to those around you and don’t hold your feelings in, because it’s important that you process your thoughts and feelings rather than trying to figure this out all on your own.
If you are not sure how to find the best in home euthanasia vet in your area, click here to see my list of 7 questions you can ask.