If your older dog appears to be gaining weight and has become lethargic, it's possible the problem is congestive heart failure.
The initial symptom of this condition is often a mild seizure and may occur months before other symptoms or behavioral changes are noted.
Large breed dogs are particularly vulnerable due to the strain placed on the hart to maintain activity of their larger bodies.
Most of the time, the owner will not notice a seizure symptom as it may be only a momentary loss of balance or a dog appearing overly tired for a few minutes to an hour or so.
The discomfort your dog feels from congestive heart failure is primarily caused by the fluid buildup throughout his body.
Fluid buildup around the heart causes the heart to beat erratically resulting in loss of energy.
Fluid in the abdomen and around joints cause pain from pressure and give a bloated appearance.
Prior to 2006, heart failure in dogs was treated with a cocktail of drugs designed for human consumption.
A large dog might be prescribed four medications that would include digitalis, a diuretic to reduce fluid retention and other drugs designed to stabilize the heartbeat.
The improvement in the pet's condition was often dramatic and occurred within a few days of starting the regimen of twice daily medication.
Increased energy and alertness allowed pets to return to their normal activity at least for a time.
The medications could provide six to eight months of additional quality life for pets.
The challenge for the owner was finding ways to disguise the pills by stuffing them inside piece of hot dogs or putting them in a peanut butter sandwich.
Some of the pills were large in size and dogs can be quite resourceful in managing not to swallow the medication even when it's placed in a "treat".
In 2006, a new medication, Vetmedin, was approved specifically designed to treat congestive heart failure in dogs.
This medication requires fewer pills per day and can provide a year or more of life for a canine with some types of heart failure.
Owners report that almost immediately after beginning Vetmedin their older dogs act like puppies again.
The effects of the pills are also long lasting and often add more than a year of quality life for dogs on this regimen.
For the pet's owner, it's a year of devotion and memories that will last a lifetime.
There is no cure for congestive heart failure in dogs.
Eventually, any medication will lose its effectiveness as the heart grows weaker.
A dog owner who is willing to spend the time and money to extend his companion's life with Vetmedin will quickly notice when the medications are no longer effective.
The last kindness is for the owner to visit the vet one last time and sit with his dog as he is released from pain.
The initial symptom of this condition is often a mild seizure and may occur months before other symptoms or behavioral changes are noted.
Large breed dogs are particularly vulnerable due to the strain placed on the hart to maintain activity of their larger bodies.
Most of the time, the owner will not notice a seizure symptom as it may be only a momentary loss of balance or a dog appearing overly tired for a few minutes to an hour or so.
The discomfort your dog feels from congestive heart failure is primarily caused by the fluid buildup throughout his body.
Fluid buildup around the heart causes the heart to beat erratically resulting in loss of energy.
Fluid in the abdomen and around joints cause pain from pressure and give a bloated appearance.
Prior to 2006, heart failure in dogs was treated with a cocktail of drugs designed for human consumption.
A large dog might be prescribed four medications that would include digitalis, a diuretic to reduce fluid retention and other drugs designed to stabilize the heartbeat.
The improvement in the pet's condition was often dramatic and occurred within a few days of starting the regimen of twice daily medication.
Increased energy and alertness allowed pets to return to their normal activity at least for a time.
The medications could provide six to eight months of additional quality life for pets.
The challenge for the owner was finding ways to disguise the pills by stuffing them inside piece of hot dogs or putting them in a peanut butter sandwich.
Some of the pills were large in size and dogs can be quite resourceful in managing not to swallow the medication even when it's placed in a "treat".
In 2006, a new medication, Vetmedin, was approved specifically designed to treat congestive heart failure in dogs.
This medication requires fewer pills per day and can provide a year or more of life for a canine with some types of heart failure.
Owners report that almost immediately after beginning Vetmedin their older dogs act like puppies again.
The effects of the pills are also long lasting and often add more than a year of quality life for dogs on this regimen.
For the pet's owner, it's a year of devotion and memories that will last a lifetime.
There is no cure for congestive heart failure in dogs.
Eventually, any medication will lose its effectiveness as the heart grows weaker.
A dog owner who is willing to spend the time and money to extend his companion's life with Vetmedin will quickly notice when the medications are no longer effective.
The last kindness is for the owner to visit the vet one last time and sit with his dog as he is released from pain.
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