As dog owners we all wants our canine companions to have a life full of love and care. However, a time may come when your pet is diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF Heart Failure In Dogs) and will require real medical treatment. Knowing what happens in the end stages of congestive heart failure in a dog can help you to navigate this challenging journey with compassion and clarity.
In this guide, we will talk about all the things such as symptoms and prognosis of this disease, causes of this ailment, treatment and emotional issues related to coping with loss. By the end, you will have all the information to ensure that your cherished dog has his or her best days till the end.
Table of Contents
What is Canine Congestive Heart Failure in dog:
In congestive heart failure, the heart cannot pump the blood properly, causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs and other parts of a dog’s body. This can happen to any dog, but is seen primarily in older dogs and overall unhealthy dogs of any size or breed.
Mineral Content and Salt (Sodium) Levels The variety of congestive heart failure causes mirrors the variation in signs and symptoms.
These are some of the reasons your dog can get congestive heart failure —
Heartworm Disease: Fatal, parasitic worms that can do considerable harm to the heart and lungs.
Valvular Heart Disease: It is the most common cause of heart failure in dogs, under this condition either the heart valves are destructed or diseased.
Cardiomyopathy: A type of disease of the heartbeat muscle that prevents the heart from pumping blood in a normal way.
Congenital heart defects: Certain dogs are born with congenital defects of the heart, which can lead to later-onset heart failure for that dog.
Arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, can interrupt the beat of the heart that allows this to happen.
Recognizing Early Symptoms of heart failure in dog
Most likely, you will notice some minor variations in your canine way of life and health. Common signs include:
Cough: A cough that persists, especially when lying down, can indicate fluid in the lungs.
Early warning symptom #1 — Hardest to breath — The hardest you feel to breathe
Loss of energy: Extreme fatigue and lack of motivation to exercise.
Weight Loss: A missing reason for unexplained weight loss is your overall health is in decline.
Final Stages of Congestive Heart Failure In Dogs
As your dog progresses to the later stages of congestive heart failure, they may reach end stage congenital heart disease. Being aware of what will happen during this process can help you make the best decisions possible for your dog or cat and afford the most care for them as well.
Cough as a Symptoms of Final Stage CHF in Dogs
Breathing: The one of the most difficult end-stage congestive heart failure signs and symptoms to see is labored breathing. Your dog might be panting or have shallow breaths, and seem to have difficulty catching their breath, even at rest. You may see a lot of panting, or sitting in a position to breath deeper—in the position that gets them breathing easiest too with elevated head.
Severe Coughing: Might be non-stop and sound loud (in the last stage). The cough produced as a result of this might be dry or more productive — however in both case, it worsens when your canine is mendacity down. It may sound raspy, or wheezy and is a sign of increased lung pressures.
Lack of Appetite: Almost all dogs with congestive heart failure during its final stages become very hungry. They may refuse to eat their regular food or sometimes show no interest at all in their favorite treats. And that could lead to more weight loss and increased fragility.
Greater Fatigue and Weakness: Due to the heart struggling more to pump blood, your dog will become increasingly fatigued. They may take longer rests or naps and be less inclined to want to go on walks or play. That is when you may begin seeing them have problems getting up or walking around in, even within the easiest of spots.
Third: Retention of fluid → In congestive heart failure, the retention of fluid is often in visceral organs (for example – belly) as well as in peripheral tissues (e.g. arms and legs). Her stomach may look puffy and her abdomen swollen (ascites). Legs can also look de-fucking-sausagey/water-retent-y.
Behavior Changes: When your dog enters the last legs of life, you should notice some changes in his/her behavior. They may begin to pull back, seeking time by themselves or exhibiting anxiety and agitation. Some become a bit clingy and want to stay beside you for confort.
Changes in Heart Rate: Your pooch cardio may go up and down, cardio quicken or even miss a beat. This is not only scary and in 99% of the times it means your fucking heart does not perform properly.
Decreased Responsiveness: The later stages may have your dog sluggish or unresponsive. Someone you love might not respond to familiar voices or sounds, and they may seem lost and confused.
Emotional tribute: From private life:
Whenever I think of Time I enjoyed with my doggy Charlie, only the thought that brings a smile on my face is he made My Life 🙂 He was a golden retriever so there was always a bit of frisky playfulness in him, he liked to run around in the yard. However, as he got older I began to notice little things that suggested he wasn’t well. He started to cough more and show signs of fatigue,(Heart Failure In Dog) which is rare for him.
When Charlie was diagnosed with CHF I was devastated. The vet explained to me what the condition was and what symptoms we should expect as the disease progressed. And this was 1.5 years ago, I would have loved for Charlie to stick around and be with us more than that, but his breathing became increasingly labored as well as his appetite decreased over those months.
It was on one of those especially clear nights that I knew we were entering the final phases of congestive heart failure. Charlie was there on the pavement, trying to breathe and I saw his pain in his eyes. As to how long this phase lasted, I had no idea, but I knew we were closing in on that hour where our time together would be coming to an end and nothing — not even a soothing feline voice — could calm him.
In this heartbreaking moment, I learned to be there for my dog, to love him and comfort him in his time of need. I contacted our vet now looking for palliative options and what we did to keep Charlie comfortable until then.
Can Dogs With Congestive Heart Failure Get Palliative Care:
Congestive heart failure is a very serious disease and has no cure; however, there are services that can help alleviate some of the saddening load and suffering, as well provide your pup with a good quality of life.
Medications – Your vet may be able to give your dog some medicine that will speed along their recovery. Common medications include:
Diuretics: This type of medication reduces liquid retention in the body, particularly at locations like lungs and abdomen.
ACE Inhibitors: These assist in widening blood vessels so that the heart can easily pump blood throughout the body.
Pimobendan: This helps improve the pumping ability of the heart and blood flow.
Dietary Changes: A dog with congestive heart failure will benefit from an alteration to a heart-healthy diet. A low sodium and easily digestible diet should be tried. Request information about heart-healthy diets from your vet.
Oxygen Therapy: If your dog is experiencing difficulty breathing, a veterinarian can prescribe oxygen therapy. This may also mean consumers using an oxygen concentrator at home or taking their pets to a vet clinic for treatment.
Reduced Anxiety: Providing your dog with a peaceful and stress-free habitat can keep anxiety at bay. Minimize the noise, and give them a warm place to lie down.
Find quality time with your dog by engaging in soft, pleasant activities they enjoy doing. Maybe some quiet cuddling for a bit, perhaps slow walks depending on wit level.
Preparing for the Inevitable
At this point of congestive heart failure you will want to have a plan in place for what needs to happen when it is time to say goodbye. This could be a very emotional period for both you and your pet. Consider these steps:
Talk Talk with your vet End-End generous life
Seek Alternatives to Confusion A candid conversation with your veterinarian can provide insight into your pup’s prognosis and the end-of-life options available, bringing some clarity – or at least a new perspective. Discuss with them euthanasia and what that entails. Remaining cognizant of your options puts you in a position to be ready.
Ensure that Your Atmosphere is Chill
B your house pet friendly as much make your home dog ready Give them soft cushion, clean water and a place where he can find corner and stay quiet. Keep familiar items around them and stay close to help alleviate anxiety.
Consider a Home Euthanasia Service
If you want to go ahead with the euthanasia then ask if they perform home euthanasia in your area. It allows your pup to be in a comfortable environment during their last moments with those they love.
Prepare for Grief
Saying farewell to a furry friend is by all means a very painful experience, and it is quite natural that you are susceptible to multiple feelings such as sadness, guilt or anger. Give yourself permission to grieve and connect with friends, family or support groups that understand.
Memorialize Your Pet
When a dog passes, it is natural to want to have something special the you can do in memory of your dog — a tribute of some sort. Make an photo album, plant a tree in their memory, or setup an little space at his/her place.
Coping with Grief After Loss
You have to recognize your mourning and give yourself time after losing your pup. Here is how to cope with the loss of your pet:
Allow Yourself to Mourn: We are all mourning in our own manner. This is our human nature we forget the reason. Let yourself grieve — sad, mad or even relieved.
Talk About How You Feel: Talking to friends, family, or peer support groups about our emotions can be beneficial. Memory and feelings talk can help you with a way to heal or feel validated /comfort.
Create a Memorial: Consider creating a memorial like a scrapbook or even an ornate picture frame of your pooch.