Heart failure in dogs.

[Honeyroar]

Has anyone any experience of this? My old lab is being xrayed tomorrow to check for this, following several weeks of coughing and being treated for suspected kennel cough. Just wondering about treatments and prognosis.

Thank you for thinking of us and asking. The scan showed his heart is fine, but he has cancer. 😢. They've put him on steroids to see if it shrinks it and perks him up. It should show improvement within four days or so if it's going to. I've said I don't want to put him through much more, the vet said give him one last chance for a week, then if this doesn't work... I've just watched my best friend die of cancer, I don't want to watch him go slowly down hill like she did. At the minute he's just about OK, I wouldn't want to see him any worse.

So sorry to hear that. We lost ours to cancer last month so understand what you're going through. Absolutely heartbreaking.

I'm sorry Whatagreytdoggo. It's horrible isn't it!

I'm so sorry to hear that. You are so kind to want to spare him a long illness, he is lucky to have you. I read some stuff on the internet about how putting your dog to sleep is the last kind & loving act you can do for your dog. It gave me come comfort to think of it like that.

I will be thinking of you and your boy.

Thanks very much. I agree that it's the kindest thing you can do, but it's soooo hard when it comes to a dog that you've adored for years.

Dare I say that he's looked a little bit better today. Still tired, but has moved about a lot more, even trotted and played with the other dogs briefly. He's not coughed half as much either. Its the first day in the last ten days that I've not thought about needing to PTS. I've a tiny hope that he might get a little bit longer with us on these drugs. Obviously he still has cancer and he's still got a cloud on his horizon, but it doesn't feel quite as bad as it did yesterday (I've not cried today!).

Your update made me smile. I hope he continues to feel brighter.

I agree it is so hard to face losing them after so long together. Mine was 13 and I feel so empty without him. I know I did the right thing by putting him to sleep but I miss him so much and just want to look into his eyes and smell his fur again. It has really hit me the last few days, I think I was in shock at first. I have cried all week!