Heart failure

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Okapimode2429 Icon representing the flag French

I’ve finally decided to post today because I’m looking for people who are going through, or have been through, a similar situation with their pet. My Samoyed, who is 9 years old, was diagnosed with heart failure just over two years ago. She is currently on a daily medication regime consisting of:

· Vetmedin 10 mg: ½ tablet in the morning and ½ tablet in the evening;

· Benefortin 20 mg: ½ tablet in the evening;

· Libeo 40 mg: 1 tablet in the morning.

What worries me the most is her breathing rate, which I often find too high when she's at rest. She also pants a lot during the night.

Our regular vet has retired, and I’m still finding it hard to put my full trust in the new vet. He suggested increasing the Vetmedin for eight days, but I haven’t seen any improvement.

I’d really like to hear from anyone who has experienced something similar: how you managed the condition day-to-day, the signs that worried you, and what helped you support your companion. I know how tough this is and that one day it will come to an end, but I’d like to be able to talk to people who understand what we’re going through.

Translated from French
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    Snaraellora17 Icon representing the flag French

    Hi there

    I'm so sorry to hear what you’re going through.

    The best mantra to follow: observe ‼️ take notes ‼️ analyse.

    It’ll help you know how to react in an emergency and provide the vet with plenty of information.

    In my experience, panting for no reason usually hides some kind of pain. Is your dog vomiting or eating? ❓❓

    Have a look at this article.

    Looking at the medication leaflets, I can see that panting is one of the obvious consequences (inherent) of the condition.

    To quote:

    (…) The condition occurs when your dog's heart is no longer able to pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body's needs, which leads to a fluid build-up (congestion) in the lungs, abdomen, or other parts of the body. (…)

    Personally, I need to have total confidence in my vet. So don't hesitate to get a second opinion from another vet, specifically a cardiologist for example. Just so you aren't being given the runaround.

    Best of luck to you 🙏

    Translated from French
    ProvetoJuniorConseil
    Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French
    Expert verified
    Hi, I’m a vet student. Frequent rapid breathing at rest and panting at night in a dog with heart failure warrant a prompt re-evaluation, especially if the increase in Vetmedin hasn't led to any improvement. Count her breathing rate while she is fast asleep: watch her chest for 30 seconds, then multiply by two, and note down the results every day. If she regularly exceeds 30 breaths per minute or if her usual rate increases, contact your vet quickly. They will be able to check for fluid build-up or other causes via a clinical exam, X-rays, an ultrasound scan, and kidney and electrolyte blood tests. Getting a second opinion from a veterinary cardiologist would be very sensible. Do not adjust the doses of Vetmedin, Fortekor, or Libeo yourself: the dosages depend specifically on her weight, the type of heart disease, and her monitoring results. If she is struggling to breathe, cannot settle or lie down, has pale or bluish gums, collapses, or seems very weak, see an emergency vet immediately. Best wishes, Romane
    Translated from French
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