Enlarged Heart

M

Maxwell

Forums Novice
After some coughing and x-rays our Vet has diagnosed our Dear Max with CHF. Although he is still a happy boy this worries us greatly. Since Max turns 11 on Feb 28th, we are wondering how long Shelties can live with CHF, and if Max will experience any pain. Other then this CHF and a slight seizure earlier he appears to be in great shape and loves to play and go on walks.

Thank-you,
 
So sorry to hear that you're going through this, you must feel just heart sick.

I can't offer any advice myself, as I've never experienced CHF, but I know that there are a couple of forum members who've delt with this. Granite in particular has a sheltie with CHF and can probably provide you with some good info. You may want to PM her.
 
So sorry you got this diagnosis for Max you must be heartbroken.

I have had a couple of dogs( not Shelties) that have had CHF. I think the lifespan depends on the stage it's in when diagnosed. I think my dog's were caught fairly early and with special diet and medication they did very and lived quite awhile. It's was along time ago so I don't remember exactly how long but it was a couple of years or more.

I also think it's a good idea for you to talk with Granite(Janet) as her Indy has it.
 
think of it in those terms- heart is a pump. Initially when you see that water is not pumping good you get larger pump to fit the volume/ heart grows more muscle trying to push blood out/ it helps for a while but but then even bigger pump starts backing up, doing back flow/ lungs get filled with fluid, thus cough/
Solution- decrease volume of the fluid that needs to be pumped/ making job easier/ or increase pumping function/ stimulating muscle to use more force, rest longer, work more efficiently/
One of the oldest drugs used to improve pumping action is digoxin, derivative from foxglove plant, then limiting of fluids/ diuretics/ come into play.
Monitoring sodium intake always a biggie as salt retains water thus increasing the volume pumped.
It seems you are being watchful and going to monitor how things progress and that about what you can do. I do not have knowledge to tell you about your dog longevity, I think it is pretty individual but enlarged heart and fluid in the lungs means that process has been there for a while.
this webpage will lead you to some additional treatments that can supplement what your vet prescribes
http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/dog-heart-problems.html
I do not believe that it is painful condition, most doggies just get tired real fast.
 
CHF is how my Chelsea left me. She was on Vetmedin for less than a year (I don't remember when she went on it) after I knew about the heart. Near the end, she went onto 2 meds for her heart, and 2 diuretic medications to try to reduce the fluid buildup as her organs were shutting down.

How long she'd had it, I can't say, I think it was caught late in her case. She was an active dog her entire life, seemingly endless energy. Fact is, at 11 1/2yrs, she had more energy, spunk, than April did when she was 4. April will walk up one hill I can think of, at the same speed Chelsea did just a month before she died. She really slowed down though her final few months. But, the spirit doesn't leave. The day she died, out on the lawn, she picked up her head, and ran. Not hard, not far, but she ran. I was beside her to catch her for the inevitible Syncope episode.

I know this doesn't help, but enjoy your time remaining. Make more good times, I hope you have many. And, very importantly, take lots of pics of those times.
 
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Thank-you for your kind replies. As I sit here reading and tearful, with our Max at my feet, he senses something is wrong with me... go figure.
We are committed to being positive and enjoying this extra time with Max. He had a heart murmur since birth and although we had the pick of the litter we picked him so he wasn't left behind, he has repaid us a million times over!
 
I am so sorry. My friend's Corgi was similarly diagnosed. The vet has provided medications, and they're hanging in there. Max, enjoy every minute! None of us knows how long we have.
 
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