Congestive heart failure is the heart's inability to function normally. This leads to excessive retention of water and salt, causing a build-up of fluid in the lungs. The main cause is degeneration of the heart valves. As the valve problem progresses, it becomes leaky and blood flows backwards through the heart. The heart stops functioning normally and fluid accumulates in the lungs and abdomen. As a result, the kidneys will retain water and salt, thus making it even worse. Older, small breed dogs are more prone to CHF...but it's not limited to them. Dogs with CHF usually develop a heart murmur...but not all dogs with a heart murmur develop congestive heart failure.

These are the symptoms of a dog with congestive heart failure.

  1. Exercise intorlerance
  2. Labored or rapid breathing
  3. Coughing
  4. Swelling of the abdomen
  5. Weight loss
  6. Lack of energy

These are also symptoms of an aging dog also. It is extremely important that you inform your vet as soon as you notice any of these symptoms. Let your vet run the necessary tests and decide if your dog is in congestive heart failure...or just getting old. Also be sure your dog gets a yearly check-up. As CHF progresses, these symptoms become more frequent and severe.

Samson is now 11 years old. He has been the picture of health up until now. There has been many times that he didn't have a yearly exam because he has always been so healthy. When he began showing some of these symptoms, we assumed he was just getting older.

Tests usually performed to diagnose this are...a physical exam, cardiovascular exam, chest xray, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram. If your vet is not trained in these tests, locate a veterinary cardiologist.

Heart failure therapy includes

  • Diet: low sodium
  • Diuretics: fluid pills to help the kidneys excrete the excess sodium and water.
  • Dilators: These drugs dilate the arteries (to decrease the stress on the heart), dilate the veins (relieves congestion). Sometimes both are used.
  • Digoxin: these are drugs to make the heart beat stronger, slow the heart and reestablish normal heart responses.

Once a dog develops heart failure life expectancy is between 6 months to several years. Treated dogs will do much better than the untreated dogs.

Early detection is the key !!! Early detection of heart failure provides the best chance for successful treatment. The sooner it is found...the sooner treatment can begin. The sooner treatment begins...the better chance your dog has of living a longer, more comfortable life!

Samson was first diagionesed with CHF on May 24, 2000. Keep up with his medical progress through his CHF diary. Entries will be made as needed...at least once a week (maybe more). So visit often and see how he progresses...and say a prayer for him...ok? Thanks and God Bless!

Follow the dog through Samson's diary....

Feel free to email Samson with your well wishes. If you have lived with a CHF dog...Samson would love to hear how things went (so would I!).

If you don't want to email him...please stop by his homepage and sign his guestbook!