our veterinarian confirms CHF.
Because CHF is a common human problem too, new drugs are constantly being developing and refining to treat it. These human medications work quite well in dogs and cats too. So your veterinarian might decide on a drug(s) I do not mention. This is particularly the case when you visit a veterinary cardiologist. They keep close watch on the methods used by human cardiologists. However, it is always uncertain if these newer human medications will extend the life of your pet any more than those that are more commonly used by your local veterinarian. It take 5-10 years for even human meta studies to confirm the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of a new heart failure treatments, medications or supplements. (read here , here & here)
Veterinarians usually treat CHF with several medication groups at once:
Veterinarains remove as much pooled fluids and blood as they can with drugs called diuretics. Once these excess fluids are removed from your pet’s lungs, its cough should improve or cease. The cow-like pot-belly associated with CHF should also go away. The most commonly used diuretics in dogs and cats is furosemide (Lasix®). When furosemide on its own is no longer effective enough in decreasing fluid retention in your dog or cat, veterinarians often add a second diuretic called spironolactone. Do not be surprised when your pet drinks and urinates more on these medications. One should never limit your dog or cats water consumption in an attempt to prevent pooled chest or abdominal fluids. That can cause severe dehydration which is bad or worse than the heart issue you pet faces.
Veterinarians also attempt to increase the diameter of blood vessels throughout your pet’s body with vasodilator drugs so that your dog or cat’s heart does not have to work as hard. Most of the medicines of this group are called ACE inhibitors. The most common ones in this group that veterinarians dispense are enalapril (Enacard®) benazepril (Lotensin®) and lisinopril (Prinivil®). By making it easier for blood to flow through your pet’s blood vessels, ACE inhibitors help decrease your pet’s heart rate, and help preserve the heart’s remaining strength. The most common side effect of these drugs is lack of appetite and vomiting. If that occurs, your dog or cat’s dose needs to be adjusted.
Inodilators, distant relatives of dopamine, are also called positive inotropes One compound in this group, Pimobendan (Vetmedin®) definitely seems to extend the lives of dogs and cats with CHF. Pimobendan increases the amount of blood that the weakened heart can pump by giving more strength to its individual muscle fibers. The drug also opens up (dilates) blood vessels throughout the body so the heart doesn’t have to work as hard. One study found that dogs receiving pimobendan and furosemide lived 9 months longer than those receiving only enalpril and furosemide. It has been used in cats, although it is not licensed for that species. (read here) Its use in cats is still controversial.
Another drug in this group that was once quite popular is digoxin. Because of its many side effects and the limited length of time pets tend to survive while on it, I rarely prescribe it. It is at best a medication of last resort.
The heart has a complex electrical wiring system to coordinate it’s contractions. When the heart is damaged, this system may fail. We call an abnormal heart beat rhythm a cardiac arrhythmia. Some of the drugs used to control arrhythmias are propranolol (Inderal®) procainamide (Pronestyl®), and tocainide (Tonocard®).
Less Proven Medication Options:
There is certainly no harm in giving these a try:
A Lower Salt Diet
Many veterinarians suggest pets with heart disease consume a low sodium diet. This is probably a good idea if your pet also has elevated blood pressure or retained fluid. We really do not know if low sodium diets are as beneficial to pets as they might be to humans. (read here)
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are high in fish oil. In people, there is some evidence that omega-3 supplements might reduce the risk of heart 