I have a 12yr.old greyhound with an enlarged heart, heavy breathing when not in air conditioning but energenic when weather is cooler. Her appetite excellent. In the morning she seems fine but when humidity increases her breathing is labored.
Is there anything I can give her to ease her discomfort? The only medication she is on is Proin for incontinence.
Please help…we love her.
Thanks.
If your dog has an enlarged heart, ask your veterinarian about enalapril, pimobendan (newly available from Boehringer Ingelheim as Vetmedin), and possibly furosemide. Also ask about a referral to a cardiologist for a full cardiac work-up.
Best of luck,
Joy N. Ritz, DVM
Associate Veterinarian
Decatur Veterinary Clinic
Indianapolis, IN 46221
Your pet has an enlarged heart but is heart failure present? Heart failure results in the build up of fluid in or around the lungs and is usually diagnosed with a chest x-ray. Has an echocardiogram been performed? If so what were the results?
Pets that have a more difficult time in warm weather can sometimes have laryngeal paralysis. This is a condition where the cartilage structures at the opening of the wind pipe in the back of the throat don’t open correctly, and could be a condition unrelated to the enlarged heart. Consider a consultation with a cardiac or respiratory veterinary specialist.
Steven Immerblum, DVM
Veterinary Care Center at Goldens Bridge
Goldens Bridge, NY
It does sound like it could be her heart. Please get her a cardiac ultrasound. She may need specific heart drugs.
Good luck.
Phillip McHugh, DVM
Park Veterinary Hospital
Durham, NC
I would be interested to know how the enlarged heart was diagnosed; radiographs or on ultrasound. An “enlarged heart” can be normal in some breeds and the best way to determine this is an ultrasound study of the heart. Has a heart murmur been detected.
From your description re: humidity, etc. I would be concerned about a respiratory condition called Laryngeal Paralysis which can be easily diagnosed and is surgically correctable.
Dr. Terry Medinger, DVM
VCA Aurora Animal Hospital
Aurora, IL
Most likely she has COPD (all greyhounds have “enlarged” hearts; has your dog been ultrasounded to determine her heart function?). If the heart function is good, bronchodilators might help the breathing. If there is any noise associated with the breathing, also have her checked for laryngeal paralysis.
Dan
There are many wonderful drugs available to treat canine heart failure. I should know, as I have TWO beloved dogs with heart disease! The very first thing you need to do is have the dogs heart thoroughly evaluated. this may include an EKG, Radiographs of the chest, and the “gold standard”, cardiac ultrasound. The latest drug available to treat dogs with CHF or HCM is pimobendan (“Vetmedin”). You need to discuss this with your veterinarian and then decide what the best course is to help your beloved greyhound live a longer and more comfortable life.
Mike Keem, DVM
Aurora Pet Hospital East Aurora, NY