It's very commonly prescribed in dogs. Della, Albert and Phoebe were all prescribed it and it didn't seem to bother them compared to the symptoms they were experiencing before the med.
Kali's heart murmur
- Thread starter MyBuddy
- Start date
Rits
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Oh I'm so sorry to hear about Kali. I wonder how long the meds take to kick in? Maybe by Friday give the vet a call to ask/see about adjusting the medication. I believe they have to dial it in depending on the severity and dog. Is she seeing a cardiologist? 15 years is great but I know those Chi's are tenacious and can live a long time! I hope you have more time with her and she can be feeling better soon.
It is prescribed for every dobe treated for DCM, along with Vetmedin. There is actually a facebook page where members donate their meds when they lose their dog.
I have donated all of mine to members here when they needed them.
Kswoodssue
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Awe. Hope she gets feeling better soon. 
Kali seems to be doing a lot better on the meds! The coughing is down to a minimum. And that's a big Improvement.
This was this morning. Kali was outside to potty again and then was walking around the kitchen. Following me around and looking at me. That may seem normal to a lot of people but for her most of the time when she goes out to potty she usually just goes back to bed. So it was good to see her engage in a more active manner. And no coughing!
Right after I stopped the above video, she started wagging her tail! I had to get some it
...
And I cut that one
short because my throat was closing up. 
Right after I stopped the above video, she started wagging her tail! I had to get some it
...
And I cut that one
short because my throat was closing up. 
I am just catching up with this, after reading through it, it was so nice to see Kali's tail wagging! We will be thinking of you as you navigate this together.
Well, an update on Kali... The coughing has virtually been eliminated but I think the side effects from the pills that she's on are finally shining through.
Yesterday I actually didn't think she pooped all day so I was a little concerned about that. Well, this morning she made up for it.
She pooped on the pee pads, on the floor, on her bed and on herself. Yeah, real mess. I took both dogs outside to potty, fed them and then put her in her crate while I cleaned everything up in the laundry room. Then I went out and took care of the horses. When I came back I had to give her a bath! She's stunk! I towel dried her and then put a heater in the laundry room while she slept and air dried. 
The rest of the day she seemed fine. A little lethargic but that's one of the side effects too.
So about 7:15 tonight my husband and I go out to the barn to take care of the horses. When we came back in I went to check on Kali and OMG! It was this morning all over again! It was a mess ! Back to work! Cleaned up all the pee pads and floor. Luckily she didn't get herself that bad and I only got one spot on her bed. So I threw the bed in the washing machine. This morning I had to throw away the one that was pooped on! It was so bad I didn't even want to deal with it. I had three of these calming beds. The last one I bought on sale "just because" and now I'm glad I did.
Tonight she just had a little spot with poop on it so I got that off and threw it in the washing machine, cleaned up all the stuff on the floor and this time I did it a little differently.
When I put the pee pads down I taped them together and taped it to the floor! 
She was moving them when she was pooping and getting it on the floor. So I figured this way they all should stay together and hopefully not create such a mess if it happens again. Diarrhea is a side effect so I'm thinking I'm in for more. 
I'm actually thinking about skipping a day of the medicine to see if that helps a bit. She doesn't have diarrhea very often usually . So this is different .
So the laundry room is her new home.
It actually works out quite well. As you can see I can cover the floor, she can have access to water, I have a sink in there, the washing machines are in there, she's close to the active part of the house and its big enough for her to walk around. And she sleeps all day anyway. So she seems quite content in there.
I hope we can balance out the effects of the pills and the good part about the pills. Which is keeping her from coughing.
Yesterday I actually didn't think she pooped all day so I was a little concerned about that. Well, this morning she made up for it.
She pooped on the pee pads, on the floor, on her bed and on herself. Yeah, real mess. I took both dogs outside to potty, fed them and then put her in her crate while I cleaned everything up in the laundry room. Then I went out and took care of the horses. When I came back I had to give her a bath! She's stunk! I towel dried her and then put a heater in the laundry room while she slept and air dried. The rest of the day she seemed fine. A little lethargic but that's one of the side effects too.
So about 7:15 tonight my husband and I go out to the barn to take care of the horses. When we came back in I went to check on Kali and OMG! It was this morning all over again! It was a mess ! Back to work! Cleaned up all the pee pads and floor. Luckily she didn't get herself that bad and I only got one spot on her bed. So I threw the bed in the washing machine. This morning I had to throw away the one that was pooped on! It was so bad I didn't even want to deal with it. I had three of these calming beds. The last one I bought on sale "just because" and now I'm glad I did.
Tonight she just had a little spot with poop on it so I got that off and threw it in the washing machine, cleaned up all the stuff on the floor and this time I did it a little differently.
When I put the pee pads down I taped them together and taped it to the floor! She was moving them when she was pooping and getting it on the floor. So I figured this way they all should stay together and hopefully not create such a mess if it happens again. Diarrhea is a side effect so I'm thinking I'm in for more. I'm actually thinking about skipping a day of the medicine to see if that helps a bit. She doesn't have diarrhea very often usually . So this is different .
So the laundry room is her new home.
It actually works out quite well. As you can see I can cover the floor, she can have access to water, I have a sink in there, the washing machines are in there, she's close to the active part of the house and its big enough for her to walk around. And she sleeps all day anyway. So she seems quite content in there.
I hope we can balance out the effects of the pills and the good part about the pills. Which is keeping her from coughing.
I woke up at 5:00 a.m. checked on Kali and she had two little pee spots on the pads. I took her and Annie outside to potty and then brought her back into the laundry room. I fed Annie and then brought food for Kali into the laundry room and tried to hand feed her. She didn't want any of it. The last few days I've been mostly hand feeding her. She doesn't seem as interested in her food anymore and she always was a great eater. Sadly, that's not a good sign. When I hand fed her the last few times, she took it pretty eagerly. I think her sight is worse and maybe can't find it? I don't know.
I'm skipping the meds today. See what happens. If she starts coughing I definitely feel like I should give them to her again. But she is quite lethargic. I have to carry her in and out for potty. She almost seems disorientated. But lethargic was one of the side effects of those pills. Pair that with being mostly blind and she looks like a drunk person. She's back sleeping now I will try and feed her later.
I'm skipping the meds today. See what happens. If she starts coughing I definitely feel like I should give them to her again. But she is quite lethargic. I have to carry her in and out for potty. She almost seems disorientated. But lethargic was one of the side effects of those pills. Pair that with being mostly blind and she looks like a drunk person. She's back sleeping now I will try and feed her later.
MichiH
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I am so sorry you are going through it with Annie. I understand the fear and worry you have when this happens. Happy she didn’t have any diarrhea this am that’s a good sign! I pray her being off those meds will help her other symptoms and she’ll improve. Thinking of you guysI woke up at 5:00 a.m. checked on Kali and she had two little pee spots on the pads. I took her and Annie outside to potty and then brought her back into the laundry room. I fed Annie and then brought food for Kali into the laundry room and tried to hand feed her. She didn't want any of it. The last few days I've been mostly hand feeding her. She doesn't seem as interested in her food anymore and she always was a great eater. Sadly, that's not a good sign. When I hand fed her the last few times, she took it pretty eagerly. I think her sight is worse and maybe can't find it? I don't know.
I'm skipping the meds today. See what happens. If she starts coughing I definitely feel like I should give them to her again. But she is quite lethargic. I have to carry her in and out for potty. She almost seems disorientated. But lethargic was one of the side effects of those pills. Pair that with being mostly blind and she looks like a drunk person. She's back sleeping now I will try and feed her later.
It's Kali, but I think you know that. You are sleep deprived with your own pupper problems!
MichiH
Hot Topics Subscriber
I know it’s Kali so sorry my brain is not functioning. I can’t even believe I typed AnnnieIt's Kali, but I think you know that. You are sleep deprived with your own pupper problems!
I've read on the DCM forums that some (or one?) of the heart meds depress appetite, but I don't know which ones or if it's the meds Kali is on. But you might ask your vet if the diarrhea, the lethargy and the lack of appetite could all be caused by the meds? If before meds all she had was heart related cough, maybe they could adjust the dose to help lessen the side effects but still help with the coughing? It's hard to make decisions on what is best and how to balance helping symptoms and creating more side effects. (((hugs)))
(((hugs)))
I know you do. I know what sleep deprivation does to you. Been there many times. No worries.I know it’s Kali so sorry my brain is not functioning. I can’t even believe I typed Annnie
I've read on the DCM forums that some (or one?) of the heart meds depress appetite, but I don't know which ones or if it's the meds Kali is on. But you might ask your vet if the diarrhea, the lethargy and the lack of appetite could all be caused by the meds? If before meds all she had was heart related cough, maybe they could adjust the dose to help lessen the side effects but still help with the coughing? It's hard to make decisions on what is best and how to balance helping symptoms and creating more side effects.
Yes I think it's the meds. I was texting with my daughter yesterday and she wondered if it was the raw food I was giving her. I said, no. She's been getting that for a long time. I'm sure it's the meds. And I sent her this...
That's the one that's causing the lethargy and diarrhea and reduced appetite actually. All of the above. But it's the one needed for the heart failure. She's only getting half a pill and the pill sizes are 2.5 mg. Maybe I can cut it in fourths.
This one is cut in half also and the pill size is 12.5 mg. The pills are practically the size of a tick LOL and I have to cut that in half. A lot of times it doesn't actually cut in half but kind of deteriorates. But I still can make it work.
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