Deanna F. (Fairmont, MN) on 04/11/2022
Steve (FL) on 01/15/2022
Barbara (San Antonio, Texas) on 04/30/2021
I'm having good results giving my 13 year old, 10 pound Chiweenie fresh watermelon chunks every morning. In the raw food diet I feed him, I also adding New Chapter's Water Factors( 2 tabs, finely crushed, twice a day).
Timothy H. (Licking, Mo) on 01/03/2018
Please how can I reduce the fluid?
He is getting white willow herb, di-ribose, L-carnitine, fish oil, hawthorn berry. The issues above persist.
Dee (Syracuse, Ny) on 12/15/2014
The Vet recommended Furosemide 40 mg 2x a day and Enalapril 10 mg 2x a day and also recommmended I take him to a cardiologist who I could not afford at the cost of $300, but I did put him on the medications as suggested. Also Ridley's respiratory rate was vey high his resting rate was 36-39. I was told by the vet that a resting respiratory rate over 35-40 breaths per minute is considered abnormal.
So I was instructed to do the following:
Ridley seemed to stabilize, but the Lasix was really a mess to deal with and upon reading up on it I found out about the side effects it causes to the kidneys. This really concerned me but the vet promised me the Lasix WOULD NOT become a regular part of his prescriptions but that we would only use it up until any excess fluid had been released within a reasonable time as not to cause any damage.
Sometime in March Ridley's cough had gotten better but it had not stopped completely so the vet recommended we add in Vetmedin which I agreed to but at the cost $86 every 30 days it was killing me but I remained faithful to ensuring Ridley had what he needed. Within two weeks the coughing stopped and his respiratory rate went down to 26-28. I was relieved. At the begining of the next month I spoke with the vet about about possible reducing the amount of Lasix Ridley was on and was basically told if I reduced it he would die. I questioned the vet about the long term usage of the Lasix on Ridley's kidneys and he dismissed my concerns. Also the two first medications (Furosemide and Enalapril) the vet charged me almost $60 to refill them every month through him and my not knowing any better at the time found out at a later date that both medications were used by humans and could be refilled at Walmart for almost 4 times less the cost.
After the back and forth with the vet I decided to get a second opinion and found out that the 1st vet had Ridley at almost the highest levels you could use for both medications that were needed at extremely detrimental cases. I was then very alarmed and decided to switch to the new vet who after receiving Ridley's medical records requested a blood and urine panel for him adjusted his medications accordingly. We even cut back his daily dosage of Furosemide to half.
I also through research found a supplement called Formula CV for Dogs & Cats" made by Rx Vitamins that came highly recommended and decided to add it in as well. Formula CV for Dogs & Cats" Ingredients per capsule: Hawthorn Berry (standardized 3.2% vitexin) 100 MG L-Carnitine (pharmaceutical grade amino acid) 100 MG L- Taurine (pharmaceutical grade amino acid) 50 MG Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol succinate) 75 IU Dimethylglycine (DMG) 10 MG Magnesium (citrate) 10 MG Potassium (citrate) 10 MG Coleus Forskolii 10 MG. Selenium (selenomethionine) 5 MCG Suggested use: One capsule twice daily for each 25-50 lbs. Body weight, or as recommended by a veterinarian. For cats, 1/2 capsule daily.
The reason why I am giving all this detailed information upfornt is something became appearent to me:
Which brought me to this informative site. Between June and August Ridley did very well with little to no cough but sometime in Septemeber the cough returned and the cost of the Vetmedin was breaking me financially so I after meeting with the vet we placed Ridley back on the Furosemide 40 mg 2x a day and increased Enalapril 15 mg 2x a day. I told the vet that was no longer able to afford the Vetmedin the vet understood but had no other options for me so I decided to do some research through this and other sites to see what supplements I might try to use.
After reading all the information I felt all hope was not lost and came up with the following supplements and amounts I added to Ridley's daily regimen. NOTE: I am in no way promoting or suggesting that the below combination will work for you but if any of this information helps like it did for me do your research and I wish you and your beloved pet the very best. I now feel like I am contributing better to the quaility of life for my boy. Ridley's daily regimen....
Initial Usage -
I also bought a brand of dog food within MY budget Purina One SmartBlend dry and canned because it list real lamb as the first ingredient blended with other high-quality protein sources that helps support strong muscles and a healthy heart. It also has Omega-6 and has an antioxidant blend of Vitamins E & A along with minerals zinc and selenium.
What I Found Out:
What Today Looks Like for Us: NO coughing and I reduced the Furosemide to 20 mg currently..Enalapril amount still in place. Ridley is very happy and ventures out in the yard like never before but he still a old sweet boy...lol
What Else Do I Do:
To all my fellow pet parents you're not alone. I know how you feel and I understand the decisions that you have to make that are hard like this one. I wish you the very best. My results may not be yours but I wanted to contribute to a site that assisted me with good insights and resources. We all know that there will never be that "one work approach". We all have to come to some type of decision and then do the best we can without regret. I now feel like I am personally giving back the unconditional love Ridley gives me. My prayers are with you.
John (Avalon Beach, New South Wales, Australia) on 08/17/2014
Trouble (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) on 09/19/2013
My 14 year old precious fur baby has been diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease and heart enlargement. He has graded a heart mummer btw 1-2 and also says the thorax is now parallel to the spine as the heart has grown. Below are the reports
Radiography Report;
Lateral (sin-dex) and ventro-dorsal views of the chest:
- Enlargement of the cardiac silhouette,
- Increased sterno-cardiac contact,
- Trachea pushed dorsally and parallel to the spine
- No evidence of pulmonary edema on these views.
Ultrasonography Report
Cardiac Ultrasonography:
- The right atrium appears to be normal in size (no enlargement) compare to the left atrium.
- RA measured 1. 25 x 1. 2 cm
- Thickened mitral valve with very mild mitral regurgitation.
- No dilated cardiomyopathy,
- No hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
All images consistent with an early stage of Mitral valve disease.
The vet has prescribed Fortekor (Benazepril Hydrochloride) 2. 5mg a day and Furosemide 20 mg twice a day.
My dog started off with cluster seizures for a day last year in Oct 2012 he was in Kepra for a few months and then we weaned him off. Early Feb this year every night when we went to sleep he would pant incessantly having sleepless nights eyes big and wide he would ask to go out then come back in then pance he did not know what he wanted. He was irritable and started loosing muscle. We took him for bloods everything was perfect We did a chext xray and an abdomen scan and heart disease was detected. Now I have been a firm believer of earth clinic for years.
Please advise me am I doing the right thing.
I have deceided not to give him a diruetic twice a day as he already starting getting muscle pulls and then gets all stressed and panting begins. I am instead going to give him 1 diruetic a day and then go down to half a day in conjunction with a homepathic diruetic But I want to do away with the diruetic tablet so how can I do this naturally along with the homeopathic drops? I live in Dubai so dandelion tea etc is not the best option can someone please give me various options?
The Foretekor for his heart I will give him 2. 5 a day in conjunction with a homeopathic medication called Rytmopasc
My dog weighs 5kgs
I am giving him 100 mg of vit c with rose hips
100mg of Magnesium
20mg of COQ 10 as Ubiquinone
1tsp of D-Ribose
2mg of Zinc
500mg of L-Arginine
I read somwhere that Propionyle L-Carnitine is very good what is the difference btw Propionyle L-Carnitine and L-Carnitine? can I give L-Carnitine and how much ?
I will buy Milk Thistle 200 mg and supplement him with it
I also bought Manuka honey how much do I give him ?
Have I missed out something?Help me please I need your valuable input. August<
Msbodhi (Westport, Ct) on 04/11/2013
Hello! So glad to have found this website. I am overwhelmed with the amount of information I am reading about raw diet as well as supplements. I need help! First off, I just purchased a puppy from a breeder last week who turned out to have a severe heart murmur. I don't recall the vet grading it but they did say it was severe and probably needed surgery. I want to make this puppy healthy and avoid giving her medications and surgery. I have a solid 8 months before I have to decide on this surgery so I want to do my best for her! Her PG=100mmHg which is a high level. Right now she shows no clinical signs and I would like to keep it that way.
What can you recommend for me?? I used to take the standard process line myself which I find amazing. I didn't know they had a pet line. I also would like help switching her to a raw diet and need to know how to figure out the measurements etc.
There is so much information on this site it is wonderful. I need help for my pup!
Please contact me as soon as possible.
William (Clewiston, Fl, US) on 04/11/2013
Katie (Northport, New York) on 10/05/2011
I just took him back to the cardiologist to be reexamined and was told that his heart murmur is gone and that everything is within normal range. Thank God. I will keep him on these supplements for life!
Unfortunately, my first Cavalier died of congestive heart failure (which started as a Grade 2 murmur and then progressed to CHF in about 2-1/2 years). I had no experience with heart disease at the time and didn't know how to treat him. I wish I knew then what I know now. If I did, I believe my dog would still be here with me.
FYI, these are the dosages I am giving to my 25 lb. Dog:
Ubiquinol - 50 mg. TWICE daily
Liquid Magnesium - 1/2 tsp in the a.m.
Liquid Carnitine (1000 mg) - 1/2 tsp TWICE daily
Ribose - 850 mg. TWICE daily
Vitamin C - 250 mg TWICE daily
Colostrum - 1/4 tsp TWICE daily