I know just how you're feeling and please accept my sympathy. I had a cat suddenly go into renal failure in the spring of 2005. She was fine and then she wasn't. She didn't eat her wet food on a Sunday and I called the vet on Monday and took her in. She was a scared feral who loved only me and I was the only person who ever held her. So imagine how bad I felt leaving her there. She was in the hopital till Wed. afternoon when my vet called and said she needed to be euthanized since she was in 80% failure. I went early and when they brought her in , I spent 30 minutes hugging her and petting her. Her fur was wet with my tears. She was scared but was so happy to see me and I held her the whole time the vet injected her. As morbid as it seems, I even took pictures of her before she died. I brought her home and buried her in my yard along with all the others and made a white cross for her. People who don't have that special animal bond really don't get it, but all of us here do. Take care. It will always hurt but just a little less with time.

As a vet, I would insist upon cleaning the teeth, especially since your dog already has heart disease. Dental disease has been a proven cause of morbidity and mortality in both humans and dogs with heart disease. Endocarditis is a high risk for any animal with heart disease, but especially for animals with valvular disease or any disease that causes regurgitation within the heart. I've successfully cleaned teeth on many pets much older than your dog, with very bad heart disease, some already in congestive heart failure. It's a matter of knowing exactly the condition of the heart (usually an echocardiogram is needed), choosing the safest drugs possible for that condition, and careful monitoring. Age is NOT a disease and there is no reason to use age alone as a excuse not to perform the care needed for an animal. If your vet is uncomfortable with general anesthesia in your pet, then I would seek a second opinion from a vet with perhaps a better understanding of anesthesia and heart disease.

I wrote a very specific post, and deleted it because I didn't in any way/shape or form want to look like I was diagnosing or trying to be a vet.....because I'm not. I am versed somewhat in physiology because I was in the human health care field and this is what I'd be doing if my cat were in that situation. I'd be informing the vet that the cat is drinking excessively and taking in no nutrition. I'd ask specifically if the cat had any renal panels done (blood work for kidney function). Why? Because cats who take in abnormally large amounts of fluid could be sufferenting from several conditions and one of which is renal failue (that's how my geriatric cat presented) and because there is a condition called cardio renal anemia syndrome. It is CHF, anaemia and underlying kidney disease. I have no clue whether he/she is going the most conservative approach before proceeding, in hopes the animal will snap back. I'm not against that and often my vet does that. But, it's my job to let them know if it's working and keeping him updated. I also try to find out why he's taking a certain approach and what he may suspect if the conservative approach isn't working and what the prognosis is. If this cat has multiple problems, it might be easier on you and the cat to find out up front so you can make good decisions. IOW, I ask a lot of questions and throw out a lot of what ifs. They probably run when they see me coming, but good dialog is very important and owners understand it better than some vets think they do. LOL. I also think a talk with your vet shouldn't be postponed too long if he's doing this poorly. Starving cats, especially heavy cats who suddenly stop eating are at risk for fatty liver syndrome.

annz--- The point is.......after she came off the meds she returned to her normal self with no more accidents. Was there any kind of transition period that she had to relearn her housebreaking habits? The behavioral thing is really what I was trying to ask about. She is going to be on the lasix for life, and I know that's at least part of the problem. But I was thinking there also might be a behavioral aspect. Because of the unlucky coincidence of getting a really serious uti at about the same time she started a new drug that makes her drink and pee a lot, she was basically peeing in the house almost continuously, without getting punishment since I knew she couldn't help it. I'm wondering if she might have "learned" that the rules have changed and peeing in the house is now allowed, and that might be part of the problem? (she manages to unlearn all her table manners in about two seconds flat whenever my mom visits...) Her behavior has changed... she doesn't bother to drop her head and tuck her tail between her legs in Guilty Dog Pose as soon as she sees me, I have to go looking to see if there's been an accident. If it's behavioral, I can try to address it, but was just thinking it might be easier for her to relearn if she isn't also coping with the diurectic influence of the lasix at the same time... just to clarify, would not do that w/o the vet's ok, and would be very temporary even if I did, I wasn't really asking if that's a good idea health-wise. Was just wondering if the idea that she unlearned her housetraining because she's been unable to help herself and I've recognized that and therefore "allowed" it-- is even a possibility? Has it happened to other dogs, that after a medical issue like a uti, they had to relearn bathroom rules?