Heart or Lung problems??

15 years ago

Our old boxer-pitbull has been having these mini 'hacking/retching' episodes off and on for the last month or so. We had appointments for them both next week. Get our beagle's urine PH re-tested, and a general check up on him, and to look into his episodes.

But last night he started retching, and it did not stop until nearly 12:30 this afternoon. It wasn't so bad last night - but was terrible and fairly often this morning. Like every 5 to 10 mins he'd have a 'spell' So I called the vet and got him in. It's a noise I've never heard before, and never want to hear again. Not a normal noise at all.

They listened to his heart, and it's not a murmur - so tomorrow they are doing chest x-rays to see if something is in his lungs or if his heart is enlarged.

They said otherwise for being 14, he looks pretty healthy. Arthritis and bad teeth, but healthy.

However, he has a growth on his leg, which our OLD vet said was nothing and it was A OK. This vet seems very concerned about it, and she's drawing fluid from it tomorrow. He also does a few things that could point to heart problems. Pants when it's not hot or he's not been active - drools sometimes for no reason, when he never used to - although she said thats probably from his teeth.

Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar to this (the retching specifically) and what it turned out to be??

At this point, we have decided regardless of what's wrong with him, we want to do what keeps him comfortable and pain free. He's too old to go through anything invasive, or surgery, etc.

I'm pretty worried about him.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

weed30 St. Louis
15 years ago
I don't remember all of the details, since I was a teenager at the time, but our 12 year old poodle had those symptoms. She had fluid in her lungs, (from heart issues??), and was essentially "drowning", thus the hacking, retching. I think she probably panted too, but she didn't drool. Definitely have the lungs looked at.
ilmbg
15 years ago
Congestive Heart Failure-CHF- Physiologically,the heart and lungs are tied together for function.There are two types-at least in people- I can tell you about people, and sometimes it is quite the same in dogs, but I am just giving you an overview. There is systolic-where the heart does not pump well enough, diastolic- whhere the heart does not relax enough to let the chamber fill with blood. Blood carries oxygen- so if the cardiac blood supply is not enough, there isn't enough oxygen in the lungs to make a gas exchange. There is right sided and left sided heart failure. If it is left sided(the most important side), then fluid builds up in the lungs- making someone cough. When the fluid buildup is behind the ight ventricle, the leg swell.
There are different levels-I to IV.
There are good drugs to treat dogs- some are the same as for people.As a body gets older, sometimes the heart is just not as effective- don't dispair.
Is the dog free of heartworm? That also causes shortness of breath and coughing.
If he has bad teeth, it is soo very important to have them cleaned- in both people and dogs-probably other species, too- clean teeth are important for a healthy heart! Bacteria gets under the gums in a dirty mouth that has less than optimum gums. The bacteria then gets into the bllodstream, where it then settles in the heart- causing the heart tissue to get infected.
I am glad you are getting him to the vet to find out- if it is an enlarged heart/CHF, depending on the level, there are good drugs that make a big difference.
Good luck with your pup.
Related Discussions
Simplicity
Q
Comments (18)
Well, shucks. Just toss out public health measures, antibiotics and vaccinations, forget the vast improvement in what formerly used to be staggering infant and child mortality, and what has mainstream medicine really done for us lately? We could talk about the category of trauma surgery, and the lives saved in formerly hopeless circumstances. There's surgical interventions of all types, from repairs of birth defects to abdominal mishaps that in the pre-modern medicine era would have resulted in peritonitis and an agonizing death. There's all manner of chronic debilitating illness which people now survive far longer and with much less debility than in the past - autoimmune diseases and chronic heart and lung problems for starters. The death rate for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease (i.e. stroke), influenza, pneumonia, malignant tumors and other disorders has dropped significantly in recent decades thanks to continuing medical advances. Hate to challenge an "authoritative" source like Wikipedia, but merely surviving one's childhood in pre-20th century times did not mean that one could expect to live to age 77 or so (the current U.S. life expectancy). Take the data comparing 65-year-olds in 1950 as compared to 65-year-olds in 2005 - the latter group could expect to live approximately five years longer. I'd expect the improvement to be even more striking if comparisons were made between current adult survival and that of 19th century adult Americans. There are justified complaints about current medical practice, including affordability, access and quality in some circumstances - but what's undeniable is we are, overall, living much longer and healthier lives than our forebears. Simplicity is an appealing concept for some when it comes to health matters, but if the need arises and I've got a serious illness, give me access to the medical complex and an intellectual with a big ol' stethoscope every time. :)
...See More
Houseplants for smokers help with smell?
Q
Comments (41)
Karen...yes, linner is lunch and dinner. Supposed to be a joke, guess it wasn't funny..similar to brunch. Remember there was a problem with my son? Before the problem, I ate better. Only once did I take vitamins on an empty stomach, NEVER again. Even when I ate better, I'd get sick a day or two after starting vitamins. Not stomach aches. Sore throats, coughs, etc. I bought a B-Complex in liquid form at Walmart..It too is sitting on the shelf with the other vitamins and minerals. Yep, I told my doctor what I 'heard.' He knows how I am when it comes to meds anyway, guess he thought I'd give them a shot. What he didn't know is, when I'm prescribed a new medication, test or surgery, I Google, search the web. Then make up my mind. After 3 sites said, DEATH, 'first line' I knew the pills were going down the toilet. Side effects were awful and very scary. Karen, the pills were Anti-Inflammatories. I don't know if they were non-steroid. After reading your thread, I searched for a site that lists prescription anti-inflammatories. If I heard the name I'd probably recognize it. All I remember is they were oval, orange, and super expensive. The doc gave me a sample box. They're meant to take once a day. They had to be new or semi-new because they only came brand name, no generic. This is how it worked. Docs give enough 'sample' pills to last a week. There's a phone number on the box. You call the number, and they give you a code. The code is basically a coupon for your first order. 75.00 off. I asked the pharmacist the cost..she said it depends on the mgs and our insurance. She also said, expect to pay 'around' 200.00 for a months supply..Out of pocket, not counting insurance. The pills don't contain opiates. One ingredient was the non-aspirin pain medication that they found causes liver damage. I don't use Aleve, sp, Advil, Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Motrin. (For pain, I take one of two powdered asprins: BC's or Goody's.) There's a humongous dossage of the pain med that causes liver problems, and other ingredients in this anti-inflammatory. That's the reason I said, the doc was supposed to tell me not to take aspirin or non-aspirins before and during taking this pill. For one, it will cause severe stomach aches. And other stomach related issues............ Karen, if you, or if anyone else is reading this thread, knows a site w/drug information and pics, will you please give me the address? I checked drug dot com, but didn't find it. The letter V comes to mind, but I checked V's, no luck. Karen, if I find the name, I'll let you know. It pi$$es me off they come out with dangerous meds, and use people as guinea pigs. To make money..What's wrong with old medications? Pills that worked? One doctor said, when we prescribe new drugs a few people will die...That's to be expected..As far as I'm concerned, one person who dies from trying a new medication, 'to get better,' is one too many. That IDIOT!
...See More
Lung problems after tearing up a floor?
Q
Comments (14)
"North Safety model 770030" Complete and total overkill for the vast majority of 'old house' work. A high quality disposable with an exhale valve, twin straps, and a formable nose piece is all you need. The vast majority of safety gear and standards are written for occupational exposures of 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. that is why OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Administration) writes them, and they do NOT alply to individuals in their own homes. There are a few VERY dangerous things you can work with, some that no mask is rated to stop (some auto paints come to mind that require positive pressure breathing gear for anyone using them). Methylene chloride paint stripper is well know to be dangerous to anyone with compromised heart blood circulation (it acts like CO in the body and ties up the bloods ability to carry oxygen). A half face mask is overkill for the vast majority of DIY type jobs unless you have a known sensitivity to something you are using like epoxy amine sensitivity). Just plain old dust and dirt is irritating in high doses for many folks. Your lungs will clear it out in a week or two. If you have no other symptoms, tincture of time is likely the cure.
...See More
I'm Predicting a Great Year for Red Admirals!
Q
Comments (33)
I love this site, and don't know where I would go for a garden-friends fix if it were gone. I'm still working full time as a Hospice and Palliative Doc, and my current job requires an hour commute each way. So, I don't get to be in my garden, much, let alone on line. But, it is so wonderful to know there are like-minded folks across the country paying attention to the peril facing all of our insect friends. I was enthusiastic over the winter when Washington had a big campaign to support pollinators, but that news has faded behind the much more crowd-pleasing election campaign news. I fear the world is going to get the message far too late to make a difference. Miss Sherry, I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's illness. Unfortunately, I can imagine all too well what you are facing. Please consider getting in touch with a Hospice or Palliative group sooner rather than later. Every day I hear people say they wish they had done it sooner. No one will hasten the end, but only assist you both in maximizing his enjoyment of what time he has left. In fact, studies show that many patients live longer on hospice, because they avoid infections in hospitals and also complications from treatments that can't really help, any way. If you would like to speak to me, I would be honored to answer any questions you might have. I haven't had time to check my Houzz messages in months, but if you check in here and warn me, I'll go there. Martha
...See More
lilod
15 years ago
My min-pin Taschi is going through CHF. She is 14 years old and the symptoms began about 6 months ago. She is on a daily dose of a diuretic, had to have some teeth extracted just recently because of gum-infections. So right now she's still on antibiotics for that.
She is doing very well, eats well and is her old, somewhat stubborn and somewhat grumpy self.
munkos
Original Author
15 years ago
Being that he is part boxer, he is at a risk for a unique form of Cardiomyopathy, which is what I personally suspect. But, we won't know until later.

And Ilmbg thanks for the explanation on heart failure. He's at the vet now getting xrays and tests, so hopefully we'll find out today. His teeth aren't bad in the sense that they're rotten, they're just really worn down. The vet said they're nothing to worry about, though.

Thanks for the info, guys!
munkos
Original Author
15 years ago
Vet just called.

They really can't find anything overly wrong with him. He DOES have masses on his lungs - but they're not sure what exactly they are. They said it's definitely not normal - but they're not shockingly abnormal masses, either. We can send them to a radiologist to get a more conclusive answer.

His heart looks okay. He has some normal changes being that he is geriatric.

They are putting him on a two week course of prednisone to see if that takes down some of the inflammation in his lungs - and if he begins retching again they'll want to put him on it for the duration of his life. And probably do a few more tests.

I'm not sure I'm too thrilled with this diagnosis - it's like "We don't know, take these pills" but, for now it will do, I'm going to discuss it more when we go pick it up and see if they have any other ideas.

Heart or Lung problems??

Comments (5)

weed30 St. Louis

ilmbg

Related Discussions

lilod

munkos
Original Author

munkos
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Heart or Lung problems??

Comments (5)

weed30 St. Louis

ilmbg

Related Discussions

lilod

munkosOriginal Author

munkosOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

munkos
Original Author

munkos
Original Author