8 Yrs Old Maltese W/englarged Heart & Severe Cough, englarged heart presses on trachea |
8 Yrs Old Maltese W/englarged Heart & Severe Cough, englarged heart presses on trachea |
Jan 29 2006, 09:33 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Group: Pet Lovers Posts: 1 Joined: 29-January 06 Member No.: 1,385 |
I have an 8 yr old Maltese who has been chipper and fine but had always had sporadic coughing spells which were never really seen as a problem. Now all of a sudden he started coughing the whole night and the vet's exams indicate an enlarged heart that is pressing against his trachea, causing the coughing. It's just heartbreaking to see the little guy so full of life but with these horrible coughing spells. Oddly enough, he doesn't seem to be in any pain or discomfort. The coughing keeps me up at night and I just can't get myself to close him off somewhere else in the house to sleep. The vet has prescribed heart medicine and cough suppressant but things don't look good.
One odd thing, is sometimes when he starts coughing I'll give him some canned food and he temporarily will stop coughing, as if it were a distraction or as if he had something in his throat which has been cleared by the food going down! Other times when he's coughing I'll take him out and he stops until we get back inside. Then again, at times even these tactics don't seem to work and the poor thing coughs and coughs. The vet's prognosis is he may last a year still, but if he doesn't react to the medication, less. I don't have to tell you how heartbroken I am, not to mention stressed by lack of sleep and worry. |
|
|
Jan 30 2006, 01:36 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Group: Moderators Posts: 776 Joined: 26-February 04 From: Massachusetts, USA Member No.: 245 |
I'm sorry to hear about your sweet furdog....
I'm sending many hugs & prayers your way.. I know how heartbroken you feel watching your poor baby coughing such as he is. Has your vet given you any hope that his coughing may lessen at all? What is the reason for his enlarged heart, and is the medication supposed to lessen his heart size? Please know that you are in my thoughts, and I care, very much. Always know that your precious furdog loves you --- and, appreciates all that you are doing to make him more comfortable... I wish you peace! Denise xo -------------------- Our Beloved Girl, Ernestine (AKA) "Ernie-Bird"
April, 1984 - February 7, 2004 ***AFFA*** Forever, you will ALWAYS live on in our hearts! DEPARTED FROM EARTH, NEVER FORGOTTEN.... Love, Mom & Dad xoxoxoxoxo ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* "He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." Immanuel Kant "Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight" Albert Schweitzer |
|
|
Jan 30 2006, 03:38 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Group: Moderators Posts: 845 Joined: 24-March 04 From: Maine Member No.: 274 |
My heart goes out to you and your sweet little Maltese. You are doing all the right things to try and help him. It seems as though the vet could give him something for that cough, but I guess with his condition there isn't anything to help the symptoms.
You are a wonderful Mom. Try and take care of yourself because you will need your health and rest to handle this. Keep in touch here. Sending prayers of comfort to both of you. Love, Kathy -------------------- Compassion for all animals. www.earthlings.com
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 20th April 2024 - 04:24 AM |