My dog is old and has a heart condition, she faints constantly... I'd like to know...?

Question

I'd like to hear if someone has had the same happening to their dog, or a professional's opinion.

My dog is 15.5 yrs old, she's a maltese (not pure breed but mixed with god-knows-what) and always had a very unhealthy life, meaning that she was overweight because my mom always fed her with stuff she shouldn't have. Well, she was a healthy dog till about a year ago when we found out she had a little tumor on her tit (got it removed) and a heart condition. She's been on meds ever since, with a special diet for her condition and recovered from 2 surgeries; she seems to be doing fine most of the time (still eats fine, behaves as she used to but of course her sight and ear aren't that good anymore) but she faints almost everyday. The slightest emotion (seeing my mom coming back from the street, taking a short run from the room to the door to go pee) makes her faint, but after a half minute she's back on like nothing happened. (cont'd)

I'd just like to know if someone's got an idea of why this is happening to her, and if she suffers from it. She doesn't seem to... but she's very old now and I'm afraid that she won't wake up after one of those episodes.... my mom loves her to death, it's her only companion... is there any way we can help her improve her quality of life or make her live longer? I don't think there's much left to do.... but I thought I'd ask. Thanks...

For everyone who has suggested or asked "why I don't take my dog to the vet", I already made a clear statement:

>> She's been on meds ever since, with a special diet for her condition and recovered from 2 surgeries

Of courser we took her to the vet more times than we'd have wanted, and she got a TON of studies performed on her, she already has a treatment and special food... that's why I said I don't think we can do anything else, we already did what we can medically speaking.... I wanted to know if there was something else we could do :(

Thanks everyone for your responses, especially for those wonderful thoughts and sympathy of those who have lost a beloved pet to..... my heart goes out to you guys.

Answer 1

Any fainting is due to blood not getting to the brain - which suggests heart problems. See the article and talk with your vet. My 13 year old cocker spaniel died of dilated cardiomyopothy. Fainting was one of his late stage symptoms. Nothing is more tragic than watching an old friend slip away. Try to get her help.

-MM

Answer 2

I agree with Kikitiki in that you should talk to your vet about treatment options. There may be something the vet can recommend that will help her heart to work easier (vascodialator) and perhaps give her a few more good months. I suspect however, that your concern that she may not wake up after one of these episodes is also correct, and I think you and your mom may need to consider that you won't have this beloved pet for too much longer. I know it's a hard thing to deal with, but if you are prepared, if can be easier than you think.

Spend as much good quality time as you can with your beloved pet, and take pictures, etc that you can remember her by, and keep her as comfortable as you can.

I know if may seem cruel to some, but I have found that nothing relieves the grief of losing a pet like the unconditional love of another pet. If this dog is your mom's only companion, she is really going to be lost when she loses her. I am not advocating bringing in a new dog or puppy while the old one is dying, but I think that you and your mom should consider what breed/size/color/temprament you would like to see in your next pet. I don't recommend getting one that looks just like the current dog as that can lead to feelings of diappointment and even anger if the dog doesn't behave exactly as the old dog did - you are not trying to replace your old dog, you are honoring her by providing a home and shelter and love to a dog that might otherwise not have one.

Or you can check with your local shelter or animal control. Sometimes they are looking for foster homes for dogs for a while until they can find permanent homes for them. This way, you can provide for a new pet without feeling like you are betraying your old friend's memory. The main thing is, open your heart to more love from animals and you will get much more than you can ever give.

Answer 3

This is something called situational syncope. Basically, the 'emotion' you mentioned causes a sudden release of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline), and normally dogs handle this fine, much like when we get excited and our heart races but eventually calms down.

The problem with her is that her body tries too hard and too soon to 'calm down' by lowering her heart rate to the point that her blood pressure also falls to low, and this causes her to faint. Just like you said, they usually recover quickly. Ask your vet about treatment options.

Answer 4

i would take her to the vet and let him tell me if shes suffereing i would have herput to sleep its bad for them to suffer and you dont' knw for sure. yu can get another one for her at an animal shelter maybe 2 or 3 that is house broken to hlep over her lose. i know how painful it is but soemtimes we have to let go for the better of her pain or whatever is the problems. take care.

Answer 5

This touches my heart to the very core. My dog was 17 years old when this began to happen. The very same thing, I`m so sorry. I felt the same way and I tried everything humanly possible. I really dont want to tell you this, but it wont be long. This hurt me more than anything ever has, and nothing helps. Im afraid its one of those things in life we have to endure. everyone tried to get me to put Pugsley to sleep, but I could`nt do it. He was my friend, I loved him. So I stuck by his side. { If I run out of space e-mail me } This decision is just as hard either way. One day in may of last year we woke up and I noticed his stomach had swelled. I thought he may have swallowed a rawhide because his were almost all gone. and maybe he was impacted. That was wishfull thinking, the vet said his organs were swelling up. And that he would probably go from his spleen bursting. I dont know if you really want to hear this or not. She put him on 5 mg of morphine at first but it had some kind of sedative in it. He didnt like it. It made him sleepy when he didnt want to be. I took Loritab 5`s and crushed them up, divided it into 5 equal lines and put one line in his food as I felt he needed it. He only wieghed 22lbs. That seemed to brighten him right up. He took Lasic a fluid pill for the swelling, because fluid built up really bad. Its when the fluid pills began to quit working I knew it couldnt be much longer. I covered the couch with plastic and large hospital pads and carressed him and talked to him and sponge bathed him for two months. It got to be to much of an effort for him to make it outside, he was too short of breath. Then one morning he got up and decided he was going outside. He passed out within 5 feet,but he made it back up and out and lay down beside of the porch. I was cooking so an hour or so later I went to check on him and he was laying on his side, he had a stroke. I carried him to the couch and sat with him all that day with a straw that I would dip into water, hold my finger over it and let it dribble over his tongue because it was so dry. By 2 oclock in the morning I was exhausted, I had to get some sleep. So I layed down beside of him and fell asleep. Somewhere between 4 and 5 he let out alittle yelp, and I`m sure it hurt me worse than it hurt him. He did this about 3 times about 30 minutes apart. There was nothing I could do but go back to sleep. I woke up about 6 and he was gone. Im sure he suffered those last 2 months just from being sick but not from the pain. I dont think he hurt untill those last couple of hours. His pain medication had been changed to 10mg morphine which I had not been giving him because he didnt like it. I placed two of them under his tongue after the first yelp. I really regret that simply because I knew that was the last taste in his mouth. There is no right thing in that situation. It could be no harder if it were your own children, because thats what they are. I became a much different person after that, much more distant, lost and lonely. I grieved for six months, and still grieve but not so bad. Its impossible to not feel as such towards a pet you`ve had so long. I hope your mother dont take it as bad as I did. It sounds to me you sort of know whats coming. Truely I feel for you, I really do. In a way I kind of wish I hadnt seen this question, but I felt compelled to answer you. As loyal and loving and faithfull as they are, God has to have a place for them also. After all we have a loving and just God. And may God bless you.

Answer 6

Ok, why aren't you asking your Vet?