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My dog with heart failure has a bloated stomach & trouble breathing. Help!

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 13 years and 10 months old

Vet gave my dog with heart congestion failure steroids, now she lost a lot of weight but has a bloated stomach and trouble breathing, what should I do

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 12th, 2016

Steroids currently are not contraindicated for dogs with congestive heart failure; although there are claims that if used in cats it can lead to CHF, but even the data so far does not confirm this to be absolutely true for them either. The only concern here would be if it depressed your pets immune system. If the amount of steroids given was < 0.5-1mg/kg BID, then chances are it won't affect your pets immune system or cause immune suppression, but instead will mainly act as an anti-inflammatory on the body. If your pet has a bloated stomach and trouble breathing, then these could be a direct result of your pets congestive heart failure condition, especially if Sheba has both right and left sided heart failure. Right sided heart failure will lead to a congested liver which then causes ascites (fluid build-up in the abdomen that shows up as a bloated abdomen). Left sided heart failure will lead to congestion in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Typically congestive heart failure to this degree is managed by the following: 1) X-rays of the chest and abdomen 2) Removal of fluid in the abdomen (if present) 3) Furosemide- diuretic that helps to pull fluid off the lungs 4) Heart medication- Enalapril + Pimobendan are the standard treatments, but there are others that may be needed if your pet has a detected arrhythmia as well.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Fluid build up in the lungs and abdomen are very common in heart failure and it is likely her medications need adjusting in order to reduce this fluid which is causing the bloating and breathing difficulty. Your vet can ultrasound the belly and if there is a large build up of free fluid this can be drained to provide some relief and ease her breathing urgently

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