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Puppy improved with Lasix, now sick again. Is it heart related?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Shar Pei | Male | unneutered | 3 months and 8 days old | 17 lbs

I need help. Our Shar Pei puppy has been sick for a while. The Vet started him on Antibiotics and Lasics. He was gradually better, Second round of meds Vet said 90% improved. $ days no lacics and he is back to respiratory distress can lay down due to fluid in lungs again. Vet said he is growing too well for congenital heart issues Is the vet missing something. I don't know how to help Po. Our whole family just love this pup. We are at a loss of how to help him?

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 10th, 2017

It definitely sounds like your poor puppy could have a congenital abnormality here or even perhaps pneumonia. However I am not sure what the underlying cause is without more specific information on what tests (i.e. radiographs, bloodwork) were ran, the results of those tests, and what your pets preliminary diagnosis is. Based on what you have revealed so far, Po could have a number of things going on such as pneumonia, a congenital heart defect, laryngeal paralysis or a parasitic lung infection (not as common) just to name a few. And treatment would depend entirely on what the underlying problem is. It sounds like PO did well with the diuretic so that leads me to believe that he may have a heart defect and in need of an echocardiogram and potential heart medicaiton. However, as I mentioned earlier much more needs to be discussed here to make any hard core recommendations on how to best move forward with Po's care. Poor guy. : ( Request a consultation if you care to discuss things further. I am confident we can at least go through all the information and point you in the right direction towards he next best step for Po.

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    Answered By Jeffrey Milner

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Sorry to hear that Po isn't doing so well. Regardless of growth, if there is fluid in the lungs and thorax at this early of an age I would be concerned for a cardiac abnormality. Usually these are paired with a heart murmur, but in some less common cases one can not be heard. Certainly some primary respiratory conditions can cause the clinical signs Po is exhibiting as well, meaning that your veterinarian could certainly be right. However, since the Lasix was administered at the same time as the antibiotics I am more inclined to believe it was the Lasix that caused the improvement in clinical signs. With the recent return of symptoms, I would be very suspicious of some something cardiac and would want to at least get chest xrays, and probably an echocardiogram. Your veterinarian may have to refer you to a cardiologist to have the latter performed and interpreted.

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