Petco Text Logo
Petco Pet Logo

  • Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!

My senior dog has an enlarged heart. Can it be treated with medication?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Dachshund | Female | spayed | 9 years and 7 months old | 13 lbs

Hello Maggie had her teeth cleaned last week and 3 extractions in the back. She did pretty well throughout the procedure. Just one thing that really WORRIES and I'm in a panic because of it...Vet said her Xrays showed her heart being a little bigger however clear and good lungs. They referred us to a cardiologist which I'm taking her next Monday. My mom said NO to any heart surgery since she has always been normal and no symptoms. Can they simply prescribe medications? I'm frightened. I love her

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Image profile

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 24th, 2018

I'm sorry this was a recent discovery in Maggie! Heart disease is common in senior dogs, and it is typically managed with medication. Heart surgery is not common in dogs, and veterinarians treat heart disease by prescribing medications to control the symptoms of the heart disease as they appear. So not to worry, while heart disease cannot be cured, it is managed medically. I hope this helps, and good luck next week with the cardiologist!

Vote icon

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Questions

Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
my 14 yr old mix terrier, was just diagnosed with an enlarge heart and various other organs too, blood work fine , ave blood presessure OK, what is there to do short of a new heart, she was had 2 seizures I know of --- what to do besides diurics and
There are many medications which can be used to support a failing heart and should be used alongside diuretics in order to help support the function of the heart, reduce fluid build up in the lungs and abdomen and control blood pressure if required. Unfortunately, no cure is available and medications should be adjusted as Zoe's condition changes; many dogs can live for months-years with a heart condition depending on the severity of other health complications which can also occur as they age. Without a full history of all her complaints and recent tests it is impossible to assess her medium-long term prognosis
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hello Maggie just got her teeth cleaning done and vet told me her heart looks a little bigger and referred me to a cardiologist. I just read Enlarged heart conditions and it says the dog only lives another 6 months to 2 years and I'm freaking out sin
Don't worry yet. Hopefully there is nothing wrong with Maggie's heart. When we take an x-ray of the heart, it gives us a general idea of the size of the heart when compared to the rest of the chest. But this information is not very accurate, so if we are worried about it and a heart looks a little bigger than we expect, then we will refer you to a cardiologist which is exactly what your vet did. The cardiologist will be able to use an ultrasound to look at the heart in 3D (called an echocardiogram) to determine if there is an abnormalities in how large the heart is including each chamber of the heart as well as evaluating the valves and how well the heart is working. If they find any abnormalities they may recommend medication to slow the progression of any heart disease, but they may not find anything wrong at all. You will have to wait to see what the cardiologist finds. Even if they find some evidence of heart disease, many dogs live for years with well controlled heart disea
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
I have a 13 year old male Boston Terrier that was just diagnosed with a very enlarged heart that leaves very little room for lung expansion so having trouble breathing. He drinks water but only from my hand and refuses to eat anything. The vet pres
Unfortunately the dilation of the heart cannot be reversed, but the medications will help to slow its progression and improve the other side effects of enlarged heart. The vetmedin helps the heart pump faster and harder, the furosemide reduces fluid build up in the lungs and the benazepril stops maladaptive pathways being activated. You should see a difference in him within a week or two, the medication can help to improve quality of life greatly.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my dog brownie was seen today at his clinic because they said he had the flue was g iv ing antibiotics but his cough got worse so they took exrsys and said he had s chronic condition his heart is too big . Causing presure on his lungs but needs a
I'm sorry Brownie isn't doing well! It sounds like he has heart disease, which can be common in senior dogs. Unfortunately there is no cure for heart disease, but the symptoms can be managed with medication. The echocardiogram (ultrasound of his heart) will give more information on how his heart is pumping blood and how serious his heart disease is so that a prognosis can be given. This doesn't necessarily mean he will die soon, but it's unfortunately a possibility given his age. Hopefully the heart disease isn't significantly progressed and medication can help him, and the echocardiogram will provide more information. I hope this helps.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog has a heart murmur. His vet said that involves a leaky valve. 3 weeks ago my dog was placed on a diuretic and 2 other medications to help with his heart function. Today his vet added another diuretic. The vet said he's seen dogs who improv
I'm very sorry Brooklyn has a heart murmur! Unfortunately, medication is the only option in animal heath for heart disease. Surgery is not done in dogs with heart problems, and some dogs will respond better to the medical treatment than others. The best thing you can do is give Brooklyn his medications as prescribed and have him seen by a vet right away with any questions or concerns.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My dog is a ten year old Maltese and he has been wheezing quite heavily for the past few weeks when he sleeps and rests. In emerg they said he had a slight murmur and slightly enlarged heart but nothing to concerning. Do you have any ideas of what mi
Heart disease is tough. This is true for humans or animals. Pets can quickly go from ok to not ok in minutes. Most forms of heart disease are progressive which means they get worse over time. Signs of worsening heart disease can be increased heart rate and respiratory rate, collapse, exercise intolerance, or coughing. There are many medications that can help improve quality of life. Please see your vet ASAP for an exam and possibly more tests or meds. Hope Boomer feels better!
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi, my mom recently passed away and I took her dog khloe in. She is very old, obese, and has been coughing and gagging recently. I have been treating her with powdered oxytetracycline and will be going to get her some carpofen tomorrow as well. I hav
Hi. Poor Chloe, and we are so sorry for the loss of your mom. Yes, the cough could be simple from an infection, allergies, collapsed trachea, etc. But in older pets, it can be secondary to heart disease where the heart b3gibs to push up on the trachea, or even causes fluid in the lungs. In older, small- to medium-size breed dogs, the most common heart diseases are degenerative issues, such as endocardiosis, also called chronic degenerative-valve disease or acquired valvular heart disease. The good news is there are medications that will help the heart function better and not work so hard. The sooner things are diagnosed and treatment is started, the better the prognosis. The first step is to have Chloe examined, and then have an echcardiogram ( heart ultrasound), blood pressure, and an EKG. It will Chloe on the right track
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Can an enlarged heart in a dog shirk thus for lenthing their life.
No, I am afraid, an enlarged heart will not shrink, and there are also no medications that make it shrink again. However, if the heart is causing problems then your veterinarian can prescribe medications to help it with its job, ie increase the effectiveness of the beating of the heart, and thus lengthen her life ensuring a good quality of life.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
My adopted dog i just receive has be diagnosed with a heart murmor. (Fluid around his heart) He is 3 years old and they put him on lasix. The only thing he does is cough, sometimes a bad cough which is why I though it was Kennel cough. He super enter
Congrats on your new dog! I am sorry, however, that he has a heart murmur. Unfortunately, heart disease isn't curable but the symptoms can be managed with medication. He will have to be on medication for the rest of his life, as he's already showing symptoms of heart disease (coughing, fluid around the heart). Medication will not cure it, just treat the symptoms. As time passes, the symptoms will eventually become worse, but he can be given additional medication to help with those symptoms when the time comes. He still can have a good life with you despite this, and can hopefully have a number of years with you.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Petco Pet Education Center
Health & Wellbeing
Hi my dog has been to the vets they said she has a heart murmur and her belly is all swollen and filled with water I just want to know if she can pull through this because I can’t stand the thought of losing my dog. they have give her tablets will sh
I am so sorry to hear about what is happening with your pet. If your dogs diagnosis is congestive heart failure, then the usual pills that the vet will place a dog on our furosemide and enalapril. And if the correct diagnosis is congestive heart failure, then these pills do a very good job of controlling the clinical symptoms associated with this disease. However, there are many different heart diseases that a schnauzer can get. Some of these are mitral valve disease, heartworm disease, etc. The only true way to diagnose the disease is to have a set of x-rays as well as an echocardiogram which is a heart ultrasound. The good news and what you have going in your favor is that the most common disease in a miniature Snells or is congestive heart failure. And if this is the case, the pills that I assume you are on will most likely be able to keep her around for quite a while. I cannot give a prognosis as to how long, but your odds are pretty good that we are going to survive for a peri
Updated on September 24th, 2025

Related Searches

Dog Blood Pressure Medication Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Dog Thyroid Medication & Hormone Care Dog Asthma Medication Prescription Dog Digestive Medications Dog Anxiety Medication Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Antifungal Medication for Dogs Dog Seizure Medication Vetmedin Dog Blood Pressure Medication Enalapril Dog Blood Pressure Medication SENERGY Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Advantage Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Enalapril Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Amlodipine Dog Pain Relief & Arthritis Meds Amlodipine Dog Blood Pressure Medication Multi Heartworm Medicine for Dogs Heartgard Plus Dog Medicine and Prescriptions Sotalol Dog Blood Pressure Medication
image
Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Book Now

Sponsored