I have two shih-tzus. One nearly eleven and one ten. The ten year old has been to the vet last week with a back condition affecting the spine.

We have managed to settle that and she is doing ok but has to take it easy.

My eleven year old shih-tzu has had a heart murmur and the last couple of days has been breathing badly.
Today I have taken her to the vet and she has a congested heart condition.

She is on one Enalapril per day and one Frusemide twice a day.

I am really worried what the outcome will be.

Has anyone experienced this.

My Cavalier was diagnosed with a grade 6 (the worst possible) heart murmur aged 7, and the vet said he would not live to see Christmas. That was Christmas 2002! Rufus will be 15 in February and I have no reason to believe he won't. :)

Thank you. That gives me some hope that she will be ok.x

> and the vet said he would not live to see Christmas.

Oh boy, don't you just love it when a dog proves them wrong!  :-)

We have been back to the vet today and it looks like this is as good as it gets.   She will be on the medication for the rest of her life. That is not a problem it is the not knowing how long I will have her.

She has lost weight since last week and the vet said her gums are still very pale.

I just basically have to let her rest and do whatever she is able to do.

Anyone who has a shih-tzu knows that if you don't want to keep the hair long, it has to be cut regularly.

This is my next worry.   Is this going to stress her out when she needs a hair cut. Luckily it has only just been done so her next one is not due for another 8 weeks.

Hi Maggie. My first cocker spaniel Sam had a heart attack in August 04. We were out strolling and his tongue went blue and he struggled for breath. It literally happened in a split second. I rushed him to the vet and he gave him frusemide and put him on heart medication. And he improved. My vet told me that Sam would let me know what he was able for, and he did. He was 13 and a half. In November that year, my poor boy had had enough of his fight and I had to put him to sleep. I would have done anything to help him but I realised that I could only do one thing to help him. My heart was broken for 18 months til I got my current cocker. I can understand your upset and feel so sorry for you and your little dog. I really hope you get many more months of health but as my vet said, your dog will let you know.

Hi Maggie. re haircut. 8 weeks is quite a long time so hopefully she may pick up before her next appt. You can always ask your groomer if you can stay while she/he does her and that may just be enough to keep her settled. If you give her a bath yourself just prior to going to groomer this will shorten her length of time while there as well, which may benefit her.
Anne

It has been two weeks now that Lulu has been on her medication but there is not any signs of improvement.
She is eating but not as much as she should and spends nearly all of her time sleeping.

When she does get up, she is wobbly on her feet for a few seconds probably where she is laying down so much

Yesterday she slipped on some ice in the garden (she was coming in the back door) and fell over. I picked her up and she fell over again.  After a little while she seemed ok so I thought perhaps she was just a little shaken.

Late today she went into the garden and I thought I had better check that she is going to the toilet ok and as she did so, she passed some fresh red blood. This only happened the once

She is sleeping again now but I am going to ring the vet first thing in the morning. I know she can't be cured but surely there should be some signs of improvement in her. It can't be normal for a dog to have no energy whatsoever.