My lovely boy Alfie (cocker spaniel) has today been diagnosed with heart failure. He will be 13 in November. He is on vetmedin and frusemide to help clear a little fluid on his lungs.
I think my heart is broken for my very special dog. Having Alfie has given me the best days of my life since the day I got him as a ten week old pup and I guess as we turn into the last chapters of his life,  it will give me some of the worst ones too. My first cocker died of this too and he taught me that I cannot have any of my dogs suffer.
I'm going to have a good cry,  eat too much chocolate and sit with my lovely boy. He's quite comfortable and the only sign something was up was sleeping more and he started coughing Saturday night.
At 37 I thought this would get easier but I actually think it gets harder

Kate it never gets any easier my love.  We love them while they're here, and grieve when they're gone.  But Alfie will live in your heart forever.

One of my girls stayed a while longer on Vetmedin and Frusemide, and I hope that it does the same for your boy.  We just have to love them enough to let them go when it is time.  And you will know when that time is.  So sorry, my thoughts are with you.

Jean

It's never nice to read of an owner facing the inevitable and as has been said, it certainly doesn't ever get easier.   And for me, with every loss it has become increasingly harder as I accepted that it was time to cut back - so as we had a loss, we had no new arrivals.   

I think the absolute worse loss (other than my much loved and still painfully missed, Canadian-born UK Champion) was losing, too soon really, the second last of our bloodline - that loss was made even harder by the run-around the 'treating' (hah) vet gave us until there was no coming back for her.   And then the loss of THE last of our home-breds.

There is no advice about how to deal with the inevitable other than to be strong, and keep your much loved dog alive in your heart.

My last retriever had DCM diagnosed at 11/12 years and was put onto the same drugs as your dog OP. She lasted until 14.5 years.
Don’t give up hope just yet

Thanks for that. He is in good form this evening so paws crossed for as much good quality time with him feeling well as we can get

I think losing a dog gets harder as I age, perhaps it reminds me of my own mortality and the realisation that time is running out for more dogs in my life, the truly great thing we can do is to let them go before the suffering starts, personally I would rather too soon than wish it had been sooner, very sad for you and your special boy.

I have lost him. I let him go today. I am heartbroken

I am sorry. He will always be in your heart .Sleep well alfie

So very sorry

So very sorry. Hold on to all your good memories of your lovely boy.