Fluid Build Up

[misha&milo]

HI,

My little cross bred dog Milo has strange things going on about him that I can't explain.

He has always been a regular little guts and would eat anything and everything if given half the chance.

He has to be on Eukanuba Response from the vets and he is chicken intolerant. If he has anything at all with a the slightest bit of chicken in it

he breaks out into sores has the runs and is throwing up.

I have worked out just recently the reason he was putting on weight was Misha would have what she thought was enough and walk off from her bowl and milo would charge

over and scoff what was left.

So the last 3 weeks I have been feeding Misha in the house and Milo in the yard.

BUT he has not lost weight but as I have discovered got fluid build up at the top of his front legs on his body. Two pouches they feel like. He is still very happy and eating but I have noticed that he is panting a lot even when its

not a hot time of day/night. His breathing seems a little different at night as well. He is still weeing normally and drinks a lot though and I have put it down to the dry food.

I have done them in the past cooked rice, vegies and people tuna mixed together with gravy just so Milo got to have something different for a change.

I am taking him to the vets as soon as I can get him in tomorrow. Just curious if anyone else has ever had a dog similar??

[JulesP]

Oh dear. The fluid could be ascites. There could be various reasons for what is causing it.

Hope the vet gives you an answer tomorrow.

[brightstar123]

So sorry to hear about your little one. These are very common clinical signs in older dogs. The fluid around the top of the front legs is oedema and from the sounds of it he could have pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs) and ascites (fluid in the abdomen) as well.

I'm sorry to say that by far the most likely cause is congestive heart failure. In an older small breed dogs this is usually caused by mitral valve disease. Your vet will be able to check his heart and lungs tomorrow and perhaps perform some X-rays to see what's happening. There are definitely treatment options to help Milo become more comfortable - triple therapy with a diuretic, Pimobendan and an ace-inhibitor usually works well - depending on the situation of course.

Sorry again and best wishes for Milo :)

[misha&milo]

So sorry to hear about your little one. These are very common clinical signs in older dogs. The fluid around the top of the front legs is oedema and from the sounds of it he could have pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs) and ascites (fluid in the abdomen) as well.

I'm sorry to say that by far the most likely cause is congestive heart failure. In an older small breed dogs this is usually caused by mitral valve disease. Your vet will be able to check his heart and lungs tomorrow and perhaps perform some X-rays to see what's happening. There are definitely treatment options to help Milo become more comfortable - triple therapy with a diuretic, Pimobendan and an ace-inhibitor usually works well - depending on the situation of course.

Sorry again and best wishes for Milo :)

Thank you both for your replies. He's over 10 years old.. Hopefully we can make him as comfortable as possible with whatever the out come is.

[brightstar123]

No problem, let us know how Milo goes at the vet today ... I think being comfortable and being able to breathe better would be the main goals.

[misha&milo]

Hi, Got an appointment at 4pm not at my usual vet as he wasn't there so they sent me to the other vet here in Corowa. As its a little country vet they can't do the bloods till Monday. His heart is fantastic for his age ( 10 yrs) and temp normal. They were able to get urine and check for diabetes and they don't think that's the problem. Don't think it's thyroid as heaps of energy running around. Has put on over 2 & a half kilos. They think it could be cushings ?? Or hormonal ? But until the blood tests on Monday not sure. But they can do the tests and get the results straight away. Hopefully we will have answer soon.

[misha&milo]

Ps. Lungs are clear.

[JulesP]

Amber has fluid building up from her liver condition.

[Nekhbet]

Your options in oldies are usually things like Cushings or the heart. I know my little pug has started with a cough so it's vet time soon to see if she has some form of heart failure.

[cavNrott]

So sorry to hear about your little one. These are very common clinical signs in older dogs. The fluid around the top of the front legs is oedema and from the sounds of it he could have pulmonary oedema (fluid in the lungs) and ascites (fluid in the abdomen) as well.

I'm sorry to say that by far the most likely cause is congestive heart failure. In an older small breed dogs this is usually caused by mitral valve disease. Your vet will be able to check his heart and lungs tomorrow and perhaps perform some X-rays to see what's happening. There are definitely treatment options to help Milo become more comfortable - triple therapy with a diuretic, Pimobendan and an ace-inhibitor usually works well - depending on the situation of course.

Sorry again and best wishes for Milo :)

Very accurate information brightstar, thank you. I have a 10 1/2yo Cavalier who is suffering CHF and though he is on a diuretic he does sometimes have an ascites build up in the abdomen. His diuretic is normally given once a day but when I feel ascites is present I increase the dose of the diuretic to twice a day and it seems to solve the problem.

[brightstar123]

Great news about the heart and lungs!

HyperA (Cushings) is definitely a possibility (the panting and pot-belly appearance are pretty classic signs) however the oedema around the front legs is a bit more unusual and is usually a pointer to heart disease. Increased appetite and thirst are also typical of HyperA though. Keep us updated!