Enlarged Heart Condition in a Dog
Answered by: Kerry Hackett
Question from: Donna Johnson
Posted on: February 27, 2007

I have a 12 year old Basenji who has just been diagnosed with a heart condition. He had an x-ray & his heart is so enlarged, it’s constricting his windpipe & putting some pressure on his lungs. I originally brought him to the vet because of severe, prolonged coughing. The vet prescribed Pimobendan (3.5 mg) 2 x per day, Furosemide (20 mg) 2 x per day & Benazepril (5 mg) 1 x per day.

Is there any natural herbal remedies that would do the same as these drugs without the side effects ? Any suggestions would be appreciated as they have only given him a few months to live if he doesn’t respond to these drugs.

This is a very complex condition and one that requires the personal care and attention that only a one-on-one consultation can give. I would suggest that you seek a qualified practitioner who has experience with both animals and herbs. Such a person may be found through the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association (www.vbma.org). The pharmaceuticals you mention are quite powerful and should not be taken in conjunction with over-the-counter herbs. A qualified practitioner who can take a full case history should be familiar with herb-drug interactions and will formulate a treatment plan specifically for your dog’s needs and condition.

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