CHF Medications

[Spider0526]

First of all thank you for allowing me to join this Forum
I have a small mix dog, 14 years old, and diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure about 14 months ago. I took him to my Vet yesterday because his coughing has gotten much worse. If it weren't for the cough I would not even know that he was sick. He is still active. At the time I took him to the Vet he was on Vetmedin, Lasix, and Enalapril. Today the Vet decided that my Dog might have some COPD causing him to cough and put him on Theophylline. My dog had take 2 doses f this new medicine and his breathing is frightening me. He is coughing breaths (if that makes sense). Unable to get a hold of my Vet this evening so I am stopping the Theophylline. I did some research on the Internet and as far as I can tell Vetmedin and Theophilline should not be given together. Any one have any information about these medications. I would appreciate it.

[meba]

I am sorry to hear your dog has had a bad night. I hope he is doing better now. It seems like pimobendan and Theophylline are two drugs that can be indeed problematic. All I could find about this is here:
http://www.justanswer.com/pet-dog/2sa02-...rding.html

[Spider0526]

I am sorry to hear your dog has had a bad night. I hope he is doing better now. It seems like pimobendan and Theophylline are two drugs that can be indeed problematic.  All I could find about this is here:
http://www.justanswer.com/pet-dog/2sa02-...rding.html

Thank you meba. I read the very same "justanswer" Post. I have reduced the mg of both medications until I can speak with the Vet on Monday. He seems to be doing well with half dose of Theophylline. In fact his breathing is much better.

[Daisy]

I looked up these drugs in my Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs and it says to use them cautiously. Now, it would be important to understand what is meant by cautiously? Monitoring the dog? Giving a smaller amount? Here is a preview of that page, look under the interaction sector: https://books.google.com/books?id=ip8_Cw...og&f=false

[Spider0526]

I looked up these drugs in my Saunders Handbook of Veterinary Drugs and it says to use them cautiously. Now, it would be important to understand what is meant by cautiously? Monitoring the dog? Giving a smaller amount? Here is a preview of that page, look under the interaction sector:  https://books.google.com/books?id=ip8_Cw...og&f=false

Thank you Daisy. I have lowed the dose of Theophylline to half, and he seems to be doing much better. My Vet did not give me any caution. The first day taking both medications he was breathing in strange puffs. Scared me.