How Long Can a Dog Live With Congestive Heart Failure?

It can be the worst news for any dog owner that his dog is suffering from congestive heart failure. Such news always brings a lot of tension and mental pressure for owners as they think about their four-legged friend’s end of life. It is essential for peace of mind to know how long can a dog live with congestive heart failure?  It can be a terrifying diagnosis to receive from your vet. In reality, many large and small breeds are prone to developing this disease later in life. Age effect sometimes worsens the condition, and recovery becomes a question.

The good thing here is proper treatment and lifestyle management can extend the life of the dog. You need to give your pup the best longer chance to live while monitoring the symptoms, especially at a later age. In most cases, it is a progressive condition. But proper management under guidance can extend life.

how long can a dog live with congestive heart failure

Life Expectancy, How Long will my Dog Live with Congestive Heart Failure?

Dog with this severe disease may live several months to several years; it depends on several things like:

      • Diagnoses
      • Diet
      • Environment

The severity of the condition matters a lot, and other health factors, too, like if you detect the problem in the early stage, will not shorten your pup’s life. With a little medication, your pooch can live a healthy life in the coming years. But in unembellished cases, it wisely depends on how dogs react to the medicines. Sometimes condition becomes worse when the vet starts treatment.

It also depends on the diet you are feeding to your pup if you move on to a quality diet that will ease your dog’s ease. Of course, it will extend the life of your dog.

Dogs with heart failure need extra attention and care. When you have such a dog, devote some time for him regularly to bring comfort to life. Even you can have an end-of-life plan for your four-legged friend, discuss it with your vet, and he will guide you.

In such condition’s dogs need regular medicine and a little exercise. Medication will make your dog spend quality life with your family, but he cannot run or enjoy hiking with you. Advice your family members not to offer him to play with balls as it pushes them to run, which might worsen the condition.

It is the use of medications that can keep him comfortable and pain-free; dogs suffering from congestive heart failure may pass naturally. You must know the natural life-span of your dog. If your dog’s daily life and daily activities, mainly intake, become visibly painful and challenging, then the vet may advise euthanasia.

You will feel the emotional weight on your shoulder and when you know how long can a dog live with congestive heart failure? You will become relaxed, but unfortunately, there is no specific time that even a vet can tell you. It all depends on the three things, and you need to focus on extending the life-span of your dog and keeping him pain-free until he lives.  

how long can a dog live with congestive heart failure

What symptoms can present as heart disease progresses?

In treatment, it is necessary to identify the disease; when you are aware of the symptoms directly linked to congestive heart failure, you can better identify the disease and consult the vet in the early stage of the disease. It is necessary to know how long my Dog will Live with Congestive Heart Failure? It will give you peace of mind, and you can better focus on the solutions. Here we discuss possible symptoms of this disease in all life stages along with the crises that your dog may face.

Early Stages

      • Lethargy, Reduced activity
      • Exercise Intolerance
      • A lot of sleeping
      • Losing weight quickly
      • Extreme cough (in morning and night)
      • Get caught in diarrhea
      • Fainting spells

Late Stages

      • Persistent early stages
      • Severe weight loss
      • Poor digestive system/distended abdomen
      • Consistent Vomiting
      • Gums changed colors to blue
      • Swelling at legs
      • Hard to breathe, difficulty in breathing, making noise
      • difficulty swallowing
      • Sound from the lungs due to fluid
      • Unable to stand up
      • Restless

Crisis

you need to immediately consult with the vet when you find any under-listed crises in your dog because he needs immediate medical help.

      • Diarrhea/vomiting a lot that is uncontrollable
      • Prolonged seizures
      • Abnormal breathing/Difficulty breathing or making sounds while breathing.
      • Internal or external bleeding (profuse bleeding)
      • Crying due to pain

The one leading cause of congestive heart failure is valve disease that considered chronic. In this condition, valves stop functioning and properly and put Burdon on the heat. It is responsible for 80% of cases. Whatever the cause is, if you find a symptom, you need to consult with your vet immediately and start proper medication. It is crucial to get them investigated by a vet to start a treatment that can extend his life.

If you are worried about a heart attack that your dog may suffer, then stay relaxed. It’s the rate in dogs. But sudden and unexpected death is always a risk for dogs suffering from congestive health failure.

Final Words

We believe that it wisely depends on the owner how much his dog lives. Dog parents who are very cautious about their pup’s health can always detect the symptoms and start proper medication. In that case, they can expect a normal life span for their dog, but if it’s in a severe condition, then might your fog life for 6 months maximum. How Long will my Dog Live with Congestive Heart Failure? It also depends on the stage of the disease.

Regular visits to is a recommendation from our side to stay aware of the condition of your dog. If you want to share any of your experiences, then please share that in the comments.