A dog with congestive heart failure may cough, have trouble breathing, experience fatigue, loss of appetite, or might die suddenly. Depending on the underlying cause, treatment can help reverse congestive heart failure, and medications are available to help relieve its symptoms.
How does a dog with congestive heart failure die?
Cell death is usually due to oxygen deprivation caused by obstruction of the coronary blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscles. Heart attacks are rare in dogs but unexpected and sudden death in dogs diagnosed with any form of heart disease is possible.
Is it painful for a dog to die of congestive heart failure?
The dog's heart can't pump blood through the body very well. It leads to coughing, exhaustion, a swollen belly — and eventually, the dog's lungs will fill with fluid, and she will essentially feel as if she is drowning in her own body. We didn't want Barky to experience a terrifying, painful death.
What is the most common cause of sudden death in dogs?
The top five causes of sudden unexpected death among 151 dogs were, in order, heart disease, toxicosis, gastrointestinal disease, trauma, and hemorrhage not associated with trauma.
Why would a dog just collapsed and died?
When the heart stops pumping blood, the body cannot function. Cardiac arrest is a cause of death. When a dog experiences cardiac arrest, the process is rapid. The dog will collapse, lose consciousness, and stop breathing (not necessarily in that order).
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