The Day We Heard “Congestive Heart Failure”
Disclaimer: I’m sharing this story based on my personal experience of navigating a congestive heart failure (CHF) diagnosis with my dog. This blog post is for general informational purposes only and is not veterinary advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for professional care. Every dog’s situation is different, and symptoms can change quickly. If you’re concerned about your dog’s breathing, coughing, energy level, appetite, or overall comfort—especially if symptoms worsen or appear suddenly—please contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital right away.
The Day We Heard “Congestive Heart Failure”
A personal experience—plus what we learned to watch for, and when to worry.
We’ll never forget how ordinary the day started.
Our 11-year-old Miniature Schnauzer had been slowing down a bit, but we chalked it up to age. Then little things started stacking up: shallow breathing that didn’t seem to settle, less interest in food, and a kind of nighttime restlessness—pacing, changing positions, never really getting comfortable. The part that scared us most was the quiet shift in his “normal.” He didn’t look dramatic… he just looked off.
When the vet said “congestive heart failure,” we felt our stomachs drop. We knew he had a heart murmur, but CHF sounded like an ending—not a diagnosis you manage. We learned quickly that while CHF is serious, it’s also something many dogs can live with for months (sometimes longer) with the right care, monitoring, and fast action when symptoms change. (Vca)
What we didn’t know—until we lived it—is that CHF often whispers before it screams.
What CHF can look like at home (the subtle signs)
Every dog is different, but these are the changes that stood out for us—and the ones vets commonly flag with canine heart disease and CHF:
- Breathing changes: faster breathing at rest, shallow breaths, or increased effort (Vca)
- Coughing (often persistent; can be worse at night) (Vca)
- Restlessness at night / trouble getting comfortable (TAMU Vet School)
- Lower energy and tiring faster on walks (Vca)
- Decreased appetite or seeming “not themselves” (Vca)
For us, the breathing + nighttime restlessness were the loudest “early” alarms.
The single most helpful thing we learned: track resting respiratory rate
If you do one thing after a CHF diagnosis, make it this.
Resting (or sleeping) respiratory rate is one of the simplest at-home ways to catch fluid building up before it becomes an emergency. A normal resting breathing rate for most dogs is about 15–30 breaths per minute. (Vca)
How to count it (takes 60 seconds)
- Wait until your dog is asleep or deeply resting (not panting, not excited).
- Watch the chest rise and fall: one breath = up + down.
- Count breaths for 15 seconds, then multiply by 4 (or count for the full 60 seconds). (GSVS)
What numbers should make you concerned?
- Consistently over ~30 breaths/min at rest is a common “call your vet” threshold. (Veterinary Partner)
- A clear upward trend (even if still under 30) matters—especially if it’s paired with lower appetite, coughing, or restlessness. (cardiaceducationgroup.org)
We kept a simple note in our phone: date + rate + any symptoms (coughing, appetite, energy). That log made vet calls faster and more precise.
When to worry: “Call the vet” vs. “Go now”
Call your vet the same day / within 24 hours if you notice:
- Resting breathing rate consistently above 30 or climbing day-over-day (Vca)
- New or worsening cough (Vca)
- Nighttime restlessness that’s new for your dog (Vca)
- Less appetite, less energy, or “can’t get comfortable” behavior (Vca)
Go to an emergency vet immediately if you see:
- Open-mouth breathing, marked breathing effort, or obvious distress (PetMD)
- Blue/gray/pale gums (PetMD)
- Collapse/fainting (PetMD)
- Coughing up foam or blood-tinged fluid (PetMD)
- A resting breathing rate that’s suddenly very high and won’t settle (ask your vet for your dog’s personal red-line—but don’t wait if they look like they’re working to breathe). (Vca)
If you’re ever debating it, our rule became: breathing wins. If breathing looks wrong, we don’t “watch and wait.”
What helped us feel more in control (without pretending we were)
CHF management is veterinary-led, but these practical habits made daily life easier:
- A medication routine (phone alarms + pill organizer) Bonus: if your dog struggles with taking pills, Trader Joe's Meatball Dog Treats were clutch for us. You can stuff a pill inside of them with ease and they are non the wiser.
- Calm, shorter walks instead of long or overly stimulating outings
- Avoiding heat/humidity (breathing issues can worsen when dogs are hot)
- Weekly weight check (sudden changes can be a clue to fluid shifts—ask your vet what to track)
- A “symptoms note” we could read off during vet calls: breathing rate trend, appetite, cough, sleep quality
And emotionally? We stopped expecting ourselves to be “chill” about it. CHF is scary. But tracking the right signals gave us a plan—and a plan gave us steadier hands.
Questions worth asking your vet (bring this list)
- “What resting respiratory rate number should trigger a call for my dog?” (TAMU Vet School)
- “Do you want a daily breathing log? For how long?” (Vca)
- “What symptoms mean ER immediately for his specific case?” (PetMD)
- “What recheck schedule do you recommend (x-rays/echo/bloodwork)?”
- “Are there diet or sodium guidelines you want us following?”
(And a big one: never adjust doses on your own—CHF meds are powerful and need vet guidance.) (Vca)
A gentle reminder if you’re in this right now
This post is personal and educational—not a substitute for veterinary care. But if your dog has CHF and you’re seeing shallow/rapid breathing, nighttime restlessness, low appetite, or a sudden change in energy, it’s absolutely worth calling your vet today and sharing a resting respiratory rate number. (Vca)
MEET EDWIN
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| Name | Edwin |
|---|---|
| Adoption Fee | $350.00- Dog Adult |
| Age | 1 years, 8 months |
| Gender | Male |
| Size | Medium |
| Shots up to date | Yes |
| OK with kids | Not Sure |
| Housetrained | Not Sure |
| Hypoallergenic | No |
| Spayed / Neutered | Not Sure |
| OK with dogs | Yes |
| OK with cats | Yes |
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