Mixing Enalapril, Vetmedin, Lasix & Hawthorn

Question
Hello,

After 10 years of perfect health & vitality, my little malty-poo was diagnosed last month with Mitral Valve Degeneration & prescribed Enalapril & Vetmedin.  He's also taking Lasix (hopefully short-term) to clear fluids from his lungs. I'd like to include ginger, cayenne pepper and hawthorn berry to his daily supplements to boost his circulation & strengthen his heart.  His vet said it's ok, but some online research advises caution mixing hawthorn with Enalapril and/or Lasix. 2nd question: is it ok to give Enalapril, Vetrmedin & Lasix together?  (I grind them up, mix with applesuace & feed by syringe.)  Thank you kindly for sharing any advice you may have on this matter.

Answer
Hello,
This is really something you should be working out with a vet that truly is holistic and also practices Chinese Medicine  and natural nutrition (not just the 150 hours certificate the AVMA approves for a vet to practice acupuncture).
There are many excellent TCM formulas but what would need to be diagnosed is if kidney, liver, heart deficiency, and/or qi and blood stagnation. Some formulas are contraindicated for things like "dampness."
There are many different schools of thought but I prescribe to the whole picture and see underlying imbalances.
All of the herbs you mentioned are great but again I would need an entire picture and history to recommend anything.

Imbalances like these are always there and/or are building for years- and then something like MVD shows up-but it isn't all of a sudden. There are subtle cues along the way that a holistic practitioner would pick up before disease formation.
I would also look into supplementing his diet. I would work with someone on excellent natural diet for him and to see if certain supplements are appropriate such as marine lipids, Vit E, CoQ10, Selenium, Magnesium (contraindicated in certain conditions), Taurine, glandular heart.

Depending on initial condition and overall picture would know about combining. Enalapril and lasix can cause hypovolemia and hypotension,
Best of luck, sorry I couldn't give you more concise information but it is a very lengthy history taking process and acquiring complete medical history to do something like this justice.

Shanti