17 yr. old Dachsound/Shih-tzu mix

Question
My 17 yr old doxie/shih-tzu mix male dog is intermittently not eating.  and now he is pretty much without appetite.  I've fed various meats, chicken, hamburger to entice him and it used to work.  He is on 12.5 mg Lasix two times daily and Enalapril also twice daily.  Can you provide any insight??

Answer
Hi Lisa:  Your little old man has been through much in his life.  I see that he is being treated for ? Congestive Heart Failure????
His heart and lungs just are not working and the medications can just do so much for him.

Not much you can do except lots of love!  You can offer him some canned pumpkin ( pure pumpkin), about 1/4 of a cup 2x per day.
Also, you can try some yogurt, about 1/4 a cup 2 x per day.

He may be giving up his will to fight.  Many times they do stop eating because they don't have the energy to fight.

Your vet can offer I.V. or S.C. fluids ( all with needles)...
You have to decide if this is comfort measures????
Sticking the little guy with needles may cause him more pain than he needs to deal with.


I wish that I could be more positive, but it just doesn't sound very promising.


Will be thinking of you two.


Marie Peppers