Chihuahua with mitral valve regurgitation and left side congestive heart failure

Question
I have a chihuahua with chf he is 8 year old and weighs 5.5 pounds. He is on vetmedin and lasix, the vet wants to add enalapril,but I would like to try hawthorn instead and maybe later add ginko biloba for circulation. But I dont know how much to give him. I was wondering if you could tell me how much to dose him and if you have any knowledge on how good dogs do with this treatment. I'm afraid to put him on another medicine that can cause kidney failure. Any suggestions would be appreciated greatly.Thank You Patricia

Answer

Hi Patricia,

Your dog's heart disease is a serious progressive condition which could be life threatening. You do not want to take your dog off the prescribed medication, and substitute with herbal supplements.

It is preferable that Hawthorn be prescribed by a trained medical herbalist or homoeopath,  and your dog be monitored by that practitioner as well as by your regular vet. Though herbal, Hawthorn is still acts like a drug in the body, it can enhance the performance of some veterinary heart drugs, but there can also be interactions. I strongly suggest not buying Hawthorn over the counter without consulting a trained medical herbalist.

You can locate a holistic veterinarian at the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, and the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy web sites:

http://www.holisticvetlist.com/#search

http://www.theavh.org/


Best of luck,

Patti