When my dog Freya collapsed for the first time, heart disease wasn\u2019t even on my radar. I was looking at her hips. Her age. Maybe the heat. Maybe allergies. Maybe she\u2019d overdone it chasing chipmunks (one of her favorite hobbies). Heart disease honestly wasn\u2019t the diagnosis I expected. She\u2019s almost 10 now, so all of those made sense as possible explanations for why she wasn\u2019t herself on any given day.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One very long, in-depth vet visit, complete with X-rays and an ECG, later, I learned otherwise. Within seconds of hearing what had happened, my vet said, \u201cIt\u2019s almost definitely her heart.\u201d The x-rays and EKG confirmed that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I also learned that living with a dog who has heart disease isn\u2019t quite what I imagined. Before this, most of what I knew came from articles explaining symptoms, medications, and stages of disease. Those are all important, but they don\u2019t really prepare you for what everyday life looks like.<\/p>\n
Every dog is different, and this certainly isn\u2019t medical advice. But if you\u2019re just starting this journey with your own dog, here are some of the biggest lessons I\u2019ve learned along the way.<\/p>\n
FYI, this post does include affiliate links for products and services that I found helpful. However, the purpose of this post isn\u2019t to try to sell you something. It\u2019s mostly a way for me to process Freya\u2019s heart disease diagnosis and hopefully help someone else going through the same thing. I\u2019m a very wordy person, so I\u2019ve bolded some of the most important points for skimmers. <\/p>\n
Heart disease in dogs doesn\u2019t always look the way you expect (and I should have called the vet earlier)<\/strong><\/h2>\nLooking back, I can connect some of the dots now. At the time, though, everything felt unrelated.<\/p>\n
One day Freya seemed a little stiff getting up. Another day she had a coughing spell. She\u2019d have a scary episode, then wake up the next morning acting perfectly normal. Some days she wanted a long walk. Other days she wanted nothing to do with it.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve ever tried putting together a thousand-piece puzzle without the picture on the box, that\u2019s what the early days felt like.<\/p>\n
There wasn\u2019t just one dramatic symptom that pointed us toward her heart. It was a bunch of little changes that only started making sense once we had the diagnosis.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe problem is, when you\u2019re looking at a lot of symptoms that seem totally unrelated and are easily explained away by age, heat, and arthritis, it\u2019s really easy to dismiss them as just, well, that- heat, age, achy joints.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even when she collapsed the first time, it happened right after she barked frantically at a bear on the other side of the fence while running up a hill on a hot day. Plus, she didn\u2019t actually faint, and she got right back up. I thought it was related to her achy back leg. She just \u201cwiped out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I have a Dutch membership (one of the best telehealth vets<\/a>). I should have at least scheduled a virtual appointment with them to ask if this was something to worry about. If I had, I have a feeling they would have told me to call her vet asap to get her seen. My in-person vet knew within two seconds of the conversation that she likely had a heart condition.\u00a0<\/p>\nSo, if you\u2019re still in the \u201ccould my dog have heart disease or is it something else\u201d stage, don\u2019t spend days trying to diagnose it through Google searches or AI chats (they\u2019re great for follow-up questions, not replacing a veterinarian). Call your vet instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Or use Dutch (you get unlimited vet visits a month with it). They can\u2019t diagnose heart disease, but they will listen to the symptoms, tell you if you need an in-person visit (which they mostly likely will). They\u2019re also amazing for the million little quick \u201cquestions \u201cis this normal\u201d questions that you\u2019ll have in the days that follow your dog\u2019s diagnosis. Believe me, you\u2019ll have a lot. <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDutch Pet Online Vet Care\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n\nDutch offers ongoing telehealth care for dogs, not just quick advice. You\u2019ll get personalized treatment plans from licensed vets and, in many cases, prescriptions delivered to your door. Ideal for managing chronic issues like allergies, anxiety, and skin conditions without constant in-person visits.<\/p>\n
LIMITED TIME OFFER<\/strong><\/p>\nSAVE <\/strong>32%<\/strong> WITH COUPON CODE <\/strong>TECHNOBARK32<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t![\"Dutch](\"https:\/\/dogvills.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/dutch_dog_virtual-pet-parent_l.jpg\")
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\n\n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nA good pet health tracker can save your sanity<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe moment your dog gets that heart disease diagnosis, you\u2019ll find yourself watching them A LOT. Like, every second. Every nap (is she lethargic or just tired?). Every cough (are her lungs filling with fluid or did she just snort dirt up her nose?). Every time they breathe a little faster than usual (is she having a hard time breathing or just excited?). It\u2019s exhausting.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dogvills.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Maven-Dog-Health-Tracker-Review-29-850x637.jpg\")
Maven clips onto your dog\u2019s existing collar and is so low-profile you can\u2019t even see it. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhile I still check on Freya a lot more often than I used to, having a pet health tracker has made a huge difference in my peace of mind. I use the Maven Pet Health Tracker<\/a>, so instead of wondering whether she\u2019s breathing differently or if her heart is beating super-fast out of the blue, I can actually look at the data.<\/p>\nIt doesn\u2019t replace watching your dog, and it definitely doesn\u2019t replace your veterinarian or veterinary cardiologist. But having objective information really helps you sort out the normal fluctuations from the \u201ctime to worry\u201d ones. You can look at it and see, \u201cokay, so she was breathing fast at 2PM and her heart was racing.\u201d Then you can think, well, at that time she was racing around chasing a chipmunk and you know it\u2019s a normal fluctuation. Or you can see that it was while she was completely asleep and call your vet. <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMaven Dog Health Tracker\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n\nTurn any collar into a smart health monitor. Maven tracks your dog\u2019s heart rate, respiratory rate, activity, rest, hydration, and more\u2014helping you catch early signs of illness before they become serious. Lightweight (just 14g), waterproof, and packed with vet-level insights, it\u2019s like having a personal health assistant for your pup.<\/p>\n
GUARANTEED BEST PRICE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nSAVE 10% FOR LIFE WHEN YOU SHOP THROUGH OUR LINK<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t![\"Maven](\"https:\/\/dogvills.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Maven-health-tracker-b-scaled.jpg\")
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\n\n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIf your vet prescribes VetMedin, ask for the compounded pimobendan<\/strong> generic <\/strong><\/h2>\nFYI, compounding basically means a pharmacy custom-makes the medication into a different form or size while keeping the same active ingredient.\u00a0Freya\u2019s vet prescribed three heart meds right away: furosemide <\/a>(aka Lasix, a diuretic), enalapril <\/a>(for blood pressure), and VetMedin<\/a> (helps pump the heart better).\u00a0<\/p>\nLet me tell you, while VetMedin is practically a miracle drug and I\u2019m super grateful that it exists,\u00a0it is a nightmare to get into a dog who isn\u2019t fooled by medicine disguised as a beef-flavor treat. The 10mg dose is also the size of a small galaxy. Even the smaller doses are proportionately ginormous for the dogs they\u2019re meant for.\u00a0VetMedin, if you\u2019re reading this, PLEASE make smaller pills. Not every dog wants to chew a planet. <\/p>\n
Anyway, since Freya flat-out refused to take them and could smell them no matter how we disguised them, our only option was to cut them into small pieces and pill her manually with each one. So, instead of getting just three pills twice a day, she was basically getting 7.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Our vet wanted Freya on the standard tablets for about a month before switching her to the compounded version.\u00a0 I think it has to do with making sure it worked for her before they went through the compounding process. <\/p>\n
We just started it a week ago and already our lives are so much easier. The compounded version is a much smaller pill. More like the size of a dime (and almost as flat). Plus, it\u2019s A LOT cheaper. <\/strong>My total bill for her monthly meds went from over $250 down to $142, and that\u2019s with her being on 20mg a day now instead of 15. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/dogvills.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/VetMedin-vs-generic-pimobendan-size-b-850x638.jpg\")
Name brand 10mg VetMedin on the left, compounded pimobendan (also 10mg) on right. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe\u2019re currently getting it through our vet because they have their own compounding pharmacy. If you don\u2019t have that option, though, most major online pet pharmacies<\/a> have pimobendan compounds for reasonable prices.\u00a0<\/p>\nIf your dog does like the VetMedin and you\u2019re happy with it, by all means, stick with it. It\u2019s pricey, though, so look into a pharmacy that gives discounts on autoship. Even 5% will save you $10+ a month. <\/p>\n
Oh, and if you are new to pilling a dog, I LOVE this video. Dr. Buzby says some really hilarious things in it, and I needed that comic relief. We had to move all the way to #5 because Freya outsmarted the first four pretty quickly, but each one did work for a day or two. <\/p>\n\n\n
The problem is, when you\u2019re looking at a lot of symptoms that seem totally unrelated and are easily explained away by age, heat, and arthritis, it\u2019s really easy to dismiss them as just, well, that- heat, age, achy joints.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even when she collapsed the first time, it happened right after she barked frantically at a bear on the other side of the fence while running up a hill on a hot day. Plus, she didn\u2019t actually faint, and she got right back up. I thought it was related to her achy back leg. She just \u201cwiped out.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I have a Dutch membership (one of the best telehealth vets<\/a>). I should have at least scheduled a virtual appointment with them to ask if this was something to worry about. If I had, I have a feeling they would have told me to call her vet asap to get her seen. My in-person vet knew within two seconds of the conversation that she likely had a heart condition.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, if you\u2019re still in the \u201ccould my dog have heart disease or is it something else\u201d stage, don\u2019t spend days trying to diagnose it through Google searches or AI chats (they\u2019re great for follow-up questions, not replacing a veterinarian). Call your vet instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n Or use Dutch (you get unlimited vet visits a month with it). They can\u2019t diagnose heart disease, but they will listen to the symptoms, tell you if you need an in-person visit (which they mostly likely will). They\u2019re also amazing for the million little quick \u201cquestions \u201cis this normal\u201d questions that you\u2019ll have in the days that follow your dog\u2019s diagnosis. Believe me, you\u2019ll have a lot. <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n Dutch offers ongoing telehealth care for dogs, not just quick advice. You\u2019ll get personalized treatment plans from licensed vets and, in many cases, prescriptions delivered to your door. Ideal for managing chronic issues like allergies, anxiety, and skin conditions without constant in-person visits.<\/p>\n LIMITED TIME OFFER<\/strong><\/p>\n SAVE <\/strong>32%<\/strong> WITH COUPON CODE <\/strong>TECHNOBARK32<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The moment your dog gets that heart disease diagnosis, you\u2019ll find yourself watching them A LOT. Like, every second. Every nap (is she lethargic or just tired?). Every cough (are her lungs filling with fluid or did she just snort dirt up her nose?). Every time they breathe a little faster than usual (is she having a hard time breathing or just excited?). It\u2019s exhausting.<\/p>\n While I still check on Freya a lot more often than I used to, having a pet health tracker has made a huge difference in my peace of mind. I use the Maven Pet Health Tracker<\/a>, so instead of wondering whether she\u2019s breathing differently or if her heart is beating super-fast out of the blue, I can actually look at the data.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t replace watching your dog, and it definitely doesn\u2019t replace your veterinarian or veterinary cardiologist. But having objective information really helps you sort out the normal fluctuations from the \u201ctime to worry\u201d ones. You can look at it and see, \u201cokay, so she was breathing fast at 2PM and her heart was racing.\u201d Then you can think, well, at that time she was racing around chasing a chipmunk and you know it\u2019s a normal fluctuation. Or you can see that it was while she was completely asleep and call your vet. <\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n Turn any collar into a smart health monitor. Maven tracks your dog\u2019s heart rate, respiratory rate, activity, rest, hydration, and more\u2014helping you catch early signs of illness before they become serious. Lightweight (just 14g), waterproof, and packed with vet-level insights, it\u2019s like having a personal health assistant for your pup.<\/p>\n GUARANTEED BEST PRICE\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n SAVE 10% FOR LIFE WHEN YOU SHOP THROUGH OUR LINK<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\tWe earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.<\/span>\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n FYI, compounding basically means a pharmacy custom-makes the medication into a different form or size while keeping the same active ingredient.\u00a0Freya\u2019s vet prescribed three heart meds right away: furosemide <\/a>(aka Lasix, a diuretic), enalapril <\/a>(for blood pressure), and VetMedin<\/a> (helps pump the heart better).\u00a0<\/p>\n Let me tell you, while VetMedin is practically a miracle drug and I\u2019m super grateful that it exists,\u00a0it is a nightmare to get into a dog who isn\u2019t fooled by medicine disguised as a beef-flavor treat. The 10mg dose is also the size of a small galaxy. Even the smaller doses are proportionately ginormous for the dogs they\u2019re meant for.\u00a0VetMedin, if you\u2019re reading this, PLEASE make smaller pills. Not every dog wants to chew a planet. <\/p>\n Anyway, since Freya flat-out refused to take them and could smell them no matter how we disguised them, our only option was to cut them into small pieces and pill her manually with each one. So, instead of getting just three pills twice a day, she was basically getting 7.\u00a0<\/p>\n Our vet wanted Freya on the standard tablets for about a month before switching her to the compounded version.\u00a0 I think it has to do with making sure it worked for her before they went through the compounding process. <\/p>\n We just started it a week ago and already our lives are so much easier. The compounded version is a much smaller pill. More like the size of a dime (and almost as flat). Plus, it\u2019s A LOT cheaper. <\/strong>My total bill for her monthly meds went from over $250 down to $142, and that\u2019s with her being on 20mg a day now instead of 15. <\/p>\n We\u2019re currently getting it through our vet because they have their own compounding pharmacy. If you don\u2019t have that option, though, most major online pet pharmacies<\/a> have pimobendan compounds for reasonable prices.\u00a0<\/p>\n If your dog does like the VetMedin and you\u2019re happy with it, by all means, stick with it. It\u2019s pricey, though, so look into a pharmacy that gives discounts on autoship. Even 5% will save you $10+ a month. <\/p>\n Oh, and if you are new to pilling a dog, I LOVE this video. Dr. Buzby says some really hilarious things in it, and I needed that comic relief. We had to move all the way to #5 because Freya outsmarted the first four pretty quickly, but each one did work for a day or two. <\/p>\n \n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tDutch Pet Online Vet Care\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\nA good pet health tracker can save your sanity<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMaven Dog Health Tracker\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\nIf your vet prescribes VetMedin, ask for the compounded pimobendan<\/strong> generic <\/strong><\/h2>\n