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Dr Futter brought his dog Louise into the clinic in early March of this year, she was suffering from listlessness and had an elevated heart rate. After Dr Pam Browell performed an echocardiograph ( a specialised ultrasound of the heart), it was found that Louis was suffering from congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart cannot effectively pump blood around the body resulting in backflow to the lungs and abdomen.

Louis was immediately started on Fortekor, Vetmedin and Digoxin tablets. Fortekor reduces blood pressure, meaning the heart has to work less hard.Vetmedin increases the strength of the heart's contractions improving efficiency and Digoxin decreases the heart rate and also strengthens contractions.

Although Louis's long-term prognosis is guarded, she continues to go from strength to strength and walks around silvermine daily!