Mindy has CHF

Olinda, I don't have any experience with CHF, but I remember a former neighbor whose dog had Congestive Heart Disease (I assume that's an earlier stage of CH Failure??).  She had to make some lifestyle changes for her dog (she was a Llasa Apso), but we continued to see her walking in the neighborhood for a long time until we moved away.
 
Hopefully someone on the forum with specific information will reply.  I just wanted to send you my good wishes.  It sounds like Mindy has experienced her people giving up on her, so it's good she's with you now.  You can show her and tell her how you're not giving up, neither should see, and you'll do all you can to keep her quality of life as good as possible.  She's lucky to have a loving Mom, even though it's so hard for you to hear the diagnosis.  Take care - and give Mindy a special pat from me.

I also wanted to say not to feel like you failed your friend.  Her first family failed her (I hate to sound judgmental, but how could the Dad and kids give her up when she was a link to their departed wife/mother??  That poor woman would probably be heartsick to think her family didn't want to keep her dog after she died). 
 
The fact that you have opened your heart and home to this precious girl means the OPPOSITE of failing her.  You are her angel and you're efforts on her behalf are wonderful!!

CHF is one of those illnesses that takes its course pretty much regardless of what you do medically.  For example, humans usually live for about 5 years after their diagnosis.  Some shorter, some longer - some astonishingly longer.  So, whatever the future brings for  your little friend, it isn't because you failed her in any way.  In fact, she is lucky to have you to make things as comfortable and happy as you can for her.  You are an angel and, while your dog may not spend the lifetime with you that you imagined, it seems you have already bonded with this little girl, and she will feel that.  Good for you for adopting her and trying so hard to take good care of her when her original family wouldn't.

Yes, I agree with Spiritdog so much. You are an angel for taking her, don't you ever feel guilty. Just keep giving her love and affection,,,she will last longer that way then anything else.It might have been hard leaving her human mom,,,and its only been two months and she hasn't had that much time with you yet, but she knows you love her and that is way she wags her tail for you.   You just keep up your good work, keep talking to her, keep loving her.
There used to be a lady that used to post here, her name was Gail, and she had a Golden with CHF...she kept Rescue Remedy on hand.  Her dog used to go into spells when she didn't breath that well,,,,especially when the weather was hot..Gail used to give her RR and it helped her a lot. I remember that well and went out and bought RR to keep on hand at my house!
Hang in there and best wishes!

olinda,
  As devastating as the diagnoses first is, I agree that it might be quite awhile before Mindy starts into the late stages of CHF. Ladybug was diagnosed nearly 6 months ago, but the Vet said she might have had early signs much ealier that we missed. It was an occasional cough that brought it all to our attention.
  The biggest thing, from our experience is to pay close attention to her breathing and heart rate. As time goes on, start paying attention to her inability to not leave urin spots everywhere. Don't scold her for this, for as well as they might be housebroke, they're totally unaware of what they have done. Sometimes medications help to keep the fluid build-up at bay, but as in our case, an overnight stay at the vet with a decathiter(sp) is the only way to keep Bug comfortable for a week at a time.
 I hope I don't scare you, but it's a must to keep Mindy as quiet as possible. When our terrior gets excited, her heart can't keep up with the demand of her body, and she will pass out, literally! You'll think she's having a heart attack, and it's a little unnerving. The best we've found is to not pick her up off the floor, but put your arms around her and steady her on her own feet, talking and soothing her the whole while until she comes around and starts acting like her self agian. By picking her up off the floor only will add to her panick. The floor is her domain, and when she comes around agian, it helps her become calm faster in surroundings she's familiar with. Just do what you can to keep her calm at all times.
  I don't know what the final outcome of Bugs demise will be- what chain of events will lead up to the trip over the Rainbow Bridge, but all you can do is take it one day at a time, and cherish each day. In the end, Mindy will reward you for it, beleave me!
  Hope any of this will help, and if there is anything I can do to help further, feel free to E-me at rkhild2@alta-tec.net

Thank you everyone for your responses and for making me feel better about my guilt.  But, I guess Mindy had already decided she wanted to be with her mom more than anything else.
 
This morning, after I took them out to do their business, she ate a little even played with her squeaky turtle, we snuggled on the bed.  She seemed fine the rest of the morning, in the afternoon, I took my dad to the baseball game, and left them with my mom, I kept calling every other inning, and my mom kept saying she was fine,  laying in her bed with Romeo next to her.  After the game we went home, when she heard me she got up from her bed came toward me, so I sat on the floor she sat on my lap and felt asleep, Romeo was next to me, I kept stroking her telling her how much I loved her, she kicked her back legs and sighed, I smiled because she does that when she is really comfortable, but then I noticed she was not breathing anymore, I tried CPR and nothing, my Mindy is gone.   
 
This is so hard, she was 3 yrs old, and so funny and now she is gone, she was only with me a little bit, but my heart is torn to pieces.  I knew her since she was 5 mos old, and we had a special bond, her mom used to tell me, that after I would leave their house, Mindy would go to the door and howl for a while, it was the only time she did that.  Romeo would get so jealous, but loved it when she came to live with us, she has left a void in our lives. [&o]
 
Thanks again for everything.

Oh no - I can't believe I'm reading this!  I typed my reply to you just a 3 or 4 hours ago and then logged off to eat dinner and take care of some other things, and I'm stunned by this sad news!  I'm so, so sorry.  How heartbreaking for you. 
 
I know it wouldn't bring me much comfort if someone said this to me under your circumstances, but it's all I can think of to say to you now:  The blessing is that she had a nice morning with you, was with her buddy Romeo and your mother, and went right to you for her last moments of love and affection before she left to join her Mom.  If she had decided she wanted to be with her Mom so neither of them would be lonely, she knew she had to show her love for you, too, by waiting for a quiet moment with you to say goodbye.  The suddeness of it is awful, but perhaps it's better (at least for her) that there was no suffering, no long, hard decline that would exhaust both of you.
 
My deepest condolences to you.  I'm so glad you were together these couple months - if she was going to leave so soon, it's so much better she was with you rather than a family that didn't want her.  Hugs to you. []

Wow!  What an incredible gift this girl gave you!  Such a loving goodbye.
 
Nothing I can say will lessen your pain.  Know that you are in my heart and in my thots.

I was very sorry to read about Mindy.  You did the best you could do and it sounds like she really loved you.  You made her last days good ones and I know she will forever be grateful.  Thank you for taking her in and caring for her - you were her angel and now she is yours too!  [sm=angel.gif]
 
Run free and wild at the Bridge Mindy.

My thanks again to all of you.  I could not believe it either, it all happened so fast.  I bought a gardenia bush (Mindy's mom favorite) had Mindy cremated and buried her in her mom's plot..I told the keeper I wanted to plant the Gardenia, he said no problem....now they will always be together.
 
And yes I am glad for her that she did not suffer and that her last moment was peaceful and full of love.  She will forever be in my heart.