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I'm the guy taking care of the stray schnauzer. Well, I finally took it to a vet here in Taiwan. Despite the language barrier, here's what the vet diagnosed.

Heidi has a swollen liver, it's heart rate's way up there, and she only has about a year to live. "Then," he said, "she'll die of heart failure."

I just don't know what to do. I didn't understand the vet fully, since they wanted to do a lot of tests that seemed superfluous, he wasn't exactly clear if the cause was curable, and I just don't have the money to chance it. But apparently, she might have heartworm.

My consternation is mounting. She seems to be panting heavy, is still throwing up at night; her stomach is bulging and her breath is still foul smelling. I'm wondering if her perionditis may be a result of all of this and the vet possibly wrong.

What should I do? Is there any way to help her if she does have heartworm? What's more, how do you know if a dog might have heartworm? What else could be symptoms of a swollen liver?

She'sa really sweet dog, must've made somebody happy at one time and been quite a doll. I found out she's about 12 years old too, so I'm thinking she doesn't need to die a cruel death and that due to exposure like she would have if I hadn't taken her in.

Now, however, I'm distressed. I'm a poor guy without means. At least for now. Last night Heidi threw up three times. Yet she seems in good spirits, will play with my other dogs, and can walk and even run. The vet that diagnosed her, too, seemed to be a little too money-minded too.

I need some advice as to what these symptoms of her illness might be, and if it's heartworm, what I should do.

That's incredibly sad. I am not a vet so I can't tell you exactly what to do in that regard. What I can say though is treating heartworm can be dangerous to the dog especially if it's progressed to the point of causing other problems.

It's sad, but probably best for you to just control the symptoms you can and keep her confortable as long as you can. It's hard, but sometimes that's the best you can do and then be there with them and love them when the time comes for them to leave this world. I'm so sorry.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

To recap, the dog has a swollen liver, heart and respiratory problems, and is vomiting. Heartworm can be treated, liver problems can be treated, and heart problems can be treated, but we need to have some idea what we are treating; we need to know what is causing these symptoms. A simple blood test will determine heartworm, and another can determine liver problems. Hopefully you can find a vet you can better communicate with.

Okay, thanks. So I may try and take her to another vet. The last one tried the IV trick, which I though unnecessary. I will see if I can get those blood tests done and how much they cost.

But when and if a dog has hearworm, what are the symptoms? This dog seems relatively healty, plays with my other two dogs, eats okay, and is lively.

For this reason I want to try to get her help. Some vets, however, over-exaggerate, trying to squeeze more out of you. But I didn't think heartworm was treatable, so now I will pursue finding a better vet.

Why, however, would her liver be swollen? It's like she's pregnant. She breathes heavy too.

The symptoms you describe could be due to heartworm, but they could also be due to liver disease, pulmonary disease, heart disease, or a combination. That is why it is necessary to determine what is the primary cause, as treating that may well improve the other symptoms.

But what are the symptoms of heartworm? I've seen some dogs with it before and know that they often have irregular spasms in the upper abdomen. This dog doesn't have that.

If it's liver disease, or heart disease, what's the proper treatment? And wouldn't she pee more? She pees okay.

Remember, too, this dog's about twelve years old. Thing is, she seems to eat well and to be quite lively. With heart disease, this wouldn't seem likely.

She doesn't take to well to dry dog food though, which is what I've found is making her throw up. But all of this has just started taking place within the past two weeks. Before then, and for about two months, she was fine.

Could it, therefore, be a mouth-to-stomach infection, some kind of hepatitis?

I wonder, since the worst symptoms first began in her mouth.