[wandakt]

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back but Powder Puff and I have been doing a little investigating ourselves and seeing another vet.

First of all, let me clarify the rescuing part. I actually paid for this little one. I did know that she had a problem but not a heart murmur. A well known kennel in Texas sent her to my area to find a good home. They advised me to take her to the vet. I took her to one of the vets that I use last Monday and he thought she has a level 4 heart murmur but was quick to explain that he really knows nothing about hearts. I called the lady I got her from and explained what I had found out. She offered to take her back but also gave me the number of the kennel who had her for the last 10 months of her life. I called the kennel and got all the pertinent information and was told that her vet had diagnosed her with a level one heart murmur. This dog was originally sold for $5000 but was replaced with a new puppy when the medical findings were known. Now first of all, I already have 6 yorkies and was not out looking for another one. Somehow mine and this little dogs paths crossed and my heart told me that I needed to do whatever was neccessary to help her. The kennel offered me a 2 year health guarantee stating that if the dog did not live past 2 years they would replace her or refund my money. I don't think anything is going to happen to her in 2 years but that was enough fuel for me to say that I needed to keep going with this.

Last Tuesday, I took her to another vet that was recommended to me. He has only been out of vet school for 2 years but his specialty was hearts. He told me that he felt she had a high level 1, level 2 heart murmur. He told me she would never be a candidate for heart surgery (mostly because of her size) but felt that she could live a fairly healthy life for 5, 6, maybe 10 years using various medications. He started her on Enalapril which is supposedly a mild blood pressure medicine. He will reevaluate her in a month and do blood work and hopefully the ultrasound. He said that through the years, the medication will have to be tweaked here and there but he thought I was the right one for the dog. I am willing to do whatever it takes for as long as I can. If they told me they could fix her heart for $10,000, I am sure I would try to find someway to do it.

I know I have only had her for 2 weeks but she seems to round out our household. My other little ones have accepted her and my husband and I have accepted her limitations (althought right now she seems to have none) and our responsibilities to her. Keep her in your prayers always. She is an angel and deserves to have as good a life as she is allowed to live here on earth and I will do my best to give her that.

Merry Christmas to all of you.

Wanda