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hdamurphy 09-19-2015 01:23 PM
Enlarged Heart
 
I adopted my Yorkie, Mr. Pips in July 2015. He wandered into the yard, no ID, unneutered, and an unregistered chip. We believe he was dumped along with a few other dogs. When I took him to the vet for shots he had a cough which was diagnosed as "kennel cough". Med didn't help so they did an ex-ray. Turns out he has an enlarged heart. The cough seems to have gotten worst and he cannot tolerate being out of the A/C more than 5 minutes.


I have been researching this on the internet and the prognosis is he probably will just drop dead without any further signs.


Has anyone ever dealt with a situation like this? We have gotten attached to this dog in a very short time.


Thanks.

Wylie's Mom 09-20-2015 02:59 AM
Hi and welcome to YT :). Thank you for taking in this stray little one.

Many dogs can live w/ slightly enlarged hearts for a very long time. How old is this kiddo? If there is some sort of congestive heart failure, though, then often a vet will put them on Enalapril or similar...

matese 09-20-2015 04:00 AM
One of my now passed girls at the age of 10 y/o was diagnosed with an enlarged heart, she was put on meds. This was years back so I don't remember what the med was. She lived a happy life until age 13. There is treatment for this. Thank you for taking this little guy into you life and heart, I can't believe how ppl can just dump off dogs. He was blessed to have found you.

hdamurphy 09-20-2015 06:30 AM
Thanks for such prompt response regarding Mr. Pips enlarged heart. Mr. Pips is estimated to be about 7 years old, however, he sometimes acts like a puppy. He loves to be outside and going for walks. I have noticed however that it is getting harder for him to make the return trip to the top of our street which is only about 200 yards. Sometime I have to carry him half way back. His wheezing is a very noticeable high pitched squeak and he sneezes, coughs and gags a lot. He seems to sleep well at nights. His last trip to potty is about 10pm and most mornings he doesn't wake me until 7:30.


The vet has given me meds to lessen his coughs but has not suggested meds for his heart. I will talk with him about this on the next visit but will have to wait until my next ss comes in.


Thanks again.

matese 09-20-2015 06:58 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by hdamurphy (Post 4592709)
Thanks for such prompt response regarding Mr. Pips enlarged heart. Mr. Pips is estimated to be about 7 years old, however, he sometimes acts like a puppy. He loves to be outside and going for walks. I have noticed however that it is getting harder for him to make the return trip to the top of our street which is only about 200 yards. Sometime I have to carry him half way back. His wheezing is a very noticeable high pitched squeak and he sneezes, coughs and gags a lot. He seems to sleep well at nights. His last trip to potty is about 10pm and most mornings he doesn't wake me until 7:30.


The vet has given me meds to lessen his coughs but has not suggested meds for his heart. I will talk with him about this on the next visit but will have to wait until my next ss comes in.


Thanks again.
Trying to put the brain on a 13 year rewind. The meds my girl was given was for coughing, she was coughing so much I didn't know how she could breathe. I do remember it was a liquid med that had to be kept refrigerated, was every expensive and was only given a weekly supply. Every week I went back for a refill, blood work was done for kidney function. After 3 weeks she was put on a pill, less expensive and blood work was done once a month. In these past 13 years I am sure veterinary technology has progressed immensely.

Silver Lace 09-22-2015 12:33 PM
I had a poodle with an enlarged heart and she was put on Lasix. You can go online and google meds for a dog with an enlarged heart and get lots of info that way about what your dog is going through and what meds are available too.

Yorkiemom1 09-22-2015 06:13 PM
I had a baby with a ruptured cordae tendonae....severe valve issue caused by a broken "cord" that supports a heart valve basically.....and it is lethal....my vet put my little girl on Lasix and Vasotec and something else, that strengthened and slowed her heart rate, and increased its efficiency and cardiac output/stroke volume.......old woman memory issue.....and we slowed down on any strenuous activity....and with collateral circulation and whatever, my little lady lived an additional 8-9 years....and after about 1.5 years on her meds, and close supervision, she was able to get off the Vasotec, and we cut down the Lasix to 3 times a week....

With the proper treatment from a competent specialized vet, your baby's outcome is greatly enhanced.... take her to a specialist, or a vet school, and get specialized eyes on her....this can improve her chances of adapting or even overcoming her issue....that is the very best you can do for her, and regardless of what the outcome is, you can know in your heart and mind that you provided her the very best chance at an improved outcome......keep us posted.

Parti Peanut 09-22-2015 06:55 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1 (Post 4593146)
and something else, that strengthened and slowed her heart rate, and increased its efficiency and cardiac output/stroke volume......
Possibly Digoxin. That's what a human would be on.

Yorkiemom1 09-22-2015 10:47 PM
I do not remember it being Digoxin or Lanoxin.....seems it had more of an effect on after load and preload than Dig...........but as I am actually typing this, cobwebs are wafting to the side and it may...........very well have been Dig.....I am really trying hard to remember...... and it seems that I can vaguely remember that is exactly what it was!!!! Seems I can visualize that last little bottle of tabs in that group of three,........... and it was indeed Lanoxin!!!!

hdamurphy 09-23-2015 10:16 AM
Thanks to all who responded to my plight. It is good to know there are so many who are willing to help.


I started him on Lisinopril, (Vasotec), yesterday. He slept so soundly last night, that when I came out to check on him twice, I thought he had stopped breathing. However, this morning, he didn't wake me with his usual chirps but was sitting in his bed wait to go out for his morning pee. He sleeps a lot during the day, maybe effects of his cough meds, and still sleep well at nights.


Thanks again to all.


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