HELP PLEASE My Yorkie has his heart too close to his chest cavity !!!
 

This problem was picked up on a routine health check pre booster vac, today.



The vet has said. Teddy's The sounds too loud on the left side, and our vet says it seems / sounds to be too close to the chest cavity, either the heart is enlarged, or the chest cavity is too small.

He has always been a little prone to get out of breath more quickly than I would expect a young dog to get. Our vet was aware, but nothing has ever shown up until now, he is only 3 years old.

I know you cannot make a heart smaller. But Can you make a chest cavity larger. The vet has said it is NOT a heart murmur.

We have had two Yorkies die from heart probs. (Not genetically related to each other or this one) All different parents.

If the heart cannot fit into the chest that is not a good look.


HAS ANY ONE HAD THIS WITH THIER BABY.

My dad died in April, My oldest Yorkie was put to sleep 4 weeks ago, and now this, my heart is breaking ....

I've not heard of this before, and maybe should be seen by a specialist. Wanted to let you know that I'm sorry!

Hi Thank you so much, I thought it was a little odd. Teddy is having an Ultra Sound and X Rays this coming Wednesday, But I am so worried, I thought I would see if anyone else had met this problem.

Thank you for caring

Excellent to get more tests! Keep us informed! Prayers sent your way!

I agree, see a specialist.

Since his heart and body have stopped growing and he's now 3 I would
think by keeping him fairly calm and not over stimulating him, like throwing
a ball etc for him to chase, he would be ok.
I hope that's so.
Good luck to him.

My deepest sympathies to you and your family for the loss of your father and Levi.

There may be a possibility that his heart might be in a slightly different location than most. I'm surprised that your vet didn't get an xray right away. And yes , my dog has a large heart compared to the size of his chest cavity. Due for another xray next week.

I am sorry about the loss of your father and your other Yorkie. I have never heard of this heart problem. You should probably track down a specialist and have him or her check out your baby.

Hi is your babies heart in the wrong place, or just too large for the chest cavity. How old is your baby, and what did the vet say the treatment and prognosis is. Like live expextancy

Im so sorry to hear this news. I have no knowledge of this type problem but wanted to send my best wishes.

Thank you, I hope you won't mind me asking but I have just seen the dates of your Max (My first Yorkie was called Max too) Your dates say Max (3/31/08 - 6/1/09) I am so sorry that you lost him so so young, It is so sad when they have had no life.

Thank you it means a lot to me.

Diana, I am so very sorry to hear about your sorrows. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers and say extra ones for little Teddy.

I wonder if the ultra-sound is the same or similar to an echo-cardiogram. My son has a congenital heart defect and he had regular echo's while he was growing up.

Please be sure to update us regularly. We genuinely care.

Thank you for caring, I am not sure if they are the same, the ultra sound, is like the sort we have when we are pregnant. The vet wants to see if the heart is enlarged and why, Or whether the chest cavity is too small to house his heart.

Both are a concern. I will update the post.

Peek a Boo will be 13 years old in December. His enlarged heart was discovered during a recheck chest xray to make sure his pneumonia had cleared up completely. Almost lost him to that. My vet aways said he had a strong heartbeat, that he could really hear it. Peek a Boo never exhibited any symptoms, so we never pursued it further. I adopted Peek when he was 5 1/2 years old from a Humane Society. With his heart being large, it takes up room that the lungs should have, but he's relatively active, hot, humid weather bothers him most of all. Actually, after the treatment for pneumonia (all the antibiotics) he's doing better than ever. On our last walk, he pulled me the entire way. He's never done that before! At 12 1/2 years, we didn't discuss life expectancy. I just almost unconsciously keep an eye on his tongue and gum color. He went purple on me quite a few times during the pneumonia, and I did basic resusitation and he would pink up real quick. But other than those times, he's never had a problem. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Maybe when I have the next xrays done, we may get more answers. If we do, I'll PM you or post in this thread. Good Luck.

Hi I will think of you and Peek a Boo

I guess I should learn basic resusitation, I don't know how to do that.

This may help!

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...uture-use.html

I am so sorry about all this. I loss my father as well.


About a year ago I came across a yorkie female.. she was 6 months at the time. Well we got her from a friend of a friend that found her. I took her to the vet, the vet heard something from her heart.. so we did xrays. well she had a heart murmur, he said it was a serious case, from there we did the ckg... she also had an enlarged heart... He gave her 4 months to live. He said the only thing we can do at that point is to see a specialist or give her pills every day... DH and I decided we would just give her a great life until that time came. Well we had her for about 3 weeks and with loosing my Dad and all my other emotional issuse I realized I couldnt let it get to that point where I had to put her down... DH co workers took her. We told them everything what was going on so they knew. Well about 7 months later DH contacted her family and he said she was doing great! So I know miracles happen. Dont give up hope!! I would really try to see a specialist!! :D:D It sounds like you are doing a great job dealing with all of this. I know how hard it is. I will be sending Prayers your way! Keep us posted

Yorkies can have larger hearts, but it sounds like it might be a good idea to get an Echo on your baby and an ECG to assess rhythm. Please keep us posted. :)

I am sorry for your loss too, I understand how you may of felt it was too much upset at once, and I am really pleased to hear that it is working out better than the first prognosis, that is lovely.

Hi I agree it is a good idea, My vet didn't like the sound of it at all. My other two died of heart problems, but they had murmurs, and heart valve problems, this is NOT that.

One died at 11 years old, and the other at 12 years old.

Teddy is only just 3 years old. It is SO young. That is why I am so upset, what life has he really had......

We will know more on Wednesday

UPDATE ON TEDDY

Teddy had an ultrasound today and the vet has said he has a level 1 to 2 murmur, although another vet we saw first, said he didn't have a murmur, they have reffered him to a cardiologist we have an appointment next Tuesday.

He will have lots of tests to see what is going on, the vet that did todays ultra sound said she wasn't a cardiologist so couldn't tell me if he had a PDA or not. This is what I wanted to know.


So more waiting, I decided not to let him have an X-Ray as I didn't want him having an aneasthetic until we know what is wrong with his heart.

So I don't know any more than I did before we went today. At least he is seeing a specialist soon.

I have had two Yorkies who had murmurs due to valve problems they got symptoms at the age of 9 (Both of them)

Teddy is 3, I want to rule out PDA and find out why he has this murmur. It is a worry, as I really hoped to know why today !

Thank you ALL for your support.

:aimeeyork:)

My Zeus has a "big heart". We discovered it when he was a puppy when we were trying to figure out his health stuff, which turned out to be inoperable liver shunts..he is doing great on both fronts. He doesn't like extreme heat or cold, but is now 8 years old and is living a happy life. juliet

You poor thing. You are going through a lot right now and I am so sorry for your loss. I remember when my Dad died I thought the pain would never go away.

Please keep us up to date on Teddy. The dear little guy sure did luck out getting a Mommy and Daddy that have lots of experience with heart problems and lots of love to care for him.

You will be in my prayers.
Hugs
L

I'm sorry you still have to wait for answers.
I didn't know heart murmur's were so common in Yorkies.
To think this is your third dog with a heart problem is very
sad. I will keep your baby in my prayer's and hope next
Tuesday you get some good results from the specialist.

Hugs to you,

Hi Diana,
I am so sorry for the loss you have experienced , losing 2 yorkie's with heart conditions, and now a young 3yr old yorkie, however, the testing will reveal so much more, and how to proceed , and care for your precious little yorkie.
My thoughts and prayers are with you . Please keep us updated on how things go .
mscat

Hi I am sorry to here that Zeus has his problems too, but it is great that he has a happy life, and is now 8 Well done to you. You clearly love him, and I am sure that helps them carry on fighting.

Diana & Teddy

Hi Lou


You are right it does seem at first the pain will never go away, it has been 6 months now, and it is easier than it was. Yes, he is our 3rd with heart issues, we have just been very unlucky, although little dogs are more prone to certain types of heart problems.

Teddy sees a cardiologist this coming Tuesday, 60 miles from home, so that's not too bad. I hope it isn't a PDA or something like that. We will know soon, it has seemed such a long wait to find out. We love him so much .... These little dogs sure do take our hearts don't they ..... You can't help but love then.

Thank you for your support it means so much .

Diana & Teddy

Hi thank you so much for your support, as you will know Yorkies can get several health issues, their heart can be one, in some. But others are OK.

Most of the time, they have been bred from before you find out, Thankfully
we did not stud out any of our 3 boys, so I have peace in knowing they haven't passed anything on to others.

I hope the news is better than it could be.


Thank you so much again.

Teddy & Diana

Hi

Thank you for your support. Yes it has been hard, three with it, and they are not even related to each other, Max & Levi had the same condition, heart valve failure, that was picked up at age 9 in each of them, we gave them the best treatment we could. Max lived until he was 11-1/2 and Levi until he was 12-1/2 so they lived 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 years with it. Some don't so we were pleased. We let them go when their quality of life was not as it should be, and as they deserved.

Teddy may have a different problem, we will know soon.

Thank you for your support, those of you of YT really do make it easier.

Teddy & Diana

My heart goes out to you and all you are dealing with!