Please I need all the help I can get..Right Side Heart Failure
 

After spending 10 days in critical care 3 days after she gave birth, she is now in heart failure. She went in with severe anemia, they found she had the right side of her heart enlarged. They did 3 echos and saw it was working properly so they did not treat it. They said it may be a rare condition that humans get post partum and it reverses itself. They found she had a hard time oxygenating her blood so she was put in oxygen for several days. They said she may have some sort of infection but they don't know what because her symptoms are not consistent and throws them in different directions. They released her after only monitoring her 24 hours out of oxygen and a few hours later I ended right back in the emergency room because she was not breathing correctly and they had to tap her fluid around the lungs. That was around 10pm. The next day (yesterday) I saw the same signs again early in the morning. I called the hospital and was told not to worry several imes, that it was normal because her lungs are healing. I went to my vet because I was still very concerned and he talked them and said trust them. I decided to go to another vet a few hours later and this one told me I don't care what anyone says, this is NOT normal. If I were you I would take her. So I did, and ofcourse I was right. She had 188 ML of fluid removed. Today I took her in again at 11am ..12 hours later and they removed 150ML. This is not good at all. They did another echo and now find that he rght side of the heart is alot worse. They said this condition is rare. There is no medication out there for it. But they were willing to try to start her on a trial and put her on the same meds of left side heart failure being that they reat the same valve problem. I have diuretics also. I need to know if ANYONE has ever had this problem.. I need to know if there is any specialist that has experienced this before. This is not a dog or pet...This is my baby. She is only 5. She is part of my family...I can not lose her. I'm trying so hard to stay strong for her and help her live. I really need to know how to find a specialist that has dealt with this specific disease. I would appreciate any input. No One knows how or what caused this problem...She is the first case they had. We live in NJ. The hospital she is attending is the Animal Medical Center of NY .

I wish I had an answer for you:( My heart goes out to you. You and your baby is in my prayers.

This is what think from what you say and my experience with a sister that is anemic and a 12 yr old yorkie with a heart condition for years now and doing good.

First you said she just gave birth and is very anemic from what I know when you are in this condition your heart beats faster or any effort to do anything makes you heart race that in very severe case can cause heart attack.
Think this is what started the whole thing.

Second when the heart is over worked it gets enlarged my Buffy has a heart murmur and has this problem, and because the heart is not working right water builds up in their chest. Medication controls both things.

Third when Buffy's was real bad before being on meds she was going thru similar symptoms having problems breathing because with en enlarged heart and a chest full of water everything was pushing the trachea (air way tube) up and behind it is the spine so it makes a very narrow air way.

I think if they can just control the water with meds and give her heart meds to slow down the heart, and treat the anemia with time she can be taken off the meds. Right now she needs rest with very lil movement.

I use to carry Buffy's medical records with me because sometimes we need to go to the emergency and in case we would end up in emergency room where she had never been seen before which is what happened once and lucky I had the resent emergency papers on me so they knew right a way how to treat her.

But anyways if you need to talk I will pm you with my phone # and feel free to call.

Best Wishes,

I had a female have something similar to that several years ago after having a litter. Her pups were about 3 weeks old when she started having problems. The vet thought it was caused by hormones. She started having difficulty breathing and she swell up really bad with fluids. The vet said she had a enlarged heart. Twice, a week apart the vet had tap to her abdomen and drain off all the fluids. He put her on two medications, I don't remember what they were but one was for the fluid retention and one was for her heart. We took the pups away from her and as she slowly dried up she got better and better. We slowly back off the medication and after about 6 months she was completely back to normal. The vet then said her heart was not enlarged and she was back to normal. We had her spayed and she has been just fine ever since. Did you female have any oxytocin during her delivery? I pray she will be okay.

First I would like to thank everyone for the responses. Yes she received a shot of ocytosin the day after delivery. What everyone finds confusing is redacted that the right side of her heart is enlarged. There is medication for left side CHF because it is more common. The only know breeds to have the right side enlarged have been very large dogs such as st. Bernard and dobermans. I'm sorry I have not replied earlier. I'm sure everyone knows how stressful it is to take care of a very sick mommy while feeding 4 puppies for her. I am on my way again to the hospital as we speak to get her tapped again. I have noticed her breathing heavy again.

I will be praying for your girl. Please don't lose hope. My vet had to adjust my girl's medication a couple of times in the beginning. I never though she would be normal either because of all the fluid she had around her lungs and in her abdomen. It sounds like your girl is much worse than my girl was. Please keep us posted.

Update
 

Hi everyone
I wanted to give an update to anyone who was interested. I suffered for the next 2 weeks trying to have Chinky hold on until I was able to get a cardiologist to see her. I switched to 5 different vets who were able to perform chest taps, because after a few days they eac would tell me to put her to sleep. I could not understand how they could tell me to do suc a thing when her only issue was building up flyid around her lungs. Other than that she was acting normal and was in great spirits. I would have maybe considered it if I saw her suffering, but the look she gave me was more of confusion rather than sickness. I don't know if many of you could understand what I'm saying, but I KNOW I have a connection with her. She is not just my pet. She is so much more. I ca tell if she feels bad or sick or down. I can tell when she is in a great mood and when she is mad at me. I could swear she speaks to me!!! I'm not crazy, lol, but I really do know her. I knew not to give up on her.....Well, I ended up getting a cardio to look at her 1/5. Everyday before that she had 170-200ML of fluid removed from her chest. I prayed so hard for her to pull through. After my visit, he increased her meds. The next day I was very surprised to find that she had not build up any fluid. I kept my fingers crossed and guess what?? She went 4 days FOR THE FIRST TIME without having to have a chest tap. The great part was that when they did remove fluid it was only 80 ML. That was great news for me. Well, after that day, it has now been 11 days and she has not had a tap again. GOD WAS LISTENING TO MY PRAYERS!!!! I have been researching every good food possible to feed her. I have give her natural stuff that is high in anti oxidants and omega 3 and diuretics. The puppies are amazing. They are so wonderful. They really believe I am their mommy. They light up when they smell me around the corner!!! Well, I did feed them since birth!! I know there is a long road ahead, but I feel blessed right now. Trust me I thank God everyday in my heart for what he has given me and I don't take anything for granted. As repayment and gratitude I share what I can in donations to Haiti. No one can tell me how Chinkie got right heart disease, but all the doctors do agree that she is a very rare case. They may even write a case on her. I speculate that it was induced from an overload of IV fluid. I just want her to be better. She is my heart along side my daughter. I will continue to do what I can and more for her so that she can pull through. If ANYONE has had a yorkie with right-side CHF please write back.

Thank you SOOO much for giving an update. It sounds like Chinkie is a miracle for SURE! Wow... I love your attitude and instead of a why me why did this happen to my girl you went out and MADE SURE she got the help she needed! Vets are here to help us, but they don't know our babies like we do. Sometimes a 2nd, 3rd or in this case 5th opinion is needed! You are a great Mommy to Chinkie and her babies!!

I am just seeing this now but I am so glad she is getting better. Thank God you knew better than those other vets that she would pull through. These are our babies and we have to go with our instincts.

I'm just reading this now, what a heartwrenching ordeal you and your baby have been through. I'm glad to read she is improvig:)
I do know the "connection" you have with her, i had it with my last yorkie and I swear she talked to me through her eyes:)

God Bless you and your baby and may she continue to improve

What a wonderful update! I pray that she continues to do well.

Is this an inherited condition? Are the puppies at risk?

I too am just reading this. My goodness what you and your baby have had to go through! I can't imagine how hard it had to be. I am so so happy that she is doing better now! Please keep us updated on her and her little babies.

I am so glad Chinkie pulled through and her puppies made it because of you. :)

I totally understand the connection of which you speak. You're not crazy.:) I'm so glad you were persistant and didn't allow them to talk you into something you knew you didn't want to do. Good for you and I hope she continues to improve. Take care...

What an amazing update :) :) :).

I am so sorry I didn't see this the first time you posted - it looks like it was right at Christmas, so that's probably why - but really, it looks like you needed support.

You and your kiddo (not to mention the pups!) have been through a lot - I hope things continue to improve and that we hear more and more positive Chinky updates :).

So, is she mostly on diuretics or also drugs that help her heart pump more efficiently? So glad something is working.