Winky has an Enlarged Heart & Liver - YorkieTalk.com Forums

fasteddie · 09-23-2011, 02:22 PM

Winky, who's 5 now and who's been very healthy and vibrant all his life, just started having breathing issues about a week ago, like it was hard for him to catch his breath. We didn't think much of it, as sometimes after playing really hard, he would be like that, but it would always go back to normal after 5 or 10 minutes. Or we thought it might be allergies or something minor. But it continued on this time, and he even fainted for a few seconds after running around the house a few days ago. So he's definitely been on a less active lifestyle the past week. He loves to run around in our yard or just play fetch all day long.

We took him to his regular vet, and x-rays showed he has an enlarged heart and liver. Winky reverse sneezes quite a bit, but the vet wasn't worried about that at all. He was put on antibiotics. His blood results showed everything was normal and his other organs are completely fine and he doesn't have any viruses or ringworm or anything like that. We have not yet received the stool sample results. But he's continued to have trouble breathing. The vet did not sound very optimistic about his condition. He does not have collapsed trachea, just his heart is too big near where the trachea splits into two and it presses up against it. He also mentioned the xray looked like his liver was enlarged. Even at rest, his heart rate is about 60 to 70 beats per minute. When he is up and about, it can get as high as 100 beats per minute (without any strenuous activity or running), both are pretty high for him.

It's sad to see Winky not be able to breathe normally and Winky absolutely LIVES to play fetch, which he can't do now (or perhaps ever again)... Last night, in the middle of the night, we awoke to hear Winky gasping for breath. It was so heart wrenching to see him suffer.

We feel so helpless right now.

Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts.

fasteddie · 09-23-2011, 02:24 PM

We will probably take him to get an ultrasound on his heart as soon as we can.

MaddiesMommie · 09-23-2011, 02:27 PM

Aw, this makes me so sad.

It is so hard to see one of my kids suffering. I will certainly keep Winky in my prayers. Bless his heart for having to give up a joy of his life. Please keep us updated on this lil guy.

Patti · 09-23-2011, 02:31 PM

I am sorry to hear about Winky. Can your vet recommend a cardiologist? They have much more experience in these type of conditions. I will keep him in my prayers.

Sandysbabies · 09-23-2011, 02:31 PM

I am so sorry about little Winky. He is still so young and it will be hard probably to keep him from wanting to run and play. Our little Tina had a heart murmer when she was younger and they told us not to let her overexcert. Its hard when they have the energy for alittle while but she is now 14 and tires out real easy. Hope he feels better soon and will pray you will have more years with your baby.

fasteddie · 09-23-2011, 02:37 PM

Thank you very much for your kind words and encouragement and support. It means a great deal to us.

Thanks for the suggestion, Patti, I do believe the vet said they would refer us to a place with a cardiologist and somewhere that they can do an ultrasound for Winky.

alaskayorkie · 09-23-2011, 02:44 PM

This breaks my heart. Winky is much to young to be struggling like that. Your family and Winky are in our thoughts. Thanks for letting us know, and please keep us updated.

JMuedog · 09-23-2011, 02:47 PM

I hope the ultrasound and specialist will be able to tell you more. I can't even imagine how hard this is on you all.

Will keep you and Winky in my thoughts and prayers.

Maximo · 09-23-2011, 02:50 PM

Sending prayers for Winky that the cardiologist will give you a more optimistic prognosis. Your family will be in my thoughts.

roseslevi · 09-23-2011, 02:54 PM

Seattle Veterinary Specialists | Cardiology

www.svsvet.com/services_cardiology.phpCached - Similar-

Maybe these specialists could help?

linda44 · 09-23-2011, 03:01 PM

Im so sorry to hear about Winky. He and you will be in my prayers.

jencar98 · 09-23-2011, 03:15 PM

I'm sorry. This has got to be so scary for Winky and your family. We'll keep him in our thoughts, and hope for some positive news for you all.

kdhawks · 09-23-2011, 03:19 PM

I am very sorry to hear about sweet Winky's heart problems. I will be thinking of him and the rest of your family.

jfalz73 · 09-23-2011, 03:30 PM

So sorry to read about Winkys trouble with his breathing....i know you must be so worried about him...

i will keep him and you in my prayers...

roseslevi · 09-23-2011, 03:34 PM

Forgot to add...sending prayers as well.

09-23-2011, 02:22 PM	#1
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	Winky has an Enlarged Heart & Liver Winky, who's 5 now and who's been very healthy and vibrant all his life, just started having breathing issues about a week ago, like it was hard for him to catch his breath. We didn't think much of it, as sometimes after playing really hard, he would be like that, but it would always go back to normal after 5 or 10 minutes. Or we thought it might be allergies or something minor. But it continued on this time, and he even fainted for a few seconds after running around the house a few days ago. So he's definitely been on a less active lifestyle the past week. He loves to run around in our yard or just play fetch all day long. We took him to his regular vet, and x-rays showed he has an enlarged heart and liver. Winky reverse sneezes quite a bit, but the vet wasn't worried about that at all. He was put on antibiotics. His blood results showed everything was normal and his other organs are completely fine and he doesn't have any viruses or ringworm or anything like that. We have not yet received the stool sample results. But he's continued to have trouble breathing. The vet did not sound very optimistic about his condition. He does not have collapsed trachea, just his heart is too big near where the trachea splits into two and it presses up against it. He also mentioned the xray looked like his liver was enlarged. Even at rest, his heart rate is about 60 to 70 beats per minute. When he is up and about, it can get as high as 100 beats per minute (without any strenuous activity or running), both are pretty high for him. It's sad to see Winky not be able to breathe normally and Winky absolutely LIVES to play fetch, which he can't do now (or perhaps ever again)... Last night, in the middle of the night, we awoke to hear Winky gasping for breath. It was so heart wrenching to see him suffer. We feel so helpless right now. Please keep him in your prayers and thoughts. __________________ YODA & WINKY R ::: RIP Winky ::: RIP Yoda!

09-23-2011, 02:24 PM	#2
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	We will probably take him to get an ultrasound on his heart as soon as we can. __________________ YODA & WINKY R ::: RIP Winky ::: RIP Yoda!

09-23-2011, 02:31 PM	#4
Patti Donating YT 30K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Illinois Posts: 35,509 Blog Entries: 6	I am sorry to hear about Winky. Can your vet recommend a cardiologist? They have much more experience in these type of conditions. I will keep him in my prayers. __________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html

09-23-2011, 02:37 PM	#6
fasteddie *YT 6000 Club Member* Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 6,238	Thank you very much for your kind words and encouragement and support. It means a great deal to us. Thanks for the suggestion, Patti, I do believe the vet said they would refer us to a place with a cardiologist and somewhere that they can do an ultrasound for Winky. __________________ YODA & WINKY R ::: RIP Winky ::: RIP Yoda!

09-23-2011, 02:44 PM	#7
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	This breaks my heart. Winky is much to young to be struggling like that. Your family and Winky are in our thoughts. Thanks for letting us know, and please keep us updated. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

09-23-2011, 02:27 PM	#3
MaddiesMommie LoveMy2 Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: East Tennessee Posts: 4,060	Aw, this makes me so sad. It is so hard to see one of my kids suffering. I will certainly keep Winky in my prayers. Bless his heart for having to give up a joy of his life. Please keep us updated on this lil guy.

09-23-2011, 02:31 PM	#5
Sandysbabies YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,234	I am so sorry about little Winky. He is still so young and it will be hard probably to keep him from wanting to run and play. Our little Tina had a heart murmer when she was younger and they told us not to let her overexcert. Its hard when they have the energy for alittle while but she is now 14 and tires out real easy. Hope he feels better soon and will pray you will have more years with your baby.

09-23-2011, 02:47 PM	#8
JMuedog Love My Little Cuties Donating Member Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charleston, IL Posts: 9,899	I hope the ultrasound and specialist will be able to tell you more. I can't even imagine how hard this is on you all. Will keep you and Winky in my thoughts and prayers. __________________ Jenni Finnigan & Gwenndilyn Forever in my heart

09-23-2011, 02:50 PM	#9
Maximo ♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 25,047	Sending prayers for Winky that the cardiologist will give you a more optimistic prognosis. Your family will be in my thoughts. __________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy

09-23-2011, 02:54 PM	#10
roseslevi Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: E. Falmouth, Mass Posts: 2,102	Seattle Veterinary Specialists \| Cardiology www.svsvet.com/services_cardiology.phpCached - Similar- Maybe these specialists could help? __________________ Rosemarie, Levi and Lily "The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals" ~ Anonymous

09-23-2011, 03:01 PM	#11
linda44 Luv my 7 Furkids Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: napa Posts: 9,655 Blog Entries: 4	Im so sorry to hear about Winky. He and you will be in my prayers. __________________ Linda, & furbutts http://www.sketchesbybarney.com

09-23-2011, 03:15 PM	#12
jencar98 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 6,435 Blog Entries: 3	I'm sorry. This has got to be so scary for Winky and your family. We'll keep him in our thoughts, and hope for some positive news for you all. __________________ ~Ruby, Reno, Razz, & Jack~

09-23-2011, 03:19 PM	#13
kdhawks Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,359	I am very sorry to hear about sweet Winky's heart problems. I will be thinking of him and the rest of your family. __________________ katy&levi

09-23-2011, 03:30 PM	#14
jfalz73 Owned by my yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Coats, NC Posts: 5,001	So sorry to read about Winkys trouble with his breathing....i know you must be so worried about him...i will keep him and you in my prayers... __________________ My little dog-a heartbeat at my feet. -Edith Wharton jeanne BrooklynBenjamin

09-23-2011, 03:34 PM	#15
roseslevi Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: E. Falmouth, Mass Posts: 2,102	Forgot to add...sending prayers as well. __________________ Rosemarie, Levi and Lily "The purity of a person's heart can be quickly measured by how they regard animals" ~ Anonymous