Chagas - Anyone with experience?
 

We have a darling little foster who has been diagnosed with Chagas. I swear that I saw a thread about this recently, but for the life of me I cannot find it.

Does anyone recall? Or, does anyone have any experience with this that they can share?

He is a sweet little guy who was taken to the vet for an exam and to schedule a dental and neuter....he had abnormal heart sounds, so the vet sent him to a cardiologist and wham! Poor thing is a mess. :( He has no clinical signs yet..we are hopeful that this is a good sign....but from what I am reading, it is pretty scary. They did say there is no cure for dogs...they just manage the cardiac issues with meds if they can. We won\'t know about all of that until he has been evaluated further. He needs a Holter monitor which will be done this coming week.

Please keep Chewie in your thoughts and prayers....He is such a cutie pie. His foster mom said he is a total love. I swear we get some of the saddest cases any more......this was an owner surrender and we had no clue anything was amiss. We also have a little female who was just diagnosed with mammary cancer. :( Her name is Lola and she could use some prayers as well. Been a tough week.

Here are a couple of pics of Chewie...

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That's so sad :( keeping them in my prayers. They are adorable!

Chewie is adorable. I googled Chagas because I had never head of it. It boggles my mind that doctors are able to diagnose and distinguish these things from other illnesses.

Praying for Chewie and Lola.

What a sweetie sending prayers for all the YHR yorkies.

I just googled it also. Didn't know what it was. Wow I wonder how he got that. Those poor little Chewie. He is such a cutie. Good thoughts and blessings sent out to both Chewie and Lola

I had never heard of that. Poor guy!

Prayers going out for Chewie and Lola!!

Oh, I know. The cardiologist did an ECG and an echo and then did the blood work for chagas and tick born diseases. It sounded so bizarre to me...but right on target!

He was an owner surrender and came from the San Antonio area. This is apparently more prevalent there?? I don't know...just creepy that it is in Texas. Makes me very uncomfortable for sure.

Thanks! :)

Chagas Disease
I found this link....I had a patient with this long time ago...they had experta coming in from all over the country trying to diagnose what was happening with this patient.....they didnt get him diagnosed until autopsy. I am sorry about your precious little baby LJ....They seem to know more about the disease now than back in 1988 when I had that patient.....maybe they will be able to help her.....

There is no cure for it in dogs. :( They can treat the heart....I just have not been able to find out what happens in the mean time with the parasite. Next time I see my vet, I am going to ask her about it. The discharge summary for this little guy was a bit depressing to read...he clearly has some damage to his heart. Just have to wait and see what the Holter monitor says.

Oh no! Poor sweet baby. :(. He is so cute. Sending prayers for this little one.

Prayers for Chewy

Looks like when heart muscle is damaged, they have what we call "pump failure", where there just isnt enough strength for effective contractions of the heart muscle...this results in congestive heart failure, pulmonary congestion, etc. I am praying for your little Chewie....he is adorable.....

Linda you are amazing, prayers for Chewy and you...thanks for what you do for the pups...

Chewie is not my foster. He is with another Houston area foster home. I feel terrible for them because I have a feeling this might be a sad one. :(

Looks like Chagas is finally hitting our little Chewie. :( He spent yesterday at GCVS being evaluated by the cardiologist.

His heart is more enlarged and he is starting to build up fluid. They have added new meds and we can only hope and pray that they will make him comfortable.

We are committed to seeing that this little guy lives his final days being loved and well cared for. It will be hard on his foster family when he does make his journey to the Bridge, but they are very committed to him and love him to pieces.

Please keep him and his foster family in your thoughts and prayers.

I am praying for Chewie and Lola. So sad......

Lola is doing very well.

Chewie is the issue at hand...sadly there is nothing that can be done to save him .. there is no cure for Chagas. The best we can do is keep him comfortable for as long as we can.

glad lola is doing very well. :) i will keep chewie in my thoughts and prayers. also linda i hope you are doing good this week and being sure to take care of you sometimes also. :rolleyes:

Thanks...I am ok and knock wood so are my kids this week.

Sending prayers for Chewie and his foster family during this difficult time.