Worrying about heart failure...
 

On tuesday I went to the vet, my little Billy (5 months) is having a little cough and got som running from his eyes. The caugh sounds like he has something stuck, so I figured out that i needed to take him to the vet. Having trachea and kennel cough in mind.. He has got the shots that a puppy needs. Kennel cough is among other dogs now,and here in Norway it is usual to have outburst of kennel cough in january/february. I cant tell if some of the dogs that he have met is sick. He also belive he's a vacuum cleaner, eating dust and everything small that could fit in his mouth :eek:

The vet find that hair was getting in his eyes, nothing serious. Just needed to have some eye drops to relief the sensitive eyes. So far so good. She listened to his heart, nothing unusual. She made him cough, and found that he was a bit irritated in his upper airway. Maybe a mild kennel cough or because he is a vacuum cleaner. I said i was afraid that it could be something wrong with his trachea so she took an xray. The trachea was fine, no collapse. But she was unsure if the heart was a bit bigger than it should be. So yesterday a second vet looked at the pictures and thought he also saw fluid in his lungs. When i got the call I was silenced, but now my head is full of worries for my little boy :confused:

Next thursday there's scheduled an ultrasound. I'm not shure I can wait untill then... My head is going to explode soon because of all my toughts and worries. So now i'm writing to you, just need to get some frustration out!!

So sorry about my spelling, hope you understand what I'm trying to tell. You see I'm from Norway ;)

I'm hoping that someone has been thru the same thing, that someone could give me some advice. And that people care is also nice for me beeing in this situation. Feeling so scared...

I am so sorry Billy is going through this. I do not have any experience with this but just wanted to give you some support. Good thoughts and blessings to you both. ((Hug))

I have no advice....I will pray for you and your little guy! It is so sad, scary and heart-rendering when our babies are ill. Praying for the best outcome! I hope you feel the love and prayers being sent all the way to Norway!

Bless your heart!!!! FIRST: Calm down! It is going to be OK....
You say your baby is only 5 months old...did you get him from a breeder that has a health contract...the very first thing you will need to do is contact your breeder and let her know there may be a problem. See what kind of support you can expect to get from her. SECOND: You are doing exactly what needs to be done....you are a good mommie...you have gone for a second opinion...excellent! Get your second opinion and his supporting tests and conclusions. Do you have specialists there in Norway ....a cardiologist for dogs? THAT would be the icing on the cake, however your vet or the second opinion vet, may be knowledgable enough to get your baby on medications that will help his heart.... See if there is any way you can get the baby in before Thursday, simply for YOUR own peace of mind....if he has a cough that is attributed to fluid in his lungs, he may need to be on medication for that, sooner than later. Also, the "fluid" in his lungs could be perhaps something like a pneumonia....you would want to gewt that kind of issue diagnosed as quickly as possible...so maybe with these concerns you have, they will move your appointment forward. Stick close, keep us updated and we will help you get through this...and I think you did a FINE job with your spelling/English!!

Awesome advice!

prayers for you and lil billy. i hope everything turns out ok. if it is kennel cough it can take mutiple doses to get rid of it. i had to give my keylo four antiboitic bottles before her kennel cough completely gone.

Yorkimom1:
Yes, I have contacted the breeder today, and i call her again on thursday, when I know more. Couldnt call her yesterday because I would have a total breakdown if I did. I barely manage to keep calm when i told my husband. Inside where no one can see I'm crying.

Cardiologi, no... The nearest one is for humans and its a 2 hours drive... One way! So no there isnt any.

I would like to clear out som misunderstanding, it was the first vet that asked the second vet for its opinion. The second vet is a vet that is well reputated in the area and has worked as a vet for many years. (The first one I dont know anything about) The second vet is going to perform the ultrasound.

Tnx for you prayers!

He's eating very little, any tips?

Oh... Forgot....
I will call the vet on monday morning to check if they could do the ultrasound earlyer. Its closed during the weekend.

Have spent hours today on google searching on heart failure and fluid in the lungs. I'm not going to do that again, no more. Got so confused and sad after reading all the stories about the beloved dogs who got sick and the lack of treatment for many heart conditions :(

Tnx again for the love and prayers you all are sending, all the way to Norway!

Please keep so update we are all very concern for our furbabies when they are having any kind of a problem

yeah going online isnt always helpful. can you add something to his food that he likes.....boiled plain chicken...veggies he loves to entice him?? cut everything very small and mix with kibble. i cant remember the name of the stuff that you should have on hand.....nutrical...for low blood sugar...if hes not eating his needed meals a day..someone chime in please im a dunce after the last two days ive had. :D

I'm so sorry that your Billy is having problems! I know how scary it can be. You have already gotten some really great advice so I won't try to add anything just want you to know I think you're brave to look for help here and I am praying for you and your precious Billy!

sorry didnt mean to make light either i am sending many prayers.

Sending hugs to you and prayers for Little Billy. It is so scary when there is something wrong with our babies but try not to worry too much and make yourself sick. You are being a great Mommy and doing the best that you can for Little Billy.

I found these links but you may have all ready researched them
Diplomate List - ecvim-ca
Norwegian School of Veterinary Science | World Veterinary Association
Norwegian Small Animal Veterinary Association | Fecava
Veterinay Speciality Organizations and Specialist Colleges: Veterinary Associations, Societies, Academies in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, International

Do let us know how it goes.

I know little about Norway; but what I would suggest to a person who lives in Canada or the USA, is to get to your nearest Vet Hospital - prefera bly a teaching hospital.

And I care and many do here.

Alright sometimes with small breed dogs, the size of the heart can look a bit large on Xray. That is why it is best to have an expert look at them if you can.

Okay did this vet prescribe any treatment for fluid in the lungs?

Also I know Norway is cold. Is there a way you could limit his time outside?

Also with lung issues (if there are some) great humidity is good. 50% . Think about a bedroom humidifier.

And extra humidity should not hurt.

Keep us updated. and I so hope everything turns out well

[QUOTE=gemy;4116767]Do let us know how it goes.

I know little about Norway; but what I would suggest to a person who lives in Canada or the USA, is to get to your nearest Vet Hospital - prefera bly a teaching hospital.

And I care and many do here.

Alright sometimes with small breed dogs, the size of the heart can look a bit large on Xray. That is why it is best to have an expert look at them if you can.

Okay did this vet prescribe any treatment for fluid in the lungs?

Also I know Norway is cold. Is there a way you could limit his time outside?

Also with lung issues (if there are some) great humidity is good. 50% . Think about a bedroom humidifier.

And extra humidity should not hurt.
:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
As usual, Gail you have drilled down and touched on some VERY important facts....GREAT suggestions!

I would try to get an expert familiar with small breeds to look at your dog. Same thing happen to me when my dog was a pup...he was coughing etc took him to emergency vet they took an x-ray said his heart was enlarged diagnosed him with congenital heart failure. He had just turned two I was hysterical put him on meds. Made an appt with cardiologist for the following week.... she did ultra sound and everything was fine she said that small dogs hearts can appear large on x-ray....very happy he was fine but what a horrible week before seeing cardiologist....

Hope everything ends up ok with your pup!

I'm really sorry for what you you are going thru. That would be so scary. I hope everything turns out just fine for you and your pup.

I'll keep you posted.
The nearest teaching hospital is in Oslo, about 1490 kilometers away....
I do think that the vet performing the ultrasound is a good one, so I dont want to rush into something. He's been a vet for quite some years and i know pet owners that use him rather than their local clinic.

About the xrays. The first vet told me about the size and that it could look large on small dogs, thats why she wanted a second opinion and got the second vet to look at it. And he also sees fluid in the lungs. The vet did not prescribe any drugs, and I think its wise to wait for the results. Dont like giving drugs if he dont need them.

Its cold in Norway, so Billy gets only short time outside. A small play time in the snow, and going outside for the usual pee and poop things. Im trying to have him relaxed and calm. Oh, forgot to mention that when he goes out to play he has warm clothes on. If its really cold, he also have a warm knitted sweater under the fleece suit. Have also bought paw socks but havent tryed them on yet. Humidifier... Well, i have to think about that. He isnt coughing so much that it bother him.

Tnx for the good advices, the hugs and the links. Im going to the pet store today to see if they could have anything i could mix with the kibbles. What is nutrical? He's 5 months, could he get hypoglucemia? I read that after 4 months there is no danger....?? :confused:

Hypoglucemia
 

Yesterday Billy didnt want to eat his evening meal, i mixed the kibble with something he has eaten before. He did not want it, so i figured that he will eat in the end and let the food stay on the floor. He didnt eat any, and at 11.00 pm i tryed something else. He ate every bit of it, but right before he started to eat he shows signs of hypoglucemia... He's koordination was poor, the rear legs was weak and he stumbled. He did show some signs earlyer, but i didnt understand that much sleeping was a sign... When i realized whats happening i ran to my brother and got some honey, put it on his gums and let him lick some of my finger. I stayed awake to watch him til 02.30 am and gave him a little honey before we got to bed.

The local pet store didnt have puppy food in boxes, he loves the puppy pate (royal canin). Earlyer this week i bought a pate for adult dogs and blend it with the kibbles, but the next morning he womited. no diarrhea. I think i maybe gave him too much.. So yesterday i didnt have anything else than this food, and in desperation i gave him some with the kibbles. And now in the morning he ate just a small amount of the food, also mixed in with the same food. Its getting harder and harder to get him to eat... :(

Does anyone know things that i could try? Things from the normal household?

Hi there. I have Billy and YOU in my prayers.

Nutrical is something that can help if the pup gets hypoglycemia, which is what we worry about when they don't eat. It is good that you recognized the symptoms and gave him so honey, but if you don't get him to eat some protien, it's going to keep happening. Honey, Karo syrup, Nutrical (best) will need to be given every couple of hours. If they don't have Nutrical in your pet store in Norway, you might can order some online (I order mine online here in the U.S.).

But, please make him eat! He has to eat. What has always worked for me with mine (when she won't eat) is to get a little bit of boiled chicken broth and drizzle on the kibble. If that doesn't work, cut up the boiled chicken breast and a bit of rice and mix a little together. Billy will probably LOVE that so just don't let him eat too much at once if he starts eating.

Please try that and if it doesn't work, post again. We will all keep helping and thinking of ideas to get him to eat.

You are doing great!! Hang in there!

Yes stay away from the internet (except YT) and stay calm. I recently lost my pup to heart failure. I thought we were doing everything right but her problems were so severe....anyway, yes do call your vet and ask about a cardiologist, they may know of one. If not ask the other vet about the ultrasound, explain your hesitancy to wait. Beg if you need to. Until then monitor your pup, now I'm not saying to confine him but try to keep him from vigorous play exercise until this is done. I'm not a Vet but and I'm only speaking from what I think.

Please keep us posted.

Oh, so sorry to hear. Hugs and kisses are sent to you!

Did'nt have any chicken here at home, so I sent my husband out looking for some :p But he came home without any, there arent any open shops on sunday. Only kiosk and gas stations. My brother was my rescue once again, he had :D

So now i cooked it and cut it into small pieces, mixed it with his kibble and poured some chicken water over it. He ate almost everything <3
I'm gonna try to buy another food tomorrow, the one he got is royal canin for small pups. Maybe the vet has something.

Liver shunt?
 

Called the vet again this morning. They took him in to observe, measure his blodsugar and take blodtests.
Blosugar ok, but liver values is too high... They belive its something with his liver shunt... Now i really understand why he dont want to eat!

Got 2 boxes of food that the vet think we could try. Tomorrow morning its back to the vet for more testing, and they hope they could do an ultrasound on the liver during the day. The ultrasound on the heart is cancelled.

The blodtests result is (the normal result in clamps) :
Urea : (2,5-10,4) 11,4
Ggt : (0-2) 7
Lipa : (100-1500) 2058
Mono : (0,16-1,12) 1,62x10^9/L

Everything else was normal.

Cant think or write anymore now, just wanted to update you.
Thnx again for support, help and prayers. We really need it now.
Anyone with expirience on this? Please share, now i really dont know what to do...

I have no experience I just wanted to send prayers and best wishes.

Geez I'm so sorry that all this is going on, what is your vet recommending?

The vet is going to take a new test tomorrow morning. They will be measuring the acid levels in his blood, measuring before he eats his breakfast and again two hours later. After the test we would know for sure. They will also try to get an ultrasound, if possible.

liver shunt is a very rare condition in the scandinavian bloodlines. Very few have this condition.

When i post in here it takes hours before it shows here on YT. The otherday it took 6 hours... Why?

Prayers being said for your baby.
The reason for your posts taking awhile to show up, is because you are new. Your posts are modertaed at first to make sure you aren't a spammer. After you get a few more posts they will go thru wihout moderation.

I am so sorry your baby is going through this. I have no advise, but wanted to send prayers for Billy and ((HUGGZZ)) for you. Hang in there and please keep us posted.

I just wanted to say I'm hoping and praying your little guy will get the proper diagnosis and treatment he needs. I'm glad you finally found something he was interested in eating :thumbs_up: