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07-11-2006, 04:51 PM | #1 |
Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 15
| enlarged heart HI I TOOK MY YORKIE MAGGIE TO THE VET SHE KEPT COUGHING ALL THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WAS KENNEL COUGH TURNS OUT IT WAS A ENLARGED HEART HE HAVE HER MEDICATION AND COUGH MEDICATION COULD ANY ONE PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THIS CONDITION CAN THEY STILL LIVE HEALTHY LIVES HE SAID I CAUGHT IT IN TIME TO LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE EVERY THING I HAVE READ SAYS ITS NOT GOOD PLUS SHE IS COUGHING MORE THIS ALL HAPPENED AFTER SHE HAD A LITTER OF PUPPIES THANKS KIM |
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07-11-2006, 05:14 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 30K Club Member | My yorkie Zorro had an enlarged heart and lived to be 13 years old. Didi you get a second opinion from a specilaist? I would advise it. Good luck.
__________________ Cali Pixie Roxie : RIP Nikki; RIP Maya;RIP my sweet Dixie girl 1/17/08 http://callipuppyscastle.bravehost.com/index.html |
07-11-2006, 05:24 PM | #3 |
Luv my Angel, too! Donating Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: USA
Posts: 9,333
| I have no advice to offer, but I just wanted you to know that we'll be thinking about your little baby and hoping she will live a long, happy and healthy life with you.
__________________ Sissy & Angel |
07-12-2006, 09:52 AM | #4 |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: ENGLAND
Posts: 1,227
| Im very sorry to hear this,and i unfortunatley don't know anything about enlarged hearts,i just wanted to send well wishes to you and maggie |
07-14-2006, 10:49 PM | #5 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA
Posts: 2,992
| Kim - I work in Cardiology - and an enlarged heart can, indeed, be a very serous condition. And, it can be caused by many many different things. But - an enlarged heart can also be a temporary condition brought on by an illness or other problem and can return to normal. I suspect that since your vet said that you "caught it in time" and your pup will live a "healthy life" -- that that is exactly what he means. I wouldn't worry about it. Your vet may want to check your pup again in six months or so - or, he may not even feel this is necessary. You can still take her back in a few months and have her checked again - just so you feel better. I wouldn't be considering a specialist at all. In the first place, there are only something like 70 vets who specialize in cardiology in the US anyway - and secondly, you certainly don't need to do anything further unless your pup continues to have what your vet considers a serious heart condition. Again - don't worry! Your pup will probably soon be back to normal - with no problem at all. PS--- Several years ago - my sister's doctor told her that she had a slightly enlarged heart, but not to worry about it -- so she hasn't! (And - since then - she has had tests that no longer show any enlargement at all.) Good luck! Carol Jean |
07-14-2006, 11:07 PM | #6 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: none
Posts: 1,495
| I'm sorry that she has an enlarged heart. Maybe it could be from the stress put on from her first litter? How big is she? It's just a guess. I would listen to the vet, it sounds like she'll be fine. I don't think there's much you can do besides that. But if I were you I would get her fixed since she's not at optimum health. I would try to let her live the most peaceful life possible. I'm glad that she has a great owner that cares so much about her. |
08-05-2010, 04:29 PM | #7 | |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cedar Park, TX, USA
Posts: 5
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08-05-2010, 06:28 PM | #8 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA
Posts: 1,262
| In Jan 2008, my then 13 yr old IG was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. I had taken her to my vet for coughing too. Diane, my vet, did an xray and blood work. Blood work was fine, but the heart was enlarged. Opal started taking vetmedin, 1.25mg 2X a day. I asked Diane, who is also a pretty good friend of mine if I should take Opal to a specialists and she didn't think so. Opal usually gets an annual dental every Jan, but Diane did not want to do one because her heart was so enlarged and was afraid to put Opal under. I have aggressively maintained Opal's teeth with Petzlife, but her breath was still bad. It was killing me to know she had heart problems and bad teeth. I was afraid she had a fistula, which she did. I took her to an internist in March. He completely evaluated Opal and did a echocardiogram, ultrasound and xrays. And bloodwork. Bloodwork was not perfect, but not bad for a dog who will soon be 15. However, she had mitral valve prolapse, a mass in her abdomen and a mass cell tumor on her side. I felt like the floor fell out from under my feet when I heard all this. She also had a little fluid in her lungs and a few irregular heartbeats. Jory kept Opal on the vetmedin and also put her on enalipril 2.5 mg 2x/day, digoxin 1/4th of a .125mcg tablet 2x/day, and lasix 6.25mg 2x/day. The mass cell tumor was malignant and she did have an oral fistula. The goal was to strengthen and stablize her heart enough to do a dental, quickly. The tumor was removed under a local and was grade 2, which at her age, we decided not to do anything else as the avg life span is greater than what Opal's will probably be. It took about six weeks, but she was able to have a dental and she really did need it. She had several teeth pulled and the fistula was repaired. She is doing well in that regard. Jory said they really watched the heart monitor and Opal didn't have a single irregular beat, they were very pleased. So, Opal has been doing really well, until two weeks ago to the day. She refused her breakfast, and when I tried to get her to take her pills in food, she refused that too. I gave her the pills and noticed her breathing seemed labored. I called the vet and too her right in. Opal was in respiratory distress from fluid in her lungs and her pulse ox was in the 80's, very dangerous. She was put on oxygen and given lasix IV. They kept her overnight in order to keep her in the oxygen cage and I wasn't able to bring her home until the next afternoon by which time her pulse ox was 97%. Much better. Her lasix was also increased to 1.25mg 3X/day. She goes back next week for another evaluation. Also, I was told that if her respirations were more than 30/min when she was sleeping, to get her in asap or to an emergency vet. I can't tell you how many times I have checked Opal's respirations since getting her home and so far, so good. That is my experience. From all this, I would recommend a specialist. I don't feel I am paying that much more than I would pay my regular vet. The big difference is Jory has more diagnostic equipment than Diane and more experience with these types of cases. He's more cutting edge, in a way. He is also the vet Diane recommended I take my lymphoma dog to for treatment. Oh, I should say that Opal rarely coughs now.
__________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom |
08-11-2010, 07:47 AM | #9 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Cedar Park, TX, USA
Posts: 5
| Enlarged heart Kristan, Thank you for sharing this information. I am happy to hear Opal is doing so well. It is very encouraging. I will ask my vet about the vetmedin for Anna. We are living in Mexico right now, and our vet does not have all the things the US does to help Anna. There aren't any specialists here either. I love her very much, but it has reached a point where going to the US just for her isn't an option. I'm hoping for the best. Thank you again for sharing! Tenderhearted |
08-11-2010, 03:34 PM | #10 | |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | Quote:
Well I think you suspect and if not, do NOT breed your girl again. You did not mention how old she is. 2-3-4 yrs old, is very young to have a heart condition - it could be genetic. So potentially genetic heart defect, breeding with the stresses and strains on the heart, nope not a good thing. there are many causes of heart enlargement, but for some reason her heart has enlarged. The diet and exercise should be monitored. No overweight Mama over the long term as this stresses the heart. Look at reduced fat foods, insure you exercise her regularly.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 | |
08-11-2010, 03:44 PM | #11 | |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas
Posts: 7,982
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08-11-2010, 03:44 PM | #12 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA
Posts: 1,262
| You're welcome. I am kinda embarrassed I regurgitated so much information about Opal, but the only person I really told was her breeder. I think I just needed to get it off my chest, in a way. I really love Opal and I know how you must feel about Anna. I hope your vet can use some of the information for Anna. Good luck with Anna, please keep me updated on her progress. I hope you have Anna with you for many more years.
__________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom |
08-11-2010, 09:50 PM | #13 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
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Below is a link about holistic medicine and herbs. It is very heartwarming to see. I’m certainly not pushing them, but I know so many dogs that were able to be helped by Dr. Wen, the “Miracle Vet.” The clip is about 5 minutes on MSNBC with Susan Rappaport, and there is also a small article. I think the biggest thing I love about Dr. Wen besides his compassion and his dedication to helping animals is that he never gives up hope. You don’t have to go to this doctor to learn from what is being said here. TODAYShow.com - The 'Miracle' Vet
__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . | |
08-12-2010, 06:13 PM | #14 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA
Posts: 1,262
| Lisa, I'm truly sorry to hear of Ashley's passing. It sounds as though she had a great life with you. I pray I have Opal seventeen years. Oddly, my regular vet has prescribed Heart Qi Tonic that is a Chinese herb product. I have given it since Opal was first diagnosed. Dr Wen sounds like a great vet.
__________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom |
08-14-2010, 03:58 AM | #15 | |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York
Posts: 5,891
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__________________ Lisa and Katie Ashley 6/10, Gracie 2/04, Kiwi 10/03, and Jolie 7/93 . | |
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