My 12th Birthday!

I turned 12 years old today! My family is so excited for me! I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Disease when I was 5 and so they were thrilled when I made it to 10...but 12?!? WOW!! I even still try to act like a young pup! BOL!

I was at the cardiologist a couple weeks ago and had my 2 diuretics increased by half a pill each because of a little fluid in my lungs, but otherwise I am doing well! While there, my Stefi thanked the cardiologist for every they all have done for me...since it has helped me live a long, happy life! This was not my usual cardiologist so she could not believe it when Stefi said I had been diagnosed at 5 and was getting ready to turn 12! She said that shows that my family takes very good care of me and does a great job of making sure I get my meds! :-)

Thank you, Dogster Friends, for celebrating with me today!

Thank you, Huey and Family, for the steak! It was very yummy! :-)

Question...

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've written...My Stefi writes for me, but since she started working full-time in September, she's barely had time to get on Dogster/Catster!

Anyway, I've been doing pretty well since I started all my new meds. I made it through the first two weeks, which was VERY important because of all that fluid threatening to tear my heart! I will be going to the regular vet soon, so that can listen to my chest and make sure that the fluid really has reduced, because if not then I have to increase my lasix.

I am having one issue since I started these new meds (pimobendan and lasix). I am licking the carpet ALL THE TIME. I used to do this every now and then, but I was always easily distracted from that with my favorite spearmint rope toy. However, since starting these new meds, nothing distracts me from that carpet. The worst part is, the more I lick the carpet, the more I cough because of all the doggie and kitty hair! (Mommy and Stefi gave up hope a while ago of ever being able to keep the carpet hairless again! BOL) Has anybody ever heard of these meds causing this problem - carpet licking? I also started a new food when I started the new meds - Science Diet Mature Little Bites. We don't know if it's the meds or the food because I started everything at the same time, all we know is that I HAVE TO STOP LICKING THE CARPET! So, any adivce or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! :-)

My Visit to the Cardiologist

I have been coughing a lot lately, and we know that is a sign to watch for because of my MVD. So, Mommy and Stefi took me to the vet last week and she said that I should go see my cardiologist so that I could get another ultrasound done and get my meds switched around. I went to the cardiologist this past Wednesday. Here is my kitty nephews' (Harry and Albie) diary entry about my visit:


Toby was weighed and had his blood pressure taken when he first got to the doctor on Wednesday. He had gained back the 2lbs. he had lost and his blood pressure was good. Then, he had an ultrasound done followed by some x-rays. The ultrasound showed that his heart had gotten even bigger and that there was fluid in the sack that goes around his heart. The x-rays showed some fluid was backing up into his lungs from his heart, which explains his coughing. Since his heart is so much worse and there is now fluid in his lungs, he is considered to be in the beginning stages of congestive heart failure.

He has been on Enalapril since he was first diagnosed when he was 5. He is staying on that, and the doctor added Lasix to help with the fluid, as well as Pimobendan, which is supposed to help prolong survival of dogs in heart failure. He started the Lasix on Thursday and starts the Pimobendan on Monday. He also had his food switched to the Science Diet Mature Little Bites, since it has a lower sodium count.

As if it is not bad enough that he is starting to go into congestive heart failure, there is another issue because of the fluid in the sack around his heart. The doctor said that the pressure from this fluid can cause a small tear in his heart. We have to watch for the signs of this happening (trouble breathing, fainting) because if it does, he has to be seen immediately. The doctor said it can cause S***** D****. Hopefully, you all can understand what that means, Mommy and I are too upset by the thought of that to actually type it...However, during the next couple weeks, Toby is having to restrict his activity and is not allowed to exercise, take the stairs, play too hard, etc. This is so that the Lasix has time to "kick in" and get rid of the fluid since being too active with all that fluid in there can make him worse.

The doctor used 2 more words that Mommy says are words that you never want to hear a doctor say: "borrowed time". This is what she said that Toby COULD be living on. As long as the meds kick in, and he starts feeling better, we don't have to worry too much, though... Cavs live 10-12 years and he is 10. So, considering he was diagnosed with MVD at 5, he's really been doing very well. So, we are trying to be optimistic about the meds working - the Lasix already seems to be helping with his cough! In fact, on the web site for the US Cav club, it says that Cavs with MVD have been able to live up to 13-14 years old! So, we are keeping our paws and fingers crossed that this is the case with Toby.

Along with keeping our paws crossed, we know that that the power of purrs can be an amazing thing so we would like to ask all of our wonderful furiends to please PURR for Toby! Thank you!!


Toby here again: Obviously you doggies can't purr...but you get the point! :-)

Oh, and thank you to the kitties who have sent me gifts: Tiskers and the Family of The Drifter, Mouse, Purrdie, Muffin, Willow, Charley, Ellie, Flick, Toby, Bonnie, April, Merlin, Toby Too, Sylvester, Gazza, Tikka, Arri, Red, Smudge, Smokey, Pooh, Bruiser, Thomas, and Da Vinci. Thank you all so much for the thoughtful gifts! :-)

Please Help the Stafford SPCA!!

ATTENTION EVERYONE IN THE STAFFORD, VA AREA: Please go to the Stafford SPCA website at www.staffordspca.org and sign the online petition so that we can have our very own SPCA!! Thank you!

9 Years Old!!

It's my 9th Birthday today!! WOW!! :-D

Thanks to Dogster for the special birthday treats! :-)

Wohoo! I love peanut butter!!

Daddy and Stefi finally made fudge yesterday! :-D So, me and Daisy got to eat some peanut butter! We even got to lick from the jar! Wohoo! Stefi took pictures of Daddy feeding us the peanut butter - we'll get them posted soon!

Thanksgiving!

I am so excited Thanksgiving it almost here! Brian, Jason, and Zildj are going to be here on Wednesday and staying through the weekend! I can't wait to see them! And when Thanksgiving is over - it will be Christmas time! This is my favorite time of year - Daddy and Stefi make fudge every year at Christmas time ~ and they use Peanut Butter! This is exciting because they always let me lick the peanut butter jar clean after they've made the fudge! Peanut butter is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world and this the only time that I'm allowed to have some!!! I can't wait!!!

The Zildj!

I am so excited! I got to see my Brian this weekend and Zildjian is staying with us through next weekend! Zildj, Harry, and I are going to have so much fun together this week! :-D

A New Toy

I love when Stefi goes to the pet store! She always makes sure to bring me, Daisy, and Harry back something. Today she brought me a new peanut bone! I recognized the bag from the pet store as soon as she brought it into the house, but she wouldn't let me see inside right away. She wanted to wait for Daddy. So, I took matters into my own hands: I stole the bag from her and fished the bone out on my own!! (The video shows me doing this.) I then tried to get the package on my own, too, but they were afraid I would eat some of the package itself, so they ended up helping me. I was so excited! But, it only took me a couple hours before there was just a couple inches of the bone left! :-) Stefi almost threw it away but I convinced her not to. Big mistake! I put the whole thing in my mouth and starting choking! Stefi came to my rescue though and pulled it out for me. I was okay and Stefi threw the bone away after that. Whew! What a busy day!