Enlarged heart?

	Diablo ~I- have a- forever- home! Diablo really- means DEVIL in- Spanish?!?!     Barked: Fri May 9, '08 2:53pm PST   Can anyone out their ease our minds? Grandpa took me to the vet on Friday because I was coughing/sneezing. They detected a heart murmur and said my heart is enlarged. I have an appt. with a cardiac vet on Monday but everyone is nervous for me. Anyone been through this? Its a long time until 9 am Monday! my posts | my page | message me | my family's posts | treat me [notify]

	Ginger Totally Lovable     Barked: Fri May 9, '08 4:28pm PST   The two most common causes of heart disease in dogs are 1) the valves don't close all the way and some blood leaks back in, 2) the heart muscles are not strong enough to empty the left ventricle each time the heart pumps. Since it's an enarged heart, it sounds like #2. What happens is that since less blood is getting pumped to the body, there's lower blood pressure. The body compensates by constricting the blood vessels and retaining more water to increase the blood pressure. This is actually bad since it now makes the heart have to pump harder. And as a result the heart keeps getting bigger. But heart disease doesn't mean that they will definitely go into heart failure. There's no cure, but there are a lot of treatment options. Mostly to try to slow the process of enlargement. Depending on the level of the murmur, your dog may not even need treatment yet. I believe heart disease is actually not that uncommon in dogs. Best of Luck my posts | my page | message me | my family's posts | treat me [notify]

	Oliver -- My Beloved Dogs make you a- better human     Barked: Fri May 9, '08 4:44pm PST   Hi little Diablo...I am so glad to hear that you have an appointment with the cardiac vet. I think it is so important to get all of the info that you can on exactly what the heart is doing. When they found my heart murmur--I started meds; but once I had my ultrasound, they realized my heart was much worse than it sounded. In other words, Mom wishes she had done the ultrasound right away. Don't you worry though, I was much older and had some other problems; and your family is jumping right on this--coughing is definitely a symptom; but with the right meds, many dogs live long lives; and there is also a new miracle drug called Vetmedin that is helping so many dogs. (We tried it; but it was too late for me) There is another dog on Dogster who is using it and his x-ray showed his heart had shrunk. So, do not be too upset yet. There is much that can be done--just don't be afraid to ask all of the questions you have and to keep updating your vet on any changes of Diablo's behavior. Also, be sure to keep his teeth in the best shape you can--you don't want bacteria from his gums creating more of a problem. Hope this helps you--believe me--there are many dogs on here who are on heart meds and living great lives--a little slower maybe--but that is okay. We will keep checking on you and hope you will let us all know the outcome of your visit. my posts | my page | message me | my family's posts | treat me [notify]

	Fun On The- Run Kennel- Racing 08 Junior- Iditarod 14th!     Barked: Thu May 15, '08 12:38am PST   I have a dog who had a heart murmur earlier this year. We think it is Athletic Heart Syndrom with him though. Basically the heart gets so big from working out that the heart valve can not close so you get a backwash. We are going to get it checked out this summer. Best of luck to you! my posts | my page | message me | my family's posts | treat me [notify]

	Pepe Old Blue Eyes is- Back!     Barked: Thu May 15, '08 9:33am PST   I am so sorry to hear that Diablo but as Oliver says, it is good that you are going to see a cardiologist. They are the ones that know best how to treat this and will look, with ultrasound, how your heart is behaving. It will show anything abnormal and what is not working right. I am much older than you (14) and I have congestive heart failure - it was diagnosed a year ago. I am on various meds but there is a new medication which might be great for you as you are so young - it's called "Vetmedin" and it was cleared last year for use in the US (it had been used in the UK and Canada I think for a while). It has had really favourable results, so it is definitely something to bear in mind and talk to the cardiologist about (unfortunately it's not as cheap as some of the other meds available). Just you and your daddy keep calm and don't worry. If you get diagnosed early you will be able to get treatment and meds will help enormously. Your coughing might also be something called a collapsed trachea. But regardless of this, because of the coughing you should only ever wear a harness and not a collar (you may do this already). Good luck on Monday - and don't let your Grandpa worry too much. You take it easy and not too much running around until you have seen the cardiologist. Please let us know the results. my posts | my page | message me | my family's posts | treat me [notify]