I found out earlier this month that Clifford has a heart murmur. He will be 14 in May so the vet wasn't too surprised. It was 1.5 on a scale of 1 to 6. I'd appreciate any symptoms of change others in similar situations have noticed. So far he doesn't have a cough, but his very soft whine has me concerned. At this point I know we are in the twilight but want to keep the quality as high as possible.
I'm not sure of symptoms but just wanted to say we are sending rays Clifford's way! He is such a trooper! :comfort:
Emma had one for the latter part of her life and it never stopped her we just had to remind them if she had to get whiff to get something done.
Roberta
I don't know about symptoms either, but I also wanted to send rays and kisses Clifford's way. He is such a sweetheart.
Don't know much about this, but sending lots of rays Clifford's way.
Rays are coming Clifford's way!
Heidi had a murmur about half of her life. She lived to be 15. It was not the murmur that finally got her, it was her kidneys. Towards the last year or two, she started getting short of breath and she was put on a medication but I can't remember the name of it. It fixed her right up. I bet Clifford will do just fine. I've had a murmur all my life (no meds, no activity restrictions, no symptoms) and I'm, well...let's just say I'm over 14!!!!
Awwww Cliffie - sorry I don't really know what to look for - but sending our sweet Clifford mega rays !!! Keep on truckin' dude !
Kisses for Clifford! :heart:
Dolly was born (so they say) with a heart murmer. She never was "the zip around the house" puppy dawg, but the girl could move if there was a kitty or possum in the yard. When she was first detected when we first brought her home, the vet said that is was mild and nothing at all to worry about and that Dolly would take care of herself. Maybe that's why she was my Big Bed Girl. How that hound loved to sleep. Anyway, I'm sure her symptoms probably got worse before her passing but what really got her was the growth she had in her gut. The heart murmer was not the biggest problem she had.
I bet Clifford will know how to regulate himself and will enjoy plenty of good naps. After all, isn't that what being a senior wiener is all about? ZZZZZzzzzzzz.
Ack! I know this is scary news for you! From a "human" perspective I've had a pronounced murmur (Mitral valve prolapse) since I was a "puppy" and haven't had any problems, just try to do what I can to maintain a "healthy heart".... keep the weight and stress down.
Although I haven't had this problem with my babies, I know that it is very common in aging, small dogs and is usually not a problem. Sounds like he has a low grade which is GOOD! The typical signs that things are going bad would be: heavy, labored breathing, bluish gums, heavy coughing, which are all indications of congestive heart failure. If any of these occur, the vet should check for an enlarged heart and would likely prescribe a diuretic to rid the excess fluid build-up.
Rays and hugs for Clifford!!!!!!
:heart: :heart: :heart:
Dawn & the terrible twosome
Rays coming for Clifford, along with some special belly rubs and EmmyLou kisses... I also have a murmur, and my Bodie was bron with one also... Like Dawn said, just try to maintain a healthy heart (which in my family is hard, as heart problems run in us), and maintian a healthy weight... Good luck Clifford... Just stay fit & healthy... Hugs sweet boy.... :comfort: :pray:
Don't panic!!
I have tried to post this a couple times, and ran in to problems. Hopefully it works this time!!
My Twinkie angel was diagnosed with one when she was about 11 or 12 years old. I discovered it when the night before she went for her blood tests to get the heart worm meds, she started making this noise that sounded like the horrible gurgling gasping noise some people make when they have pneumonia! I could hit it from the next room!! My vet(his bed side manners were quite lacking) told me very calmly she BLEW a heart valve!! He did then put her on a blood pressure med, i think it was annipryl? It was too lower the pressure and help with circulation to her legs. He said that it was about a 3.5-4.5. I also had 2-3 other vets check her, and I think the best number any said was 3.5. When I asked my vet if it was safe to walk her, he said OH, she will probably just keel over sitting next to you on the couch!! (he didn't say I could or couldn't walk her...but I took that to mean she was about to die then!!).She did live at least 3-4 more years since I did not lose her until she was 15 1/2!! As I have been known to say, she was a typical determined doxie!! She was NOT ready to go so she did NOT!! It did take at least a month before the sound went away, at least to the point that I could only hear it if i was right next to her. At some point it even quieted enough so i had to put my head to her chest to hear that gurgling!! Also she did have surgery after that at about age 15 for a squamous cell carcinoma on her one toe, and I think she also had dental work done at least a couple times. The vet may not have had the best bedside manner but he knew the latest anesthetic to use and what was the very safest. They only used the one that would allow them to bring her out of it immediately if she had any problems! When I lost her it was not really from either the cancer or the heart murmur.
I would say just have the vet keep checking to make sure it is not getting worse. If it is, they can probably try what they gave Twinkie.
As to other things to do, probably be more careful to not allow him to get really overheated and probably not get too carried away with heavy exercise(for a doxie at least). But it does not sound like Clifford's in that much trouble now. Just keep monitoring it. Hugs and prayers coming from here too!!
Auntydoxzz
Our Riley has a heart murmur, and it is not a cause for panic. He has a grade 4 on a scale of 1-6.
First of al, heart murmur ratings are rather subjective. I have had different vets call it anywhere from a 2 to a 4.
The vet told us that if he ever got to a 5 he would need daily medications. At 6, well, that is seriuos and would likely require surgery.
But it is not cause for panic!
Sounds like when my Twinkie angel was diagnosed they should have said at least a 5!! Because I could hear it beating from 10 feet away!! It is very possible though that the vet did not tell me a number. I was in such shock then because I had never heard anything that scarey before in my life!! It is one thing when someone's breathing gets that gurgly and raspy but for an internal organ to be that loud, it was really scarey. At that point especially from what the vet said, i exected to lose her in days or weeks. Am still very thankful we had a few more years after that!!
Auntydoxz