Congestive Heart Failure - Critical
- Thread starter Albie
- Start date
- Status
Kosmo's Mom
Super Boxer
Healing vibes are on the way from Kosmo & I.
Hey Belle, We hope you prove the cardiologist wrong and live a long & healthy life
Best Wishes to your family.
Hey Belle, We hope you prove the cardiologist wrong and live a long & healthy life
Best Wishes to your family.
my_boy_sonny
Boxer Pal
Hi there I am from glasgow and have a boxer boy sonny who is 1yr and 3 months. We found out when he was 6 months that he had a heart murmur, he was sent to the cardiologist and we were told he had mild to moderate murmur but nothing too serious but they would have to keep an eye on it. He went for his check up last monday and the news was bad - his heart murmur is now severe and we were told to restrict all exercise. I was devistated and although he wasn't to be medicated -as he isn't showing clinical signs- the cardiologist said that he would probably start showing signs at some point and it would be sooner rather than later.
I was absolutley broken hearted and still am. I really feel for you it just tears you apart. What hurt me the most was all the plans I had for my little man. I just wanted to see him grow old with a little white beard and when the vet said that his chances were slim all I could do was think of the worst. Its been hard but we have decided I would rather sonny was happy even if it means he is not here as long as I would like him to be. We are only cutting back slightly on the exercise and still letting him have his fun.
There hasn't been a day yet when I haven't been in tears but each day gets a bit better and I can't allow myself to be negative I have to believe that I will have him for a long time yet. I say a little prayer for him every night and I have faith that he will get through this. Miracles do happen you just have to believe in them.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love Sam and big boxer kisses from sonny xx
I was absolutley broken hearted and still am. I really feel for you it just tears you apart. What hurt me the most was all the plans I had for my little man. I just wanted to see him grow old with a little white beard and when the vet said that his chances were slim all I could do was think of the worst. Its been hard but we have decided I would rather sonny was happy even if it means he is not here as long as I would like him to be. We are only cutting back slightly on the exercise and still letting him have his fun.
There hasn't been a day yet when I haven't been in tears but each day gets a bit better and I can't allow myself to be negative I have to believe that I will have him for a long time yet. I say a little prayer for him every night and I have faith that he will get through this. Miracles do happen you just have to believe in them.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Love Sam and big boxer kisses from sonny xx
geordiegirls
Boxer Pal
Hi Georgia
Belle's diagnosis sounds almost identical to My Ruby's. Her heart is also very enlarged. As I said before she has really responded well to the meds but our cardiologist said that the digoxin he had prescribed takes a week or two to start working on the heart muscle properly but we did see quit a vast improvement after about 10 days. Like you, we just want to keep her well and enjoying life for as long as possible. Its two weeks since we were at the cardiologist and we're due back on saturday when he is going to talk to us about a holter monitor. Apparently its quite crucial to get an accurate heart rate reading to make sure the dosage of meds is right to ensure the best results also he mentioned a food supplement which has had good results in a lot of dogs with this problem. He just wants to make sure she is stable before going down these routes. I will let you know more when we have been. I'm thinking of you all, we are a couple of weeks further down the line than you so I know how devastated you are feeling at the minute but hang in there and try to be positive. Hope you get Belle home for all those cuddles you all need.
Julia x
Belle's diagnosis sounds almost identical to My Ruby's. Her heart is also very enlarged. As I said before she has really responded well to the meds but our cardiologist said that the digoxin he had prescribed takes a week or two to start working on the heart muscle properly but we did see quit a vast improvement after about 10 days. Like you, we just want to keep her well and enjoying life for as long as possible. Its two weeks since we were at the cardiologist and we're due back on saturday when he is going to talk to us about a holter monitor. Apparently its quite crucial to get an accurate heart rate reading to make sure the dosage of meds is right to ensure the best results also he mentioned a food supplement which has had good results in a lot of dogs with this problem. He just wants to make sure she is stable before going down these routes. I will let you know more when we have been. I'm thinking of you all, we are a couple of weeks further down the line than you so I know how devastated you are feeling at the minute but hang in there and try to be positive. Hope you get Belle home for all those cuddles you all need.
Julia x
Albie
Completely Boxer Crazy
Sam and Julia--thanks for sharing your stories. It is comforting to read about others who are having success in dealing with similar problems. Belle does have to stay another day in the ER. They tried to get her off of the oxygen but her blood oxygen level dropped to 82% so they decided to put her back on the oxygen. We did go to the clinic to visit her today and it just broke my heart. Since she feels so much better than she did yesterday, she was back to giving kisses and boxer wiggles. You look at her and she appears to be perfectly normal. I am just sick at heart over this. Please keep sending your prayers for Belle since she needs them now more than ever.
Albie
Completely Boxer Crazy
Good news everybody -- Belle is home from the hospital. She was so happy to be home. She was bounding around the house picking up toys, giving kisses and acting like her usual puppy self. It was such a relief to see her like this, and it is so unbelieveable that she can be so sick. She is on quite a number of meds -- sota
, enalapril, lasix and an antibiotic for a mild case of pneumonia. In a week, we go to our regular vet for an ECG, blood work and chest x-rays. If those look good, we will begin adding Digoxin into her meds. The cardiologist talked to us about nutritional supplementation also, but she doesn't want us to start any of these things until her meds are well established (in about 2-4 weeks). She suggested we add Taurine (250 mg twice a day), L-carnitine (1 gram twice a day), and Co-enzyme Q (25 mg three times a day). About a half hour after Belle's meds this morning, I noticed that she went to lay down and was shaking a bit and I could hear a little whistling noise when she exhaled. I checked her gums and they were pink, so I covered her with a blanket because I thought she might be cold. I was going to phone the vet immediately, but decided to wait a bit, and after about 15 minutes things seemed better. I'm guessing the whistling noise is from the fluid in her lungs, but I can tell I will be nervous and scared for her for a while. If this happens again, I will call the vet. Thanks again everyone for sending your thoughts and prayers to us. Belle is living proof that they work!
, enalapril, lasix and an antibiotic for a mild case of pneumonia. In a week, we go to our regular vet for an ECG, blood work and chest x-rays. If those look good, we will begin adding Digoxin into her meds. The cardiologist talked to us about nutritional supplementation also, but she doesn't want us to start any of these things until her meds are well established (in about 2-4 weeks). She suggested we add Taurine (250 mg twice a day), L-carnitine (1 gram twice a day), and Co-enzyme Q (25 mg three times a day). About a half hour after Belle's meds this morning, I noticed that she went to lay down and was shaking a bit and I could hear a little whistling noise when she exhaled. I checked her gums and they were pink, so I covered her with a blanket because I thought she might be cold. I was going to phone the vet immediately, but decided to wait a bit, and after about 15 minutes things seemed better. I'm guessing the whistling noise is from the fluid in her lungs, but I can tell I will be nervous and scared for her for a while. If this happens again, I will call the vet. Thanks again everyone for sending your thoughts and prayers to us. Belle is living proof that they work!
Austin's Mom
Boxer Insane
That's great news! She may experience some side effects of the meds until her body gets used to them. Give her a hug for us, ok?
- Status