Meningitis/Heart Murmur

[ZoeyandWiley]

Hello all, I am new to the forum and could use your support on some of the issues we have been dealing with with Ms. Zoey. About 3 months ago she was diagnosed with Steroid Responsive meningitis. It was a long gruelling battle to come to the final diagnosis. Her symptoms included not eating, not moving, she would yelp in pain if she moved or you tried to move her, she walked as stiff as a board. It took 3 vets to finally diagnose her. Kansas State Teaching Hospital was our lifesaver. After numerous vets telling us it was just an infection and numerous antibiotics that did not work I got fed up and took her there. She is not taking prednisone daily and is back to her normaly cheery self. She has lost a lot of hair on her belly due to being on the medicine. I call her my nakey baby. At the last vet they informed me that they have a heard a heart murmur on her last several visits and that we should really see a cardiologist because they thought it was intermediate in grade. I went home and researched murmurs and I have seen many symptoms of a murmur that I previously missed. Collapsing on a jog (I just thought she was being lazy), always draging behind on walks, heat intolerance. Has anybody had any experiences with murmurs. Her appt to see the cardiologist is in 2 weeks (Aug 12) But in the meantime I am worrying myself sick as to what is causing her murmur :( I have also noticed that she breathes very rapidly. Especially when sleeping. Almost 30-40 times in 30 seconds. Is this another symptom possibly. I read that their breathing rate is suppose to be that in 60 seconds. Please share your experiences either positive or negative to help me understand what is going on with my baby and how she is feeling. Is there Anybody else that has experienced these symptoms?

 

[Cami]

All of the symptoms you have described have the potential to be a symptom of "something" just like a murmur is a symptom of an underlying heart issue.
Occasionally a murmur is benign and won't cause any problems or can be a direct sign of something very serious.

My girl Cami had a murmur as a pup. She outgrew it but ended up with cardiomyopathy (ARVC), Supraventricular Tachycardia (very fast heart beat), enlarged heart, dilated cardiomyopathy and finally congestive heart failure. She lived happily with ARVC for nearly 4 years and it was only in the last 6 weeks of her life that the additional heart issues came into play.

The ARVC presented as a collapse at age 3 and was followed by exercise intolerance, slow recovery from exercise (she would pant for a solid hour after a 20 minute walk) and those symptoms (minus the collapse) lasted for the remainder of her life.

Boxers are prone to a few different types of heart conditions and all have the potential to be life threatening. In layman's terms....if their plumbing is bad think an issue with the aorta (AS--aortic stenosis) or (SAS--sub aortic stenosis) or even a problem with the mitral valve. If it is an electrical issue then cardiomyopathy (ARVC--Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy). Dilated cardiomyopathy is directly related to heart function (it becomes enlarged and doesn't work efficiently).

There are many medications which can help with various symptoms and prolong life. You are more than likely looking at having various tests run to determine the cause. An ultra sound will check size, shape and pick up any regurgitation of blood flow and help diagnosis the "plumbing". EKG or ECG as well as a holter monitor can detect electrical issues.

Breathing rates are not as good of a tool at determining various issues. Take the heart rate by finding the pulse at the femoral artery (inner thigh). Oftentimes a bit difficult to locate but it is there! Push in a little bit into the muscle there and you will find it. Count each heart beat you feel for 15 seconds and X's by 4. Do it a few times in a row to get an average. Too fast of a heart rate lasting for long periods of time (30 minutes or more) can lead to an enlarged heart and damage.

Keep us posted!

 

[ZoeyandWiley]

So Sorry to hear about your Cami.Thanks for your post. I am so anxious to see the cardiologist. I am worrying myself sick. Everytime I see her panting heavily my heart sinks. Im scared to even let her outside for more than a few minutes because of heat indices here in Kansas of 110-115.

You said to check her heart rate... What should it be around?

I am just hoping that the cardiologist will have good news for Miss Zoey. Im praying for a good prognosis. We have already been through enough with her meningitis.

 

[Cami]

At rest (not sleeping specifically but just hanging out and not directly following exercise/excitement). No where below 60/70 and not above 120.
This is an average. Don't get upset if you count 58 or 123!
When Cami would have an episode she would be panting profusely with no exercise, couldn't seem to settle and she just looked like she was terribly stressed. Her rate would be well over 300 or so high I couldn't get a good read on it. Rates that high require immediate medical intervention.