Thai AS question

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Boxer Babies

Super Boxer
Hi Boxer lovers,

well I am now sort of over the intitial shock of Thias diagnoses of AS.
I have read so so many posts here about AS, the information is awesome.
But I am a bit confused and hope someone can answer my question.

Thai has been classed as a severe case of AS. His blood velocity is 4.57m/sec. His heart murmur is graded a 3-4.
There is no hardening of the heart muscle at all. And apart from the fainting he has no other symptoms.

My question is, after reading different articles on teh internet it seems some class this blood velocity in the moderate range, not severe.

Does anyone have expereince in this that maybe they could share with me.

Anything would be great.

thanks

Leanne, Blayz and Thai
 
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Lombardi05

Boxer Pal
I can sympathize

Hi! My boxer has had several heart murmurs in his young life. He is 11 months old and recently had an echocardiogram to determine the cause of his grade 3 murmur. The cardiologist wasn't able to say definitively whether or not Lombardi has AS. He has to go back for a follow up echo in 6 months when he is closer to his adult weight. The cardiologist said at this point, she sees no reason why he shouldn't live a perfectly normal life!! My fiance and I have been through a terrible time with this. We still pray that Lombardi will not be affected by AS and maybe will never be officially diagnosed with it. People who don't know the wonderful bond between a dog and a human can not fully understand the agony that occurs for us when something is wrong with our animals!
As for the blood velocity question you raise, our cardiologist said that 1.8 is normal and Lombardi was fluctuating between 2.0 and 2.2 (2.2 is considered abnormal). She said she has seen dogs as high as 6 and that is really a problem then.
Lombardi would love to give Thai kisses and lots of butt wiggling support!
 
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gmacleod

gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
Leanne: If you haven't already found it, there is an enormous amount of information on boxers and aortic stenosis on this site: http://www.steynmere.com/GENETICS.html The author is one of the world's leading canine geneticists and founder of the canine heart screening programme in the UK (and a boxer breeder of 50 years duration also).
 
kactus

kactus

Boxer Booster
bailey was graded last year as a high 3. he was a year old at the time. hes now 28 months and was graded lower on his last scan. apart from 3 fainting episodes he has absolutly no other symptyoms. he is on 30mg / day of inderal, a beta blocker, as a preventitive, so im not sure if that is helping or if he is just growing out of it a bit. id advise you to see a doggie cardioligist if you can find one. i loearnt a lot from seeing baileys, and as a result, im much more relaxed about the whole thing. if im worried i have a quick look at his gums to make sure they pink up nice & fast. i only limit his excercise when its a really hot day (rare in northern ireland!) or if hes really having a boxer burn session, ill maybe have him take a few breaks. otherwise, I feed him healthy food, lots of oily fish, and make sure hes generally a happy boy. im confident that he will have a long & happy life! just do loads of research & ask your vet loads of questions.
good luck, & if i can help let me know
 
B

Boxer Babies

Super Boxer
thanks to all who replied to this.

Its so hard isnt it when our babies are seriously sick. I remeber when Thai broke his leg as a puppy. WE felt like such bad bad parents.

Im just glad we found out about his AS in time to make some lifestyle change to hopefully prolong his life.

thanks again

Leanne
 
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