Advice Needed

[LurcherLizzie]

Hello,

I am new and wish I had found this board under better circumstances. I posted this in a General section but not sure if it was the right place.

My beloved Asha developed a cough on Friday last week, I took her to the vets on Saturday morning and they suspect she has a heart murmur. She is booked in to see a cardiologist on Wednesday morning to run some tests and x-ray her. She has been given a course of antibiotics incase the cough is an infection and it has thankfully eased a bit since the weekend. She is still eating and is her bright and her usual skippy self. She does pant quite heavily at times, not after exercise but when she is in her bed. She has done this for years but I have always but this down to her being hot, I really hope if it is a murmur it is not something I should have picked up on earlier.

Asha is 9 1/2 and still runs about like she is 6 months old. She loves to show off down the park, beach or any open space, running and turning quickly like a mad thing. She basically lives to outrun her brother and had not slowed down over the years.

I know she has not had the tests yet and the vet did say there is lots of very good medication available which would ensure she maintains a good quality of life but I wondered if anyone had a similar experience or has any suggestions. I know it is early days and we don't have a complete diagnosis yet but as you can imagine I am devestated that my girl could be poorly. The vet also mentioned a possibility of heart attacks. Since we went to the vets I have not let her off her lead, just walked her around the park which she has not been happy about. I don't want to stop her doing her favourite activity as she lives to run but I am concerned something might happen.

Thanks for your time and any comments would be gratefully received.

Lizzie

 

[urchin]

Hi Lizzie, welcome to the site - good to have you here even if the circumstances are not the best :huggles:

My first thought about sight hounds and heart murmers is - is the vet a 'greyhound' vet?

I'm ask is as I've lost track of the time people with whippets/greys etc have been told their dogs have a heart murmur, because non-specialised vets aren't used to the slightly funky heart rhythms that our dogs have.

Every new vet I see tells me Digit has a heart murmur - HE DOESN'T!

And it may well be that your lovely Ashly doesn't either. But, if she does, your vet is right - with medication she'll be living a full and happy life with plenty more adventures and fun filled days.

Do let us know how she gets on

:luck: :luck: urchin :luck: :luck:

 

[LurcherLizzie]

Hi Lizzie, welcome to the site - good to have you here even if the circumstances are not the best  :huggles:
My first thought about sight hounds and heart murmers is - is the vet a 'greyhound' vet?

I'm ask is as I've lost track of the time people with whippets/greys etc have been told their dogs have a heart murmur, because non-specialised vets aren't used to the slightly funky heart rhythms that our dogs have.

Every new vet I see tells me Digit has a heart murmur - HE DOESN'T!

And it may well be that your lovely Ashly doesn't either. But, if she does, your vet is right - with medication she'll be living a full and happy life with plenty more adventures and fun filled days.

Do let us know how she gets on

:luck:   :luck:   urchin  :luck:   :luck:

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Thanks for your kind words Urchin. We moved recently so it is a new veterinary clinic and the first time I have seen this vet. We live in a town now and I have not seen many greyhounds/lurchers etc down the park so maybe she is not used to these 'funky' rhythms as you put it Asha has been referred to a larger practice where the cardiologist is based so I hope he knows his stuff. Thanks again and I will let you know how we get on, on Wednesday.

 

[ian skelding]

We have bred a couple of whippet and lurcher litters and one buyer of a whippet puppy said that their vet had noticed a heart murmer. As responsible breeders we offered a full refund but firstly we sort infomation from established whippet breeders who advised that non specialised vets often diagnose a heart murmer. In the meantime the owner had become fond of the puppy and was happy with our information. This was nearly three years ago and we havent heard anything since

 

[LurcherLizzie]

We have bred a couple of whippet and lurcher litters and one buyer of a whippet puppy said that their vet had noticed a heart murmer. As responsible breeders we offered a full refund but firstly we sort infomation from established whippet breeders who advised  that non specialised vets often diagnose a heart murmer. In the meantime the owner had become fond of the puppy and was happy with our information. This was nearly three years ago and we havent heard anything since

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I will see how we get on, on Wednesday but will look into finding our nearest specialised vets.

 

[littlenell]

:luck: :luck: Hope everything goes ok at the vets :luck: :thumbsup:

 

[LurcherLizzie]

Thanks for all the comments people :huggles: It really did help to hear positive things and experiences, like with everything I guess the fear of the unknown is worse than the thing itself.

Asha had an ECG, X-Ray and blood test today. They have scaled the murmer as a 4 and the X-Rays and Scan show that she has some enlargement of the left hand side of her heart. The think the valve between the left ventricle and atrium is not working aswell as it should be.

The blood test show all her other organs to be in good working order

She has been perscribed Fortekor and we have to go back in 2 weeks to see how she is getting on. Apart from looking like 6 year old has been let loose on her with a shaver (patches on both front legs and either side of her heart) is is perky and happy to be home.

I feel relieved as although I would rather she was a puppy again, showing no signs of age, she still has plenty more life left in her yet

Thanks again people

 

[Strike Whippets]

Fortekor is very good ...... I have a young Whippet who's been on it for just over a year, and we saw a vast improvement in Miya :thumbsup: ......A grade 4 murmur is high, but is easily controlled with tablets ......My Miya still races every now and then and hurtles round the fields daily after her frisbee ..... :luck: :luck: Hannah.