Heart murmurs in dogs

My nearly 10yo Chi/Mini foxie x has just been diagnosed with a grade 5 heart murmur. Chronic Heart Failure.

How can that be? She doesnt seem to have any symptoms.

Anyone else been through this? Will the heart meds help?

 

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

i rekon the first thing to do is find something she absolutly loves to eat, as in its gone before its hit the bowl.

 

then cover the tablet in that. might be vegemite

 

whatever it is do a few dry runs without tablet till she gets the idea this is really good.

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

I also suggest wearing gloves, or trying to not touch the pill with bare hands as they can pick up the smell on your fingers

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Our 9yo cavalier has just been diagnosed wiyh grade 5 as well although 80% of cavs end up with it and we knew it would happen one day.  No meds as yet but we have to keep an eye on her respirations and have 3 monthly check-ups.  They did say the meds are quite exspensive - can anyone tell me how exspensive they are - not that it matters.  When she needs them, she will have them.

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Sorry to hear that Sandy. Miillie had a chest xray and her heart is enlarged and mis-shapened so straight onto the medication. 

She is on Vetmedin 1.25mg and 50 tabkets were $80. She has half a tab twice a day so a bit over $45 per month. She is only 3.8kg and it goes on weight. Some need to spend a hundred or two a month. 

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Thanks tttt - not too bad and she's certainly worth it.

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

First I must say please don't crush the tabs without your vet's advice as this can cause tablets to become ineffective ....   same with humans.   

 

I have nursed two dogs through heart disease (cavaliers) and my first  boy was diagnosed when he was about 10,   put on Vetmedin and eventually   Fluoroxine  at about 12,   and lived until 16.   When he became a bit tottery he went into a pram and loved it, as did the onlookers.I  took him everywhere in it. and just loved the looks on the faces when ppl wanted to look at the sweet baby and up popped Shannon's doggy head.

 

The Vetmedin was given to me as capsules, so easy to give to them.  The fluorexine (diuretic) was a tiny tablet so very easy to slip into food. 

 

A friend of mine has a beaglier aged 12  who was diagnosed with Grade 4  about 2 years ago and put on meds but healthwise is top of the world.  The meds are wonderful these days. 

 

 

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Thanks for posting Brighton, gives me a heap of hope.

The vet was so sombre. I will ask the vet all the questions I now have after everything has sunk in.

 

And Pรขtรฉ was a winner tonight as the tablet disguise, so reckon it is the smell for sure x

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Another suggestion from my daughter was to try cat food....the seafood varieties are very strong smelling and most dogs love them.  It might be cheaper than pate.

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Cheaper for sure! We just had a little bit of pate leftover. It wasn't a meal or anything - just enough to coat the tablet and she ate it off the end of the teaspoon. She loves cooked chiken as well, but that didnt fool her at all.

 

I appreciate all of your help.

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Re: Heart murmurs in dogs

Most home cooked chicken does not have a strong enough smell....try BBQ chicken if/when you buy one....they are stronger smelling.

How about heart or kidney....they are stronger smelling.   Our dog loved ox kidney...always had to have a bit if I made steak and kidney.

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