Mitral Valve Disease

[rubyred]

Hi, I'm new to dogzonline - I have a silky terrier(12 yrs old) who has been diagnosed with advanced heart problems. I had taken her to my vet when she started making coughing noises as if she has a hairball in her throat. He then picked up a heart murmur and referred her to a specialist for tests. Only then did I find out just how close she was to drowning in her own fluid! She is on 3 types of meds and we have 2 monthly check ups at the hospital. She's been given a 6 - 12 month time frame. Does anyone else have a loved one with this problem - and how do you cope? It would help if I knew of others in this situation. I'm in Brisbane and the 35.5 heat really dropped her to her knees.

[gemstone]

Hi rubyred

sorry to hear about your little girl.

Maybe if you start a post in the main health forum you might get more people who have experience of this?

good luck

[Gretel]

Oh dear I do feel for you. I lost my Phoebe a few years ago to MVD. She was only 8 We started her off on Fortekor but it didn't help much. She then went on Vetmedin and duiretics which helped but when it got to the stage of her sitting up battling to breath I had to make the decision to let her go.

[rubyred]

Oh dear I do feel for you. I lost my Phoebe a few years ago to MVD. She was only 8 We started her off on Fortekor but it didn't help much. She then went on Vetmedin and duiretics which helped but when it got to the stage of her sitting up battling to breath I had to make the decision to let her go.

How long were you able to have with her and how did you know when it was time... She doesn't realise she's sick and still wants to run in the park. I've noticed as the weather has become hotter that she is panting alot more - although she only coughs when she wakes up and stretches never when she's running. But every time I hear her cough it scares me witless. I have to keep on taking her back every 2 months to get blood tests - although she hates the place so much I actually do think she'll have a heart attack while they're taking the blood. It mustn't be goo for her to have that much stress..

Sorry for so many questions but this is the first time I've been able to speak to someone who knows..

[Cathaven]

Hi RubyRed, I have a little mini dachshund 11yr old boy by the name of Ricky who has Congestive Heart Failure. He crashed last weekend with lungs full of fluid and needless to say I was beside myself. He had two days attached to an IV Lasix drip and I was very pleased to have him home. I can relate to how you are feeling.

He is now on Fortekor, Vetmedin and Lasix. However and please don't think that I am encouraging you to do this because I am not. I am using hollistic medicine on Ricky.

Apart from his conventional medicine I have him on

CoenzymeQ10

Milk Thistle (brand Livatone) great for the liver, advised by another lovely lady who had a little dog with the same problem

Heart Tonic x 3 (Robert McDowall or Optimum Pet Health both have great products and both here in Australia)

Apple Cider Vinegar, teaspoon in his Natural Spring Water every day (replaces potassium lost through lasix).

Pinch of Cayenne pepper as well as Organic Ginger great for circulation, I give this to him with a little bit of meat, 3 times a day

3 senior vitamin tablets per day (From vetalogica)

1 Fish oil tablet per day

His diet is very important, organic beef, chicken, salmon with green steamed vegies. No tin food, or any treats that are found at the supermarket. Luckily he loves bananas.

Most importantly no SALT. Read all the labels on all products that you buy for your little furfriend, you will be surprised how much sodium they contain.

Hope this information helps

cheers Cathaven