Hello Peggy,
I was just worried about Ori due to him having kennel cough really bad when his original owner purchased him from the pet store. I will watch him closely.
The meds Smidgen is on seems to be working, as I can't hear the swooshing sound as I did last week. She is almost done with the one that makes her drink and pee allot, but still has about a week of the other medication. Her appt is 10 on Saturday. I will have to ask if they rated her heart over the years in her past visits? They never said. Just her 1st visit when I got her at 12wks old on her 1st check up just said she has a heart murmur.
I have allot of questions for the dr. on Saturday.
With Smidgen and Chassis I have never done there shots every year, just because they both have very bad reactions to them.. It was very scary the 1st time it happen. I had taken both to the Humane S. on a sat morning. Took them home and dropped them off. Went and did my grocery shopping, gone less then an hour. When I came home Smidgen had welts all over her, and Chassis did too, but her face was swollen up. Had to rush her back to emergency vet cause my regular vet was already closed.
They don't go too many places to be exposed to other dogs. Smidgen doesn't do any activities to stress her heart.. She and Chassis are my couch tatoes!! Lots of the good life laying in the sunshine, or just kicking it in the house..
Luckily Dani doesn't have any bad reactions.
I want to ask the dr. about Smidgens potassium too..
Thanks for all your information!! So helpful..
From: Peggy & The Girls <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen
To: [email protected]
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 5:35 PM
You may not have to worry about Ori because he came from private homes and not a kennel or shelter where the virus was widespread. I am not one for any kind of vaccine, unless it is very important, that a dog must have it because the risk is greater then if they didn't have it. Talk to your Vet about Ori. If your not going to dog parks and daycare or putting any of them in a kennel for any reason, then I wouldn't give it to him. Sometimes giving a vaccine when it is not needed can do more harm then good. We have to remember that everything a dogs body takes in, the liver has to purify it and that includes all vaccines and antibiotics and any meds. Immunities and vaccines are complicated, and it takes a lot of research to have even the basic understanding of how it all works. I would only give them a KC shot IF I was to bring in more shelter dogs or going to the dog park, etc. Also, Smidgen isn't suppose to be active, any dog with congestive
heart failure is suppose to be kept as calm as possible, because activity increases the fluid in the value. Easier said, then done, I know.
To be honest, if she were mine, I wouldn't be giving her any more Booster or Rabies shots either, or use Flea meds, since all three have been known to cause possible heart and liver problems and excel any such existing problems. I am not sure about the Heartworm meds though. Did you ever read that long post that I sent to the group a couple of months ago on the Booster Shots and side effects? It had a lot of excellent links explaining how the shots work, the side effects and why we shouldn't give it to them every year. I can send it to you if you want to read it, it is well worth the reading and keeping as a reference.
You know it is possible that her murmur can get better and drop down a notch or two, once she gets over the the pneumonia. Did you keep records of her grade level through the years? If not, I am sure the Vet has it on her chart and can tell when and at what age it increased. That swooshing sound that you hear is the fluid around her heart value. That's why the dieuretics are so important to relieve the excess fluid because the heart can not do that. If you feel that the med that she is on now isn't working
fast enough to remove that fluid, then I would ask the Vet if she can give her a different one. A dog with congestive heart failure is also suppose to keep their potassium level up. A simple blood test will show if all her levels are okay. Their are many more articles written by dog heart specialist, if you Google for congestive heart in dogs. You are probably right that she got it because her immune system is low. Their are many ways through diet to increase that to. It will take some research on your part.
Peggy
-------Original Message-------
Date: 4/5/2011 3:41:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen
|
Thank you Peggy, This is very helpful. My vet was right saying she was a 5, cause you don't need a stethoscope to hear her swooshing in her heart. Before she got the kennel cough and pneumonia, you couldn't hear her murmur unless it was with a stethoscope.
I feel terrible, that she got the kennel cough, she was up to date on her shots? Chassis didn't get it, nor Dani? But I am sure it is because her immune systems isn't strong.? I can't risk it again. Knowing Ori had it too scares me. His shots are current but I am thinking it wouldn't hurt to have him done?
From: Peggy & The Girls < [email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen To: [email protected]Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2011, 11:56 AM
Beth, here is a link on heart murmurs, it even gives you audio sound for a regular heartbeat and a murmur heartbeat and tells you what her grade level means.
-------Original Message-------
Date: 4/5/2011 11:15:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen
|
Yes she did Peggy, she said it was a 5 ? I was so upset at the time, tears rolling down my face, I didn't ask what level that is? When I go back this Saturday for her re check I will ask more questions on it. Smidge hasn't coughed since her shots at the vet on last Thursday, so that is a good sign.
Just over night I see the change in Ori, He is coming out of his shell. He and Dani are playing more and more. He doesn't have that blank stare like he did.
From: Peggy & The Girls < [email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen To: [email protected]Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 5:05 PM
Beth I was wondering if the Vet gave you a grade level for her heart murmur? It's my understanding that is how they can keep track as to whether it is stabilized, better or worse as they age.
That's interesting that the other girls don't have any concern for Ori. That's how it is between Princess and Gigi too. The only time that I see any interaction between them is when I give them a rawhide. Then Gigi waits for Princess to chew on it so that is soft enough for her to mulch on, since she doesn't have that many teeth. As soon as Gigi sees a chance to grab Princess's rawhide, then she runs full speed ahead and dives for it. I have to laugh, one time she actually pulled it out of Princess's paws and dragged it across the room to her bed. Princess then came whimpering and crying to me and begging me to take it from her. I just go hysterical laughing as I watch the two of them, it is quite a funny show!
-------Original Message-------
Date: 4/4/2011 7:45:59 PM
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen
|
Hi Peggy,
Well some of it sounds accurate, she wasn't aware that the person she gave Ori too had given him away. She said she got a text from that person telling her they couldn't keep him anymore, but she had asked them if they would keep him till she came back to the states in a couple months. I guess they couldn't/wouldn't do that for her?. The lady I got him from said they said they wanted a big dog they could take to the beach.
I told the original owner the lady I got him from was very nice and was just concerned for him, she didn't have a fenced yard and he had chased a cat. I told her I have a fully fenced yard but he is kept inside when I am not home. Also that I go home and check on them on my lunch as I am close enough to do so.
Oh Dani just loves him.. The other girls Smidge and Chassis don't pay him any mind at all.
LOL.
I do love him so already!
From: Peggy & The Girls < [email protected]> Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen To: [email protected]Date: Monday, April 4, 2011, 3:33 PM
Hi Beth,
That is some story as being compared to what the other lady told you. I am glad that you had a chance to talk with the original owner. It does make more sense now that she put so much into him, and I have to feel bad for her, it sounds like she really misses him. I am happy for you Beth. Looks like he has a great furever home and seems to blend in with the girls just fine. What more could a male want, but his own little harem!
-------Original Message-------
Date: 4/4/2011 11:30:48 AM
Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Smidgen
|
His Name is Ori, I actually spoke with his original owner on Friday. She bought him in a pet store, actually saved him.. He had been there for over 2 months and had kennel cough bad. She spent almost 400.00 getting him healthy His original price was 1100.00, but she paid 100.00 for him because he was sick. So she had him for almost 2 years . She lost her Job just before the end of December, and had a job offer in Hawaii, he would have had to be Quarantined for 6 months, and the Job was only lasting 4. She couldn't find anyone to take care of him while she was gone so she re homed him, to someone that kept him for 2 months then the lady I got him from just had him a little over a week. He is doing well, and warming up to us, but still has that disconnection. His Original owner misses him allot! I think in time he will be okay.
Smidge is doing well, not coughing at all. I can hear her heart swishing sound when it beats. Other then that she is acting like her normal self.. I worry about her, she is my 1st Chi..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
