Enlarged heart, fluid on lungs, irregular heart beat? Help - YorkieTalk.com Forums

cndelu2 · 05-10-2011, 05:24 PM

This is my very first post here, and it comes with a very heavy heart. Our yorkie Dayton has started coughing more and gotten very lazy. He has always coughed a little but last night he woke me at least 5 times coughing and gagging. So this morning i took him to the vet. She first found irregular heart beat, then she did a chest xray and found problems with the heart being enlarged also fluid on the lungs. She gave me lasix and enalapril for him. Our town is small and no cardiologist for the dogs. So I am considering driving him 174 miles to go to one. Has anyone had experience with this in their yorkies? If so please advise. My heart is broken he is only 2.5 years old. She told me he might make it a year. I want and need to have hope. Thanks!

yorkietalkjilly · 05-10-2011, 05:48 PM

It sounds like congestive heart disease that my sister's dog was diagnosed with. He was very overweight, though, and it made it so much worse as his heart could not handle all that weight and his heart condition, too. Your baby may have a totally different situation, though. I hope you can get your baby to the specialist and find out what is wrong and get him some treatment so that he can have a more comfortable life. I am so sorry that your little Dayton is having to go through this. It hurts so much to see our best friend struggle with illness. God bless.

Lizzie07 · 05-10-2011, 06:17 PM

A little more than two years ago, Opal, my then 13.5 year old Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with congestive heart failure by my regular vet. She was put on vetmedin and it was all she took for nearly a year. She started coughing again and I decided to take her to a specialist, a veterinary internist who had treated one of my dogs for lymphoma. He did xrays, bloodwork, an ECG and an ultrasound. She had fluid on her lungs and a few irregular heart beats, too. In addition to the vetmedin, he also put her on furosemide (lasix), digoxin, and enalipril. She has only had one bad episode with fluid in her lungs and had to be on oxygen overnight in the past two years. She really is doing great, and the internist told me he thought she was going to be around for a while. She will be 16 in October! I didn't think I would have her this long and I know I wouldn't had I not taken her to the specialist.

Vetmedin, btw, is a fairly new cardiac med for dogs and has been found to be very effective, you might ask about it.

Dayton will be in my thoughts. I know how scary it is to find out your baby has such a serious health problem. With good care by you and the vet, I really think you might have him with you for a long time.

lillymae · 05-10-2011, 09:08 PM

Is your baby over weight at all ? if so you need to talk to your vet about dieting your baby as that alone can make a HUGE diff. I would drive the distance to see a specialist. Is there a chance of heartworm ?

gidget529 · 05-11-2011, 03:47 AM

Does the vet have any idea what is causing the heart murmur? There can be many things that cause a heart murmur. I would also wonder why a 2.5 yr old dog has one. Is it new? An echocardiogram would definitely give some answers as to what is going on. Does your local vet perform these or would you have to travel to a specialist? I suspect the murmur and the congestive heart murmur are related. (I worked in human cardiology.)
If your dr does not do an echo, I would definitely go to the specialist for one. I think there are compelling reasons to make the drive to the specialist - dog is only 2.5 years old (very young for CHF).

YorkDaddy · 05-11-2011, 07:48 AM

My heart goes out to you and I definitely hope you find a great vet that will take care of your baby! Timing and dedication is everything.

I myself have been dealing with the same issue. I had the same episodes and made my way to the doctor to mind out my heart was enlarged, I had fluid around my lung and other issues. My primary doctor never found this issue, but it took me to nearly die to find out about it.

That is one of the reasons why I definitely want a Yorkie to share my love with and take care of....I feel like I had a second chance at life and I need to share my love.

lillymae · 05-11-2011, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gidget529

Does the vet have any idea what is causing the heart murmur? There can be many things that cause a heart murmur. I would also wonder why a 2.5 yr old dog has one. Is it new? An echocardiogram would definitely give some answers as to what is going on. Does your local vet perform these or would you have to travel to a specialist? I suspect the murmur and the congestive heart murmur are related. (I worked in human cardiology.)
If your dr does not do an echo, I would definitely go to the specialist for one. I think there are compelling reasons to make the drive to the specialist - dog is only 2.5 years old (very young for CHF).

I Agree, this baby needs to see a cardiologist ASAP.

AlicetheYorkie · 05-11-2011, 02:11 PM

If you're able to go to that cardiologist, I definatly would. A lot of the time it can be handled with proper medication and they can life for a long time. General practitioning vets most of the time aren't familiar enough with all the available specialty medications, especially new ones, and how to combine them etc. so a vet cardio. should be able to help you out alot.
Good luck, hope you can find help for Dayton (p.s - that's my son's name too

)

jacquelinebabco · 05-11-2011, 02:32 PM

I have been dealing with the same illness only it is with a 4 year old King Charles Cavalier. I took her to a cardiologist who put her on the same drugs your giving your Yorkie and gave her 6 months. This was in July 2010. My vet put her on a new drug as mentioned on another post, Vetmedin. She is doing great. She still has the enlarged heart and CHF but she's like a new dog. I would get to a cardiologist and ask about Vetmedin. It doesn't work for all types of heart disease but it may be as helpful to you as it has been for us. I certainly can sympathize with you. It is such a heartache in a young dog!

05-10-2011, 05:24 PM	#1
cndelu2 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 3	Enlarged heart, fluid on lungs, irregular heart beat? Help This is my very first post here, and it comes with a very heavy heart. Our yorkie Dayton has started coughing more and gotten very lazy. He has always coughed a little but last night he woke me at least 5 times coughing and gagging. So this morning i took him to the vet. She first found irregular heart beat, then she did a chest xray and found problems with the heart being enlarged also fluid on the lungs. She gave me lasix and enalapril for him. Our town is small and no cardiologist for the dogs. So I am considering driving him 174 miles to go to one. Has anyone had experience with this in their yorkies? If so please advise. My heart is broken he is only 2.5 years old. She told me he might make it a year. I want and need to have hope. Thanks!

05-10-2011, 05:48 PM	#2
yorkietalkjilly ♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 22,140	It sounds like congestive heart disease that my sister's dog was diagnosed with. He was very overweight, though, and it made it so much worse as his heart could not handle all that weight and his heart condition, too. Your baby may have a totally different situation, though. I hope you can get your baby to the specialist and find out what is wrong and get him some treatment so that he can have a more comfortable life. I am so sorry that your little Dayton is having to go through this. It hurts so much to see our best friend struggle with illness. God bless. __________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis

05-10-2011, 06:17 PM	#3
Lizzie07 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ball Ground, GA Posts: 1,262	A little more than two years ago, Opal, my then 13.5 year old Italian Greyhound was diagnosed with congestive heart failure by my regular vet. She was put on vetmedin and it was all she took for nearly a year. She started coughing again and I decided to take her to a specialist, a veterinary internist who had treated one of my dogs for lymphoma. He did xrays, bloodwork, an ECG and an ultrasound. She had fluid on her lungs and a few irregular heart beats, too. In addition to the vetmedin, he also put her on furosemide (lasix), digoxin, and enalipril. She has only had one bad episode with fluid in her lungs and had to be on oxygen overnight in the past two years. She really is doing great, and the internist told me he thought she was going to be around for a while. She will be 16 in October! I didn't think I would have her this long and I know I wouldn't had I not taken her to the specialist. Vetmedin, btw, is a fairly new cardiac med for dogs and has been found to be very effective, you might ask about it. Dayton will be in my thoughts. I know how scary it is to find out your baby has such a serious health problem. With good care by you and the vet, I really think you might have him with you for a long time. __________________ Kristan Lizzy's mom

05-11-2011, 02:11 PM	#8
AlicetheYorkie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 889	If you're able to go to that cardiologist, I definatly would. A lot of the time it can be handled with proper medication and they can life for a long time. General practitioning vets most of the time aren't familiar enough with all the available specialty medications, especially new ones, and how to combine them etc. so a vet cardio. should be able to help you out alot. Good luck, hope you can find help for Dayton (p.s - that's my son's name too) __________________ Jenn, mom to: Dayton , Alice ,Darla, Miya , Summer & Chooch

05-10-2011, 09:08 PM	#4
lillymae YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Idaho Posts: 4,544	Is your baby over weight at all ? if so you need to talk to your vet about dieting your baby as that alone can make a HUGE diff. I would drive the distance to see a specialist. Is there a chance of heartworm ?

05-11-2011, 03:47 AM	#5
gidget529 Gidget & Sidney's Mom Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: PA Posts: 3,462	Does the vet have any idea what is causing the heart murmur? There can be many things that cause a heart murmur. I would also wonder why a 2.5 yr old dog has one. Is it new? An echocardiogram would definitely give some answers as to what is going on. Does your local vet perform these or would you have to travel to a specialist? I suspect the murmur and the congestive heart murmur are related. (I worked in human cardiology.) If your dr does not do an echo, I would definitely go to the specialist for one. I think there are compelling reasons to make the drive to the specialist - dog is only 2.5 years old (very young for CHF).

05-11-2011, 07:48 AM	#6
YorkDaddy Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2011 Location: SC Posts: 134	My heart goes out to you and I definitely hope you find a great vet that will take care of your baby! Timing and dedication is everything. I myself have been dealing with the same issue. I had the same episodes and made my way to the doctor to mind out my heart was enlarged, I had fluid around my lung and other issues. My primary doctor never found this issue, but it took me to nearly die to find out about it. That is one of the reasons why I definitely want a Yorkie to share my love with and take care of....I feel like I had a second chance at life and I need to share my love.

05-11-2011, 02:32 PM	#9
jacquelinebabco Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: hannacroix,ny Posts: 1,364	I have been dealing with the same illness only it is with a 4 year old King Charles Cavalier. I took her to a cardiologist who put her on the same drugs your giving your Yorkie and gave her 6 months. This was in July 2010. My vet put her on a new drug as mentioned on another post, Vetmedin. She is doing great. She still has the enlarged heart and CHF but she's like a new dog. I would get to a cardiologist and ask about Vetmedin. It doesn't work for all types of heart disease but it may be as helpful to you as it has been for us. I certainly can sympathize with you. It is such a heartache in a young dog!