URGENT: Need Guidance re: Canine Heart Murmurs

[MariaRosa]

Hi all.........

This really is a rather urgent request for some advice regarding my best friend's sheltie. She's frantic, and I am hoping you can offer some insights, opinions, and guidance.


Some Background:

My friends sheltie, Crystal, is 14 years old.
She was born with an abnormally small liver....my friend pays strict attention to this as it causes problems from time to time. She has regular blood pulls done to monitor Crystals liver values. I know last September, her ALT was at 253, ALKP at 266. The ALT and ALKP have been as high as the 1,000 range, but over the course of the last year and a half or so, it has seen a steady decrease down to more normal ranges. (Low 200's.)

Crystal is seen by a conventional vet as well as a holisitic vet. The holistic vet has placed her on several different holisitic remedies addressing her individual needs. My friend has decided, however, that she does not want to keep doing this. Crystal hates taking all these pills every morning, and it's upsetting for them both. (I'm almost wonderinging if this current problem could be due in part to Crystals trachea being irritated by the pills.....not sure though..Crystal has had a collapsed trachea, also.)

Crystal also has occasional bouts of colitis, and trouble with a disc in her spine, but our main area of concern right now is her heart. Crystal was diagnosed with a heart murmur.

Since early this morning, Crystal has been coughing. There are only breaks of about 30 seconds between one coughing spasm and the next. At times the cough seems as if she is trying to gag. At other times the cough does seem more from the throat.
(She does not have a thermomenter, so no temp data.)
Crystals appetite and potty breaks both seem typical/normal.

My friend is desperately trying to reach her vet, but I wanted to post in the interrim..... Basically, could you please tell me some things to look for if you suspect a worsening heart condition in a dog, and what to do until you are able to get your dog to medical help. If anyone has had some experience with something like this, I really could use your advice! My friend loves her shelties so much and would do anything in the world for them.

Thank you in advance---

I wish I could be of more help since I hear your desperation. I have only had one dog (also a sheltie) with heart disease. He had congestive heart disease though...not sure about a murmer. He died at age 16 of heart failure. My Mom's sheltie Dilly died of heart failure also at age 16 1/2. I know none of this helps you. I don't recall that Roscoe (Bubba) coughed any more in the days or hours prior to dying though. He just kind of went to sleep. Magnum may be able to help more. Her Bu had a lot of heart problems. Tell your friend I wish her all the best and please let us know how she and her sheltie come through this trying time. Best wishes!! Jo

[pommom]

I also have a dog with a murmer. The one thing the vet told us to be on the look out for was a cough. Sd it would be a sign that it was getting worse.

Hopefully it is something else, easy to fix. Best of luck to you and your friend.

[MariaRosa]

Thanks for your reply....I have more info now that might better help anyone reading this to offer more targeted advice.

My friend met her vet at the clinic, and he said Crystal's trachea was closing up, which was the cause of the coughing. She had been diagnosed previously with tracheal collapse, but far as I know, it had been sufficiently treated and was not causing any problem to Crystal until this episode that caused me to post the other day.

The vet gave Crystal a shot, some meds and a bronchio-dilator. This made a significant difference, causing the coughing and labored breathing to ease enough so that Crystal could get some rest. However, the couging began again last night despite the administration of the meds. My friend placed a call to the vet, and he had her double up the doseages, but this has done little to help Crystal and she will be bringing her back into the clinic as soon as it opens this morning.

Also, since coming back from the vet the other day, Crystal has had very loose stools, and this is a concern....I'm wondering if it could be due to the stress this is causing, or possibly a side effect of the meds.

Crystal's appetite remains good, and she is taking in a good/adequate amount of water.

I'm very concerned about what my friend is facing here....from what I've read, there are two options for dogs with tracheal collapse: surgery, or a course of meds ----steroidal-type. Surgery is not an option for Crystal. She does not do well under anaesthesia, and given her age and liver problems, my friend is not willing to risk this....and of course, the medications all seem to be the type that a liver compromised dog wants to steer clear of.

Are there any other options? I know how much my friend loves her little Sheltie, and she is willing to do anything to help her. Any advice amyone may have in regard to treatment options, and/or measures that can be taken to help provide as much comfort to Crystal as possible are SO appreciated!!

Thanks in advance~

Sorry to hear about your friends sheltie. I am the owner of several shelties - past and present. I have had dogs with heart problems before and one who had a coughing issue much the same as your friends. My advice is have her keep going to the vet - or maybe try another vet - sometimes one can find different solutions than the other(if finances permit).
As for the runny stools - it could very well be the meds she was on. One of my shelties was diagnosed with irritable bowel disease...We controlled it for about 1 1/2 yrs but then it got too bad. She was 13 1/2 when she died. I would not put and older dog thru surgery - chances are she would not come out of it. I myself also have a rare type of heart murmur. Most of the time these don't affect daily life. My dog had one also and she lived to be 15. Has the vet said what type of murmur this is? Just like with people as you age your body changes. I know I havent been much help to you - but if it were my dog I would keep trying....

Another thing I would watch out for is a condition called cardiomyopathy. It can sometimes start as a heart murmur and also can cause the coughing. I would suggest running bloodwork on her and get a full panel if that has not been done recently. An ultrasound would probably be the most practical way to diagnose cardiomyopathy. I hope everything goes well!