calliecritturs
Posted : 8/16/2012 10:35:47 PM
My Billy lived for 3 years with a grade 3/4 murmur that was left over as a result of a disease he had. Like you we monitored him twice a year and did x-rays to see how things went ... he was a very "old" 12 when I lost him -- not to any degrading of the heart condition -- he simply had a heart attack (which was likely caused by completely different circumstances).
Bottom line Bernice -- there are dogs who live their entire lives with a grade 3/4 murmur and live to be 12 and more. You're doing what you can do to take care and that is huge!!
We had another dog who had a really badly enlarged heart and she lived with us 6 1/2 more years (and her heart was in BAD shape). She was on ferosemide and amitripaline and enalepril and a ton of herbs but she made it to 17+.
There are herbs and supplements you can choose to use if you want that may help. Hawthorneberry and Co-Q-10 may help. Talk to your vet, or you may wish to add a holistic vet to guide you (I'm not saying to leave your vet, only to get some additional wisdom from a holistic vet.)
With heart stuff you DO want them to get exercsie but not too much.
One thing we found valuable was a wagon. Bringing it along on a walk so that if the dog seems tired or begins to pant or cough, let them ride. That way they get to "go" but don't get over-tired.
But honestly -- the answer to your question is that with good care, dogs on heart meds can live a LONG LONG time.