Enlarged heart

Stacy,

My experience with heart enlargement was in conjunction with two heartworm positive dogs.  Both I pulled from the shelter because they were old and abandoned.

The vet put both on Enalapril, which keeps the blood pressure low.  It's my understanding that the enlargement puts a strain on the heart's ability to pump blood, thereby raising the bp, so this is supposed to help.  Yes, there is risk of kidney damage, but periodic bloodwork can help you keep an eye on renal health.

It is Hawthorne berry for heart issues that helps.  For my 2nd dog, I used to homecook, too, based on guidelines in my "4 Paws, 5 Directions" book.

I imagine someone else will be along with more info, but you might consider a combination of Eastern and Western veterinary medicine to help Zoe.

Hi -- yes, been there DOING IT still -- (and have done it in the past with several dogs).  Billy's heart is somewhat enlarged after the treatment for IMHA. 

I'm at work so I can't give a complete answer, but there are MANY things you can do.  Across from my name at the top of my post -- click "contact" and email me and I'll help you all I can.

There are herbs that help day to day, and if you have to go to pharmaceuticals there is a lot of help there as well.  Billy's 11 and we've been managing his for almost 3 years -- and we managed Ms. Socks for 6 1/2 years (that after I was told to give her a month and she'd just die!) and even THEN cancer claimed her, not heart problems!!

don't let it un-nerve you -- it can be managed!!

 Did they tell you it's from something specific?  Personally, I'd bring the dog to a cardiologist to get a real explanation of her condition.  Is it cardiomyopathy, is it something else, I'd want to know.

One of the *best* things we've done with Billy is a full work-up every six months.  My own vet does it -- full panel of bloodwork, x-rays, plus an EKG (they do it right over the phone sent to the University and read by their cardiologist).  They do the same exact views every six months so we KNOW, beyond a shadow of doubt what's working and if it's not.

If we ever come up with something that's a "change" or if something noticably worsens then I'll go for an echocardiogram -- but thus far none of the vets see that as something needful in Billy's case. 

Now it is some money spent -- but KNOWING the progression is important.  If you haven't had a true diagnosis that's critical.  Your closest vet school could be a darned good place to go -- usually less expensive than a specialist and often very cuttying edge.

The vet said this is age related.  Once I get the blood panel and extra test on the left side of the heart results tomorrow, that should be helpful in determining how we proceed.  I am definitely having a diet formulated for her by a dog nutritionist I trust.

miranadobe

 Did they tell you it's from something specific?  Personally, I'd bring the dog to a cardiologist to get a real explanation of her condition.  Is it cardiomyopathy, is it something else, I'd want to know.

I would be on the way to a cardiologist as well.  An echocardiogram, read by someone who knows exactly what they are doing is, imo, the only way to know exactly what you are dealing with, & what direction to go to manage the condition.

smilee1079

The vet said this is age related. 

Sorry, but I just don't like statements like this from health professionals - vet or human.  It is a lot like saying an ailment is "idiopathic" ("unknown cause";).  "Age" is not a disease! 

There are a lot of healthy seniors without enlarged hearts, so something is going on besides just "age" - for instance, genetic problems or heart valve damage due to infection.  It is usually the large breeds that have enlarged hearts due to genetic problems. 

I would definitely get a full thyroid panel and a tick panel. 

http://www.pethealthandcare.com/dog-health/dog-enlarged-heart.html
"The known causes of enlarged heart in dogs are not obvious every time. However, the most common causes are genetically related, due to a viral infection, or due to some nutritional deficiency."

Here is a very good site for lots of heart info:  http://www.dogaware.com/health/heart.html

Other sites:
http://www.dog-illnesses-n-symptoms.com/canine-enlarged-heart.html
http://www.2ndchance.info/heart.htm
http://www.lbah.com/heart/causessymptoms.htm#cause
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2096&aid=3584

Do note that, although dogs can produce their own taurine, some dogs do not produce enough for good health.  This can cause heart problems if the diet does not supply additional taurine.

Taurine is destroyed by heat, so unless it is added after cooking, commercial dog foods will not supply this amino acid.

One of the best taurine sources is raw heart.

I don't have any advice about all this other than to say I know how much Zoe means to you.  And, I hope it's something that is very easily managed for her.  Callie's notes about Billy made it sound especially promising. 

How is she feeling?

Billy gets both L-Carnitine and Taurine -- in fact, he get quite a LOT of Taurine.  Typically you'd give 1 L-Carn twice a day and one Taurine a day. 

But I learned about a year ago that Billy actually does better on Taurine TWICE a day.  And the vets just shrugged and said "sometimes a dog needs more for some reason". 

Sorry for the slow reply.  I have been trying to figure everything out.  Unfortunately her regular vet has a family emergency and the person who called with the bloodwork results was less than informative.  I am looking at other vets to help herbally if possible right now but am not thrilled with those results either.  I am gonna contact the regular vet office Monday again. 

 The test on the left heart came back with good levels.  Some of the levels on her regular bloodwork were borderline high, but nothing outrageous.  I am going to talk to the vet to get more info on that and exactly how to proceed.  "Wait 6 months and test again" as the sub vet suggested is not ok with me.

 On a 6 year old small breed diagnosed with an enlarged heart, I would definitely be on my way to a cardiologist. Age alone is not an excuse, particularly in a dog so young

I can't speak for the quality of this group, but I did a google search of cardiologists near Baltimore and found this: http://www.cvcavets.com/  I have yet to hear what the specific condition is (did I miss it?)  "Old age related" means pretty much nada.