bad heart

[anthony127]

I have an 11 yr. Old which Tzu with a bad heart valve. He has good kidney and liver function. Been to the vet ...started a regimen of Vetmedin and Enalapril for more than a week now. This am he had difficulty using his back legs and balance when he woke up and got off his pillow.he was better after a few minutes. He also presents difficulty in evacuating his bowels. I started him on a regimen of Metamucil with somewhat acceptable results. YESTERDAY I dismissed the Metamucil and decided to use pumpkin every other day until I get a normal cycle for him. I LOVE MY DOG AND DON'T want to put him down. I changed his VET to someone local and am happy with her. AM I torturing him with what I'm doing.is he in pain. HELP.

[anthony127]

Thanks for the advice. No one ever mention the possibility of clotting. I will look into it.

[Jerry_NJ]

Many, maybe most adult, humans have some valve deficiencies and live quite will with them.  

In my case I lived with a leaky mirtral valve (Between the left atrium and ventricle) - I assume a dog heart has a similar construction.  If this valve leaks badly it can cause atrial fibrillation and possible blood clots.  

So I ask for two reasons:  how does the doctor know? i.e., how solid is the diagnosis?  and if a mitral valve some effort should be made to determine if there is any fibrillation, or even unusual high heart rate... which my, I will guess, suggest the use of some protection against clot formation. These meds for humans are not expensive.

[ChewyLab]

I'm going through the same situation. My dog is taking enalpryl and lasix for congested heart failure.  He is 15 yrd old labrador.  He has some good days and bad days . As the disease approaches late stages, his off days are more frequent like today.  I've been putting him also on supplements/vitamins that helps the heart pumps blood effectively. The vitamin has taurin in it that supposedly good for the heart.  Always check with your vet before you administer the vitamins as different breeds react differently.  I'm sorry that I can't be much more help.....As pet owners, we are dreading the time that we have to say goodbye to our beloved fury kids. Hang in there!

[anthony127]

Thanks for responding. I was informed of my Shin Tzu's bad heart valve @ a year ago. HisEKG came back ok which I find suspect. Xrays did not show anything abnormal. This am he is up and about eating and pooping normal. Some days are good and some are bad. As far as what valve is bad what would be the difference .....the meds etc. I want to make him comfortable and pain free as best as I can without taking a second mortgage assuming there is no cure for his condition.

[Jerry_NJ]

Sorry I can't be of direct help, but it sounds like you are taking steps to extend the life (and quality of life) of your dog.

How do you know you dog has a bad heart valve?  which one(s)?  Is this just a call form the "ear".. vet listened with a stereoscope?  In humans it take an echo cardiogram to identify valve problems.  There are other methods, but the echo is none invasive and often used, and has been used in my case several times.

Going from what I know from a human perspective I will say a minor valve problem should not be painful or have any obvious symptoms... the loss of bowel and rear legs sounds more like a spinal stroke to me - going from experience with dogs, not people in this case. You may want to discuss this with your vet.  My experience there is the vet may say dogs frequently get over such strokes, they may not fully recover but will gain strength and ability to walk and take care of toilet needs.

Good luck.. I don't know what you said about the breed, but if it is a large dog 11 years old is already in the advanced age band, for a small dog it is late middle age.