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Archie's heart

7K views 101 replies 62 participants last post by  mfa 
#1 ·
Archie isn't feeling well these days....he had xrays a week and a half ago...at that time the vet said his heart was slightly enlarged and had what looked like a little fluid in it. So he wanted to rule out broncitis and put him on anti-biotics - they didn't work at all.

So we went back to the vet again and this time I asked for a different doctor who I had seen once before and liked her. She took more xrays and took me back to look at them. His heart is huge! it's on a slant because it doesn't fit in the space it should be. :w00t: She can't really see any fluid though.

She says he has heart disease and there's not much we can do for him. We are making an appointment up at Garden State Hospital with a cardiologist to get an ECG, that will give us more information about it.

He coughs all night long, the poor dude is tired all the time and his tail is down. You can just tell he doesn't feel good.

Here's my boy maybe five years ago:
Dog Mammal Vertebrate Dog breed Maltepoo



Here he is last year (before he got his car canal removed in July)
Dog Mammal Vertebrate Dog breed Maltepoo



And here he is now.
Dog Mammal Vertebrate Dog breed Canidae


I know he needs a good grooming. He is going tomorrow all by himself, I was afraid to send him with the others last week, not knowing what was wrong with him.


Oh, and his ear is horrible!! It just doesn't ever get better. :unsure:

This is all scaring me. I love him so much...
 
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#7 ·
Oh poor dude. Sounds like cardiomyopathy perhaps. He needs lasix and digoxin. It won't cure it, but it will improve his quality for how ever long he has. Ask about that. So sorry for all his troubles. He's a speical boy.
 
#22 ·
Oh poor dude. Sounds like cardiomyopathy perhaps. He needs lasix and digoxin. It won't cure it, but it will improve his quality for how ever long he has. Ask about that. So sorry for all his troubles. He's a speical boy.
Pam, he is on lasix right now, but today the vet said she didn't see any fluid. I need to call her back and ask her if I should continue giving it to him. He's also taking Enalapril - I think that's sort of a blood pressure med.

I'm so sorry. It is so hard when our baby's health declines.

Has he been on Vetmedin yet? My malt Holly also developed a significant heart murmur and had started coughing. The vet put her on Vetmedin and it made an amazing difference in her comfort and energy level, and her coughing stopped completely. She was on it the last 2 years of her life and lived to be 17. If your baby isn't on it yet, you might ask your vet about it.

VETMEDIN - Home Page
I just looked up the Vetmedin page - ummm, I don't think Archie is in CHF just yet. She thinks the cough is from his enlarged heart pressing on something causing it.

I really need to get him to the cardiologist and ask him about it. Hope I can get an appointment soon.
 
#8 ·
I'm so sorry. It is so hard when our baby's health declines.

Has he been on Vetmedin yet? My malt Holly also developed a significant heart murmur and had started coughing. The vet put her on Vetmedin and it made an amazing difference in her comfort and energy level, and her coughing stopped completely. She was on it the last 2 years of her life and lived to be 17. If your baby isn't on it yet, you might ask your vet about it.

VETMEDIN - Home Page
 
#10 ·
Hearing that sad new about your Archie brings back memories of our sweet Angel who also had heart problems and a collapsed treachea. Our Vet really could not do too much for Angel. I hope that the Vet that you will be taking Archie too will be able to help him out. How old is Archie??? He sure is adorable and I hope that things will start to look up for him Pat.
 
#11 ·
Wow, Pam I am so so SO very sorry to hear this. I haven't had any experiences like this so wont be able to give any advice. However I sincerely, with all of my heart, hope that Archie gets better! I'll be thinking of you and the little guy...Please keep us in the loop!
 
#16 ·
My Dear Pat, Iam In tears I Just read this.
I dont know alot of medical things about our fluffs. But I Do Know The Pain We Feel When This Happens. I Can Only Pray and really Pray alot for archie.
Have faith pat. Wish i could do more. You both will be in my thoughts. ill check back for updates. Kiss Archie for me and you try to be strong. Nickee in Pa*
 
#20 ·
A..........Adorable Archie :smootch:

R..........Ray of sunshine:Sunny Smile:

C..........Cardiologist Doctor will make you feel better:aktion033:

H..........Heart of Gold:heart:

I...........In no time you will feel better :thumbsup:

E...........Everybody is praying for you:innocent::innocent::innocent:





*
 
#23 ·
Oh poor sweet Archie boy :(. Pat, I know you must be so worried about him. I would ask the specialist to do an echo (echocardiogram) which is an ultrasound of the heart. This will help identify structural and functional capacity. And ECG or EKG is an electrocardiogram which gives info on electrical activity. Make sure they do the Echo. Don't fear... There are meds that he can take that can make him feel better. It's beyond hard watching out special pups age. ::hugs::
 
#24 ·
You guys always make me feel so much better when I worry about the kids. Archie is such a special guy to me...:wub:....he's the best dog I ever had.


Ava is the cutest, but Archie....he's the dog everyone loves....and he's ok with it. ....he's not a scardey dog or a nervous dog nor a needy or overly kissey dog. He's just Archie. My dude.
 
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