[Dailydrool] cardiomyopathy

[Karen]

I completely agree with Bev on this issue.   My friend and fellow basset slave lost Chloe on 
Christmas morning due what was thought to be a heart attack.  When I babysat for niece
Chloe  in June I noticed that she was breathing hard and had a harsh cough at night.   
Anna took Chloe to her vet for her checkup and was told "Everything is normal
except for that little heart murmur.  She probably just has allergies."  When I watched Chloe
again she was no better and I could hear the murmur easily.  About 1 1/2 weeks before Chloe
journeyed to the Bridge, Anna again took her to the vet because she was deteriorating.  Her 
murmur had gone from a Grade 2 to a Grade 5 in a year.  No medication was prescribed!  
Before Chloe  could undergo the tests she passed away while watching family members wrap 
those last minute Christmas presents.  

Heart murmurs, Cardiomyopathy or anything to do with the heart is not a issue that you can 
ignore.  I am going to disagree with Sara as there is a difference between Cardiomyopathy 
and a Heart Murmur.   I will use simply terms to explain the difference.  

With a heart murmur the valve(s) that control the one way flow of blood fails in or out of the 4 
chambers of the heart fail to seal properly due to many different causes.  What happens then 
is you get a back flow of blood which if bad enough can lead to an enlarged heart, 
Cardiomyopathy and eventually complete heart failure if not monitored and the grade of the
murmur is at a level that blood flow is restricted and pools in the heart which can lead to heart 
failure and blood clots in the worst case scenario.

There are 2 different types of Cardiomyopathy (also referred to as Heart Failure.  
1.  Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which is rare in dogs, occurs when the walls of the heart 
thicken.   Because of the thickened chamber walls the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently 
and means decreased oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

2. Canine Dilative Cardiomyopathy occurs when the heart muscles weaken and the walls become
thinner.  What happens because of this is the heart is unable to pump the blood effectively, blood pool
in the heart and can cause the heart to continue to enlarge.  Again with the decreased ability for the
heart to pump efficiently, the cells will receive less nutrients and oxygen.  

There are so many risks with murmurs and cardiomyopathy that can be decreased with medication, diet
and weight control.  I still believe the best test for a canine with these issues (or suspected issues) is to have 
a cardiac ultrasound done so you can see the extent of the heart's condition.   A murmur makes a kind of
wooshing noise which is called a thrill.

I listen to the gang's heart once a month to see if anything is going on.   Yep they get a mini assessment by
mom before and after their toebone chopping and ear cleaning.   I am not sure the gang always appreciates
their MommaSlave for her nurse skills but oh well.....


We are sending Get Well Soon, Heart Comforting Drool to all those in need.
Karen and The Dog House Gang with our Fabulous Freddie
Volunteer/Foster for Golden Gate Basset Rescue
Please Visit Freddie's Cancer Treatment Fundraiser Page:
 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/FabulousFreddie/golden-gate-basset-rescue-inc
Vote for Ozark Mountain Basset Rescue in the 2011 Shelter Challenge:
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/shelterchallenge.faces?siteId=3
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