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6 month old puppy, grade 5 heart murmur
I took my 6 month old pomeranian mix pup to the vet to be spayed. shortly after i dropped her off they called and told me she has a grade 5 heart murmur and they cannot do the surgery. When I went to pick her up they gave me a bottle of pills, Enapril, and said it would relieve the stress on her heart. I asked to speak with the Dr. and she would not answer any questions. The only information I have is that because of her age it is probably a birth defect, give her the medication and if you want to know more take her to a cardiologist. Can any one tell me what this murmur means for my puppy?
Best Answer
It means she has a severe heart problem which may require some type of surgery. Take her back to wherever you got her from, which I am guessing was a pet store or puppy mill breeder or someone else who is trying to make big bucks by creating a designer dog as you say she is a Pom mix. Get your money back and see about getting a puppy from a reputable breeder. You were NOT given a healthy puppy and in most cases a murmur that bad would have been heard long before now. She is probably headed for congestive heart failure, if she is not already there and a shorten life.
Can I ask how your dog is doing? Our 9 week old puppy has just been diagnosed with a grade 5 heart murmur. Thank you. Maria.
@joeykttn! Thank you for such kind words!
Wow, I'm sorry about your pup too! how sad... The vet has put her on a heart medication, Enalapril, twice a day, every day for the rest of her life. which could be anywhere from a few months to a couple years is his guess. She is not symptomatic yet, which is good for her! We also cannot afford heart surgery... (dang it, if only i had bought puppy health insurance!)
I wish your family and pets a very happy healthy life! (((Hugs to you too)))
Wow, I'm sorry about your pup too! how sad... The vet has put her on a heart medication, Enalapril, twice a day, every day for the rest of her life. which could be anywhere from a few months to a couple years is his guess. She is not symptomatic yet, which is good for her! We also cannot afford heart surgery... (dang it, if only i had bought puppy health insurance!)
I wish your family and pets a very happy healthy life! (((Hugs to you too)))
Thank you :) like most families, our finances won't allow for thousands to be spent on vet bills. We are going to keep her for as long as her little heart allows. which from what I've read: maybe a couple years, maybe a few months. only time will tell.... Thank you for your replies!
Hi. I'm very sorry your little girl has a heart condition. I don't know what advice to give, but wanted to share my story briefly because we are in a similar situation.
We got a 10 week old boxer and by 15 weeks of age, he was diagnosed as having a congenital kidney problem that put him in very serious renal failure. We contacted the breeder, and she has refunded the money, and we have decided to keep him. We had already invested quite a bit of money at that point, and he is symptom free at this point (thanks to the fluids & meds), but it will eventually kill him..just a matter of when. We chose to keep him so he could live his life out with his family who loves him, vs just being put down by a backyard breeder who doesn't care. Our children (6 of them) all know he is sick, and the older ones know the full extent, as well as the prognosis. We spoil him rotten, and love him up every day, because we just don't know how long we have with him.
Is there any way you vet can give you any idea what her quality of life will be, or how long? Are they recommending euthanasia? Or do they think her life could be extended with meds? (Surgery would probably be out of the option for us, financially). Ultimately, you just have to take the facts & decide whats best for the pup & your family. If you keep her, I'd be honest with your daughter & just explain in the best way you can.
((((hugs)))) to you, your daughter & your puppy. It's very hard hoping for a puppy to share life with & then finding out they are so sick :(
We got a 10 week old boxer and by 15 weeks of age, he was diagnosed as having a congenital kidney problem that put him in very serious renal failure. We contacted the breeder, and she has refunded the money, and we have decided to keep him. We had already invested quite a bit of money at that point, and he is symptom free at this point (thanks to the fluids & meds), but it will eventually kill him..just a matter of when. We chose to keep him so he could live his life out with his family who loves him, vs just being put down by a backyard breeder who doesn't care. Our children (6 of them) all know he is sick, and the older ones know the full extent, as well as the prognosis. We spoil him rotten, and love him up every day, because we just don't know how long we have with him.
Is there any way you vet can give you any idea what her quality of life will be, or how long? Are they recommending euthanasia? Or do they think her life could be extended with meds? (Surgery would probably be out of the option for us, financially). Ultimately, you just have to take the facts & decide whats best for the pup & your family. If you keep her, I'd be honest with your daughter & just explain in the best way you can.
((((hugs)))) to you, your daughter & your puppy. It's very hard hoping for a puppy to share life with & then finding out they are so sick :(
Ithink you have to look at several issues. Your finances would be one as well as how much available time to you have to invest in taking care of a sick puppy. You also have to consider your family's emotional bond. Take the puppy back to the breeder and get your money back. Do not take another puppy as this type of problem could be running wild in her breeding program (if she is a true, reputable breeder).
On a side note: Margot started a thread called Buyers Beware; I believe that wasthe title of it. I also posted on that thread a list of questions for buyers to ask the breeder. Make a copy of that page and ask the questions. I'll go and 'bump' that post for you. Good luck!
On a side note: Margot started a thread called Buyers Beware; I believe that wasthe title of it. I also posted on that thread a list of questions for buyers to ask the breeder. Make a copy of that page and ask the questions. I'll go and 'bump' that post for you. Good luck!
Thank you for your reply! I did take her to a second vet, and your correct. Our pup has been diagnosed with a PDA. From what the vet explained to me it is a pretty serious condition and will lead to heart failure. From what I have read about this defect it can be corrected surgically but should be done when the pup is very young (2 months) before damage to the heart has occured (it was 4 months when we got it). I have contacted the breeder I got her from, she has agreed to give us another puppy or refund our money. In either case she says we keep the sick one, as she would have her put down if we returned it. Any advise on what to tell my 8 yr old little girl....
Oh, yes......if your vet would not answer any questions (allowing for her not being with another patient or doing surgery herself) get another vet.
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