I'm a little concerned...

[atghylin]

Okay... here's the deal. Since August Felix has been having sporadic(sp?) but brief periods where he starts coughing for no reason. At first I thought it was because he enjoyed sleeping in the windows at the old house. August afternoons in Moses Lake reach into 100's and the front windows faced west... so the heat just boiled into the house if I left the curtains opened. Of course Felix always went behind the curtains so he could enjoy the sun. :roll: But they have continued here. And the other day he was in my closet with me (no sun) when he started coughing again. These spurts only seem to subside when I put Felix in my lap and scratch his ears until he's alseep.

Last night I was babysitting for someone who works with my hubby. The both left here around 3pm and I didn't expect them back until midnight. So I stayed up waiting... had 3 cups of coffee to help me make it too. :morning: Now maybe it was my over tired brain work too hard to deplete the caffine supply before I fell into bed who knows? But I finally realized how long Felix's coughing spurts have been going on and remembered what I had once read about the CKCS and MVD. Sporadic coughing spurts are a small indication that something is wrong with the heart but don't neccarly(sp?) point to MVD... it could be his lungs for all I know. AS comprehension dawned I nearly cried. :bigcry: Worse case... he has MVD and I could lose him in the next few months or 12 years. Best case... I don't know... my mind can't get past MVD.

I know I need to take him into see a vet but I've yet to find one I like in this area. I have problems finding doctors of any kind that I like well enough to trust. It's a left-over feeling from growing up in the Air Force and seeing how much my mom hated seeing military doctors. (Stupid I know but there it is) I went through 12 peds before I found one I liked and am still making the trip back to Moses Lake for the boys' check ups. I would do this for a vet too but I didn't particularly like the one I saw in Moses Lake. Felix is very much one of my children and I wouldn't trust any physician I couldn't talk to without worring how I'll be treated for my concerns. I'll have to find one soon.

I went in search for more information on MVD and maybe find a support forum to help me figure it all out and deal it last night... got no where. :(

Anyways... had to talk to someone other then hubby who is just as concerned as I am about this.


Amanda

[Guest Anonymous]

First thing try not to worry too much. You're right getting him to the vet is really the best idea because you don't know what's wrong. It could be something small. I know you said you haven't found a vet where you are, but do you know of any emergency clinics? If there's one nearby you could take Felix there. And they might be able to point you in the direction of a good vet that you feel you can trust. I understand that trust in any doctor (vet or human) is VERY important. But I would try to get him to a vet as soon as possible. Fingers crossed that everything will be okay and sending good thoughts your way.

[Guest Anonymous]

*Deleted*

[mouseatthebusstop]

My local vet lives less than a mile away but we travel ten miles to one who suits us. Could you ask other owners who they use. I agree you need a good vet you can trust

[atghylin]

Thanks guys. :)

SRC, I've never seen the iVillage site before. Thanks. It didn't exatly help much since Felix's sypmtoms didn't match any of the ones listed. I will however keep the page bookmarked for future referances.

Mouse, the problem with finding a vet that other Cavalier owners see is that I've only ever seen 1 other Cavalier and his owner. They were coming out of PetSmart as we were going in. The owner said that they were just leaving the vet's office there. I talked to the vet there and well... I'm not still not sure about him. He maybe the only choice I have though... especially for this situation.

[courtnek]

y'know, I HATE to say this, and to the male members of the board, this is not against you, but is this doctor male or female? If he's male, have your husband talk to him. I have found way too often that male doctors, for some reason, brush off females concerns, think we're "overreacting..."
I found that at my vet and now specifically request the female doctor to see my animals. For some reason, male doctors take other males more seriously...


this is not just vets, by the way, but people doctors too....

[imported_Cassie]

Here is an article you may find helpful...
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1610&articleid=462

I have also heard some great reports of using Coenzyme Q10, for heart problems...

Coenzyme Q10 is essential for energy production at the cellular level. It helps the body produce energy both by helping to create the enzymes the cell uses to create ATP and by creating energy directly. It is also an antioxidant.
It has been shown to benefit humans with various heart and muscle diseases. In humans with congestive heart failure, the worse the symptoms, the less Coenzyme Q10 is found in the body. With supplementation of Coenzyme Q10, patients have fewer symptoms of the disease which may result in less use of potentially harmful medications. Studies of its effects in pets are underway.

Coenzyme Q10 tissue levels decrease with age, especially in the heart, kidneys, and liver. Supplementation increases the energy and exercise tolerance in older animals and may be effective in correcting the age-related decline in the immune system. Deficiency in Coenzyme Q10 results in a lack of energy, increased free radical damage, and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. According to Nutramax, a company which produces Coenzyme Q10, it is safe to use in dogs, cats, and horses.

Coenzyme Q10 has not been officially recognized as a vitamin due to arguments over the definition of a vitamin. It was first discovered in beef hearts in 1957. It was used in Japan in the 1960's to treat congestive heart failure in humans. In the 1980's, Japan was producing sufficient quantities and treating patients with it.

Coenzyme Q10 can be found in sardines, liver, and peanuts. It is also made by the body in a complex process that involves eight vitamins and several trace minerals. If all of the necessary ingredients are not available, the body will not be able to make the final product, Coenzyme Q10.

Brewer's yeast may increase the absorption of Coenzyme Q10.

I hope this information helps a little...and as for a Vet, it is very important you have a good relationship with your vet. I wish you the best in finding a vet you like.
My sister owned a Newfoundland dog which had a heart problem....she would cough and hack at times....and her breathing was very...deep, or huffy...I can't think how to explain it....that Newfoundland dog lived to be 15 years old even with this heart problem...she led a normal life to the end...and she walked into the vet clinic on "the" day... :(
If it is a heart problem, I would seriously look into Coenzyme Q10 to help strenghten the heart...of course discuss this with your vet (when you find the right one :wink: ) first.

[atghylin]

cough and hack at times....and her breathing was very...deep, or huffy

That's exactly how Felix sounds!

My biggest fear is his age. Of everything I've read so far on MVD one thing stands out... dogs diagnosed before age 5 stand an increased chance of not living past that age. Felix is only 18 months old. :(

I will defiently look into Coenzyme Q10 and it's useage.

Courtnek, I really didn't want to hear your suggestion... BUT it rings true in just about every aspect of my life (excluded husband of course :wink: ). I tend to overlook/ignore it more often then not blaming ignorance for that particular attitude.

[courtnek]

sorry....tact is not my strong point....I say it like it is.... :oops: :oops:

Unfortunately, I have run into this repeatedly. My son and I are both diabetics..we have the same doctor...he pays more attention to what my 17 year old son says than he does to what I say, or ask about...even tryng to override me on issues I feel strongly about, because Kyle feels
differently...tries to get him to use every new medicine on the block (at EXTRAORDINARY price increases...) and when they didnt work, and I DEMANDED he be put back on the medicine that WAS working, he actually looked at Kyle and said "What do you think?" I am looking for a new doctor...I am not male-bashing...I just seem to run into this all the time.
They seem to want women to comply...I am NOT compliant if I dont agree...

**sigh**

[imported_Cassie]

atghylin, I also meant to add that omega 3 fatty acids are also great for strenthing the heart muscle...of course these are not cures and you will require the assistance of a vet....for my sisters Newf they did EKG's quite often and they alos x-rayed her lung and heart area....I think. There is also another herb called hawthorn which is supposed to help strengthen the heart.
We found that with rudy (the newf with the heart problem) we exercised her..but, did not over do it. Once we took her too far and she actually collasped...the two of us had to carry her back to the truck.

[atghylin]

That's okay Courtnek, I'm used to bluntness. My hubby can be painfully blunt on a regular basis. And I understand about human doctors. I went through at least 6 before I found one that actually listened to me. I saw one male doctor who was more interested in making a move on me then in treating the hives on my sons butt. Then completely dismissed my suggest that his "hurried" diagnoses was wrong. Didn't even prescibe an anti-histamine, either. :evil: Needless to say I filed a complaint and found someone else. A few weeks later I proved his diagnoses of an allergy to pull-ups wrong by changing the wipes I was using... my son cleared up 12 hours later. I ended up seeing the same doctor my sister does... why? Because her kids are in and out of this doctor's office constantly with fevers, various infections, and allergies.