Holly
- Thread starter Hollysdad
- Start date
Big hugs to Holly xxx
- Location
- Monmouthshire, Wales
This weeks vet visit brought more mixed news.
The good news is that Holly is coming off the antibiotics. It was a long course to ensure that the infections was well and truly gone. Her temperature remains normal, and she’s having undisturbed nights. We've taken her for short walks in the woods and she enjoys that a lot.
The bad news is that her respiration and heart rates are still high. Resting breathing is 30-50 per minute and heart is 160. He’s taken bloods to make sure that her drug dose is OK and will phone through the results tomorrow or Saturday. After that we’ll decide what to do next. He started to prepare us in case this is the new normal, but also commented that he could try other heart drugs if these aren’t doing their job.
Holly is her normal stoic self. She just takes it all in her stride.
The good news is that Holly is coming off the antibiotics. It was a long course to ensure that the infections was well and truly gone. Her temperature remains normal, and she’s having undisturbed nights. We've taken her for short walks in the woods and she enjoys that a lot.
The bad news is that her respiration and heart rates are still high. Resting breathing is 30-50 per minute and heart is 160. He’s taken bloods to make sure that her drug dose is OK and will phone through the results tomorrow or Saturday. After that we’ll decide what to do next. He started to prepare us in case this is the new normal, but also commented that he could try other heart drugs if these aren’t doing their job.
Holly is her normal stoic self. She just takes it all in her stride.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Apparently there are LOTS they can try, so I hope Holly finds the combination that works for her. My friend's chihuahua Fine has been dealing with heart issues for a year or so now and is finally doing better after a lot of experimentation. The last thing they tried - which seems to be working very well - is Viagra. Who knew?
- Location
- Monmouthshire, Wales
It's good to know there are lots of options.
Chatting to the vet we're all focussed on quality of life, particularly walks as these are a big motivator for Holly. She gets bored by short walks in the local fields and loves muddy romps in the woods. She currently starts to flag at about 30 minutes so increasing the length of walks is one of our objectives.
It was originally developed to treat angina. Until the male subjects reported an interesting side effect.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Still used in human medicine.
We have a patient on it for Pumonary Hypertension.
Maybe a second one for something cardiac, but not sure what exactly.
We have a patient on it for Pumonary Hypertension.
Maybe a second one for something cardiac, but not sure what exactly.
- Location
- Monmouthshire, Wales
Not a good day.
Holly had a very restless night and has been very passive this morning, almost depressed. We had a scheduled vet checkup this morning and it wasn't good. Her heart rate is still around 160 and erratic. We're increasing the dose of one medication to try and strengthen her heart muscles, but we're taking it to the maximum dose. There's not much more we can do except monitor her health and respond to changes.
The vet indicated that we've entered the phase of managing her quality of life. Maybe we should be letting her dictate the length of her walks so she enjoys her remaining time. It's better for her than lying at home miserable.
Some hard decisions need to be made.
Holly had a very restless night and has been very passive this morning, almost depressed. We had a scheduled vet checkup this morning and it wasn't good. Her heart rate is still around 160 and erratic. We're increasing the dose of one medication to try and strengthen her heart muscles, but we're taking it to the maximum dose. There's not much more we can do except monitor her health and respond to changes.
The vet indicated that we've entered the phase of managing her quality of life. Maybe we should be letting her dictate the length of her walks so she enjoys her remaining time. It's better for her than lying at home miserable.
Some hard decisions need to be made.
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Phil, I'm so sorry that you, Ruth and Holly find yourselves in this situation. I imagine taking things on a daily basis and giving her as much pleasure as possible is how you will manage things xx
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
I am so very sorry to read this @Hollysdad 
.
.We did this with Sky (I know different reasons - hers were arthritis). Some days she was very much up for her walks and F would often have to bring her back after a little way. Other days she showed no interest in going for a walk but I’d coax her to an area of grass around the corner from us and let her just sniff. We were always prepared that if necessary, the person at home would come and pick us up by car if Sky appeared to be finding it too much. I hope you find a way that works for you so Holly gets as much quality of life
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Not what you want to hear.
So sorry. Big hugs to you all.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
I'm so sorry to read this, Phil. It hurts so much to see them struggle.
- Location
- Monmouthshire, Wales
We had a similar situation with Cocoa, our last Lab. She had arthritic hips. We padded the boot with an old duvet and would take her on short drives to her favourite places. She would walk a few paces, lie down and smell things, then repeat for a while. Sometimes we'd have to carry her back to the car. It gave her great pleasure in her last few months.I am so very sorry to read this @Hollysdad
We did this with Sky (I know different reasons - hers were arthritis). Some days she was very much up for her walks and F would often have to bring her back after a little way. Other days she showed no interest in going for a walk but I’d coax her to an area of grass around the corner from us and let her just sniff. We were always prepared that if necessary, the person at home would come and pick us up by car if Sky appeared to be finding it too much. I hope you find a way that works for you so Holly gets as much quality of life
- Location
- Monmouthshire, Wales
Looking at various online sources the prognosis for enlarged heart seems to be 6-24 months. She's well advanced, but it happened very quickly so she has a good level of residual fitness. She's not in pain, which is a blessing. She still has her appetite.
According to the vet its very rare for dogs to collapse so we can expect a gradual degradation in her health.
Tomorrow we'll try her on a slightly longer walk, maybe including a stop so she can have a rest. We'll see where it goes from there.
According to the vet its very rare for dogs to collapse so we can expect a gradual degradation in her health.
Tomorrow we'll try her on a slightly longer walk, maybe including a stop so she can have a rest. We'll see where it goes from there.
- Location
- East Sussex
I'm so sorry you are going through this with Holly. I'm glad she's still enjoying food. x