What a week - so glad it's nearly over.

If you've read my previous post from Monday, my collie cross dog had an issue with fluid having built up in his lungs on Sunday which required us to take a trip to the emergency out of hours vet and then do our regular vet on Tuesday.

He has a heart valve problem which immediately induces panic in me. Despite both the emergency vet and the regular vet saying that this was only a little blip in what otherwise has been successful treatment to date, I just don't seem to want to believe them. I'm on edge 24/7 and last night, he had a minor cough when he got excited, one that lasted only a minute or so. In a panic I had my wife phone our vet, who again said not to worry.

And he's fine! Ok, he needed a few days to get back to normal but he's eating really well, excited for walking and wants to play all the time.

The whole week has just been awful to the point I just broke down crying last night with the stress of the week.

So I guess the point of repeating my original story (and sorry for that in advance) - does anyone have any (pardon the pun) 'heart warming' tales of their dog living with heart valve disease that might help focus my mind away from thinking any little change is a sign of impending doom!

Really feeling like I'm at my wits end. Sorry for being such a bore!

No stories for you sorry. The longer he stays well the more your confidence will come back. Try not to be too anxious around him as he'll pick up your emotions. Best of luck to you.

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[SIGPIC][SIGPIC]

Last time my dog was at the cardiologist having his annual DCM scan she told me that heart valves that leak are so common they are almost normal and they usually only get noticed when hearts are scanned for something else

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Wow - You know I've never heard that before. I'm used to either hearing leaky vavles mean you maynot survive very long or, at the other end, stories of dogs lasting many, many more years.

Thanks for that.

No, mine has has one. If he hadn't been part of a research program into heart problems we would of never known

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How long has yours had one? Do you know which it is?

His first scan which was when it showed up was four years ago. I cant remember which it is now

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Ours was diagnosed March with Mitral Valve insufficiency, which resulted in meds. Has yours had to take anything for his valves?

Nothing at all

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Hi all,

It’s been a little while since I last posted about our dog’s heart condition (he has mitral valve disease). I tend only to post when things aren’t going so well but at the risk of undoing all of our good work up until now, I’m writing with things much more stable and with a very contented, happy dog.

Our cardiologist increased his dosage of Vetmedin and Fortekor at the start of August – what a change! Firstly his weight returned to normal levels, he is now eating much more than he ever did prior to his diagnosis and his exercise and agility levels are as good as they have ever been. As an eternal worrier, I’m always waiting for the first sign of trouble and have been since he was first diagnosed in March.

We are moving to the USA and the best gift of all was to hear that he would be able to travel with us. We are sailing on the Queen Mary 2, meaning he’ll have his own kennel and then we’ll drive from New York to Texas. We’re very excited but, as ever, I’m apprehensive and worried about the stress the move might have on him.

Unfortunately, we’ll have to give up our health insurance when we leave and his new American policy will exclude the heart condition. However, we will now have local cardiologists which specialise in valve surgery – perhaps this will come to nothing but again, it’s something we would never have thought of here in the UK.