Thursday, February 25, 2021

Affair of the Heart


     We’re off to the vet this afternoon for the second time in less than a week. The good news (I suppose) is that it’s unrelated to the first trip. Mamie’s been shaking her head harder than any foot-stomping, mutinous toddler ever could. It seems to be her ear that’s bothering her, so we’ll be going before she gets a concussion from suddenly jumping up under a low table (like she did last night) and almost bashing her head on it.

     Last week’s visit was more serious stuff. Our girl has always had a heart murmur, but there’s been no apparent impact up until now. However, my consultation with Dr. Google told me that her new dry coughing and dry heaves were likely to be heart related.

     Off to the vet, where I gained a whole new perspective on Mamie.


Sure enough, X-rays revealed an enlarged heart and some fluid in her lungs, so now I’m wrapping teeeeny pill segments in cheese twice a day. She seems to be feeling much better, and I’m sure thinks this new windfall of cheese is pretty cool, too.  

     Oh, and the vet’s name? Dr. Barksdale. I kid you not. Talk about having a pre-ordained career path.

 

17 comments:

  1. Poor Mamie! We used to have a dog with an enlarged heart and medicine made a huge difference for her.

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  2. Poor, poor Mamie. And you. This has hit close to home because I am currently having tests to see I am beset with the same problem. Or will be when I reach the top of the hospital waiting list.
    Dr Barksdale cracked me up. Years back we had a doctor called Dr Death - though he insisted it was pronounced Dr Deeth.

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    1. I'll just bet he did!
      If you can make it to Florida, maybe I can hook you up with out vet.

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  3. Oh DANG! Mamie's heart like my pups heart, which led to congestive failure in the end. Glad you got an inside look and some meds. You have a good vet! Ours just shrugged and sort of sent us off with "shit happens". Anyway, Bless her little pup heart, stay well.

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    1. Yup. That was her diagnosis - congestive heart failure. Meds seem to be doing the trick though.

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  4. Barksdale is almost too wonderful to be true.
    It is much easier to give dogs medicine than it is for cats.

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  5. when our boxer got old and started have arthritis in her hip we would give her her pill in a clump of liverwurst.

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  6. Replies
    1. Yes, along with heart and blood pressure medications.

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  7. My sister, the animal pill whisperer, would be a zillionaire if she could tell people how she pops pills down any animal's throat. Of the household pet variety.

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    1. So I guess she's not wrestling blood pressure meds down a wolverine or cougar's throat, . . . .
      I became a master with cats, but here I am now with a canine, but fortunately she's a floozie for cheese.

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  8. So sorry about the diagnosis but happy that the meds seem to be working and that your vet got right on it.

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  9. I do hope Mamie's heart and lungs improve and that there is nothing seriously wrong with her ears. She's such a cutie-pie.

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    1. Just otitis and that should clear up in a week. And I won't be wakened anymore at 3 a.m. with the RATTLE, RATTLE, RATTLE of her tags and collar.

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  10. Ear troubles can drive a dog nuts with head shaking. Chance often got an infection after going to the groomers...I finally told them to stuff his ears with cotton balls before bathing him and that helped...I would still put mineral oil in his years after a grooming:)

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    1. Aww - Chance. I always enjoyed your posts about him.
      Thanks for the heads-up about the groomers. She'd just been this week.

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  11. Pets are so hard to diagnose unless you really see them daily and understand the changes. Glad all is well in dog land.

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