Not well 10 and a half year old.

[Maria1969yellow]

Hello everyone,

My oldest cavalier who is 10 and half has been diagnosed with heart problems and is on frutix and Vetmedin, Even though there as been an improvement and weekly check up with my vets for some reason they cannot give me an answer why my girl has had cramp like siezures (only 3 times too many!) But it only lasts for a few seconds or so. Fortunately there is always someone home and we have been around all three times that we know its happened to calm her down (theres a look of despare in her eyes as shes going through it.)

The vet assures us we are not prolonging her life but giving her quality of life by her being on medication and to be honest I believe them or want to but they cannot explain to me what I have just mentioned.

She is in good spirtits and as I have done my research on the medications shes on iim sure its not the medication.

Each time she has had a siesure I actually have given her some bush flower essences and even my hubby has said it seems to work.

Any suggestions or similar situations would be great.

Maria

[matties mum]

I cannot say what it is it sound alot like what my last dog was having have you seen the site
MVDincavaliers Mitral Valve disease in cavaliers
I cannot do the link thing but they might be able to answers question or give advice
If I should not put this here will some one remove it please
----Aileen and the gang(Jazzie --Barney--Sam)

[selina]

My father inlaws pomeranian goes all stiff. He has been diagnosed with epilepsy and he is an older dog. Maybe she has a mild form of that. Flower remedies are great. I use rescue remedy all the time, for the animals and the humans. The Poms on meds for his epilepsy but they try to keep him as calm as possible as well and that seems to help.

[Maria1969yellow]

Thankyou for the link and I never thought of epilepsy. Thats what it seems like. Had the bush flowers in the cupboard and thought while she was going through the first one. I felt so helpless and when the vet had nothing to tell me I decided on the second one to give them a go.

Reassuring to hear from the posts that it might just be temporarilly.

Thankyou again to you both for replying.

[Claire]

Maria, I hope you find a solutions, do you think it also may be a side effect of the tablets? I am sure that Karlin or one of the others may be able to help you more.

[Kodee]

Oh this is a hard time, I'm sorry - I was there recently too. Are you sure about the meds, because I have a terrible time with muscle issues and they are do to meds for other things, quite a common side effect for many medications. Also heart issues can cause muscle issues I've read.

Sorry not much help to offer other than dont forget to take care of yourself during this stressful time. Its so easy to forget to or not bother too, but then that just makes it that much harder to be there for her if you dont.

[Nicki]

Sorry to hear about your Oldie, Maria.

I too am wondering if it might be a side effect of the drugs...but it also may be due to poor circulation due to the MVD.

It might be worth posting on the specialist MVD list, run by Anita - there are people on there with extensive experience of MVD, and they might be able to help.

http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/MVDincavaliers/

The other possiblity is eplilepsy - are you able to take some video footage when an episode happnes to show your vet?

There's some information about epilepsy here

http://www.cavaliertalk.com/phpBB2/p...editpost&p=444


My oldie, Rupert, suffers focal seizures - he is also 10 1/2. He has had these for a few years now, generally his head nods, he stares into space, sometimes he gets a tremor along his spine, and very occasionally he loses control of his bladder.

It only lasts a very short time, just seconds, and most of the time now Rupert is not too bothered by them, only if he gets the tremor along his spine.

[Maria1969yellow]

Hi Nikki thankyou for your post. My Tia just looks like yours in the photo,

I am going to have a look at the link. I really love my vet but unfortunately theyve franchised and I get a different vet each week and you cant book in with just one. Which is annoying. I loved the one who diagnosed Tia as he helped us through when we lost my hubbies dog and I trust him. Its a pain but I have grown up with animals al my life and know that Tia is doing well. I just have got scared when the vets dont tell me anything and they basically said they can just up her medication shes already on. Im pretty sure with al the research i have done so far. When you get to a certain piont when the meds dont work that theres nothing else that they can do. But shes in good spirits and still wants to come for her walks. (Just we take it easier with her now.)

Thankyou again. Im loving viewing everyones posts.

[Maria1969yellow]

Hi Nikki thankyou for your post. My Tia just looks like yours in the photo,

I am going to have a look at the link. I really love my vet but unfortunately theyve franchised and I get a different vet each week and you cant book in with just one. Which is annoying. I loved the one who diagnosed Tia as he helped us through when we lost my hubbies dog and I trust him. Its a pain but I have grown up with animals al my life and know that Tia is doing well. I just have got scared when the vets dont tell me anything and they basically said they can just up her medication shes already on. Im pretty sure with al the research i have done so far. When you get to a certain piont when the meds dont work that theres nothing else that they can do. But shes in good spirits and still wants to come for her walks. (Just we take it easier with her now.)

Thankyou again. Im loving viewing everyones posts.

[Nicki]

Hi Maria - the dog in the avatar is my Kyla, she's 7 in a few weeks. Her GrandSire is Rupert's Sire, so they are related...

This is Rupert



I'm glad that Tia is doing ok - enjoy the good times, and we're here to support you for the not so good ones.

It's a shame about your vet practice - I much prefer seeing the same vet, so they build a relationship with the dog too. I have had to learn to be assertive - I'm paying the vet for the service they provide...I know they can't work miracles, but they are a partner in my companions' care, and I expect to be treated with the same respect as I treat them. The vet should be keeping you informed...

I don't think we can ever really prepare ourselves for the day when they are no longer here...all you can do is make the most of each day you have left, I always tell mine how much I love them EVERY day.

It's horrid to have to think about, but maybe you can make a list of the things that Tia values most highly in her life? So that when it comes to having to make a decision, you are prepared.

I would rather take them for just a very short walk, and have a happy dog, even if that meant maybe having a shorter time left with them- quality is more important than quantity...{ I knew of one very special Cavalier who also had MVD, who just used to do 10 steps out of the door to the lamp post and back every day, but it was the highlight of her day}

When Rupert was really bad with Syringomyelia almost 3 years ago, my husband and I made a list of things that made Rupert's quality of life worthwhile, with the understanding that if he was no longer able to do these things on a permanent basis, that we would let him go.

Rupert's favourite things are his walks, eating, being out in the garden...when he can no longer manage these with dignity, we will give him his wings.

Some things you can do to make it easier at the time, are to think about whether you wish to opt for an individual cremation - where you will have the ashes returned to you; or maybe you can plant something in the garden in memory, or even create a memory garden. Some people make scrapbooks of their dog's life. Special photos can be helpful too.

These things are hard to think about now but it makes it easier at the time rather than having to make a quick decision - ie you can find out if your vet will come out to the house for euthanasia, or would you have to go in to the surgery; the vet should be able to recommend a crematorium etc.

Sorry I know this will be upsetting you, but honestly it does help at the time...I have been there, lost one of our girlies very suddenly at 5 1/2 and we were totally unprepared - then had to give another girlie her wings last year. I was prepared this time and her passing was very peaceful at home, we were feeding her prawns, her favourite. we had already decided to have an individual cremation, and they were lovely.


This website is lovely, they have a candle ceremony for those at the Bridge but also thoughts for animals who are poorly http://www.petloss.com/needs/fneedlst.htm