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Irish folks: interested in getting a cardiologist day for murmur testing?

Karlin

Administrator
Staff member
I am looking into the possibility of hosting a group day for getting cavaliers auscultated (listened to by a cardiologist for heart murmurs).

This would be held in Dublin -- maybe at the cardiologist's clinic or maybe on a weekend day at Dog Training Ireland, if they are willing (we could also do a cavalier fun day as part of the event perhaps!).

I am not sure what kind of cost would be there -- I don't think nearly as low as the subsidised days clubs can negotiate in North America or the UK for example, but it would likely be lower than this would otherwise cost.

As many know, heart disease is endemic in the breed and vets miss over half of early-grade murmurs so often murmurs are only diagnosed when they are quite high. Seeing a cardiologist is best practice for our cavalier's health and I would think the cardiologist might be willing to give us a talk about good heart care.

If people are interested could they reply here with the number of dogs they might bring? I will be taking Leo and Lucy in myself to Ireland's sole cardiologist Monday as they both now have high grade murmurs :( and will talk to him then about this possibility.

I would think we'd need at least 20 dogs or so to make this work. Of those, I'd already have three I'd have done (as two will have been done on Monday). So I can start the count with three!
 
Brilliant idea Karlin, it would be great to have a cavalier fun day too...I would probably have my 2 listened to :)
 
I would definitely be interested in bringing Chloe and Millie to this if it goes ahead. Rex has already been seen by the cardiologist in Rathfarnham so Im not sure if he would benefit in being screened again - but maybe it would be no harm. Count us in!
 
I would definitely be interested in this Karlin, it's such a brillant idea. The vet already diagnosed Darcy with a heart murmur but I have asked 4 seperate vets to refer me to a cardiologist and each one refused telling me it was not necessary as her murmur is quite low (grade 1 to 2 at most). I also contacted UCD but they would only see me with a referral. Please count us in, it would really be a huge weight off my shoulders to know she was getting sound professional advice.
 
Great -- I spoke briefly to him and we are going to discuss more on Monday. It is frustrating that vets view a specialist as a last-ditch support so often -- really, getting an xray at the start for example, so you have a baseline to measure progression and shape treatment, is the norm in so many countries. Also I think it is really helpful to get an accurate auscultation for the grade. What seems a fast onset murmur might actually have been a slow onset murmur that was missed in early stages.
 
You can count ny two in as well Karlin. Trapper has a grade 2 murmur diagnosed in UCD when both were being checked out for SM but he has never seen a cardiologist.
Have you a date in mind?
 
This is a great response and I am definitely going to set up an auscultation day. This would likely work out at about €30 per dog plus VAT -- maybe a little less -- I am sure many would find that price attractive! Mr Mullany said he would be happy to do a little talk on heart health issues in cavaliers and what to watch for and when to treat.

Interestingly he does not feel dogs should be on medication simply for a murmur, even a higher grade murmur. He prefers to see certain clinical shifts towards congestive heart failure before medicating.

Maybe we will do this for early September? I am conscious of trying to find a time when people are not on holidays and so forth.

As long as we have at least 10 we will go ahead and I'd love to see more.

Do people feel OK with the first half of September? If so I will approach him about whether there's a good weekend date for him. Or we could do an evening I'd suspect. He is in Rathfarnham and we might go there or we could go to DTI if that was OK with them.

On the good news side -- though Lucy and Leo both now have murmurs -- he heard a murmur in two chambers on each, a 3 and a 4 on Lucy, and a 2 and a 3 on Leo -- they were otherwise in very good form. To give some context of why it is so helpful to go to a specialist -- his grade was a gull grade lower than what vets in Ireland and the Uk had said for each. Leo's murmur is quite local which was good. Both had a strong pulse, good circulation, good liver, and were in no need of meds at this stage. It was very interesting to get the detail he was able to supply on each separate murmur and I feel much more informed and confident about what I am dealing with at this point.

I'd like to set this up as an annual event or if there's demand we could do it twice yearly.
 
If you can get a weekend date, count me in - a week night would be tricky for me unless it starts a bit later.
 
Oh wow, that price is so reasonable, I was truly expecting the cost to be well over €100 considerng the cost of seeing a consultant in Ireland. Spetember is good for me, evening or weekends. I will quite happily take time of work so that I can take this oppurtunity for Darcy. Many thanks Karlin.
 
I expected it to be double that price or more but he basically charged me the same cost as a basic vet consult. I will get all the rest of mine done now when we have this heart day. :)
 
OMG Karlin that price is AMAZING, you can definitely count my 2 in, a weekend in September would be best for me with work etc.

This is a fantastic idea, can I put this up on my facebook for non Cavalier Talk people but who have Cavaliers? I have a couple of friends who would be interested?
 
I definitely will plan to have this available to anyone with a cavalier but maybe better to wait til we have a date sorted but it is fine to post and see if there's interest. I can't confirm a cost yet, but am noting that this is around what I was charged for having my own done. If there's a limit to how many the cardiologist will auscultate, he can let me know and then, we can have an advanced sign-up (which I would do anyway and perhaps do an advanced payment for the day). If lots are interested we will schedule a second day.

I can do a day anytime so if people are interested in doing something over the summer let me know. I would think maybe we'd do a Sunday afternoon or a Saturday afternoon...
 
Thats a fantastic price! I'll be there for definite with Millie and Chloe. Any time in September should be fine with us also.

I felt a great relief after I had Rex with the cardiologist. I was worried sick and a total nervous wreck after my vet had initially confirmed his heart problem and couldn't relax any time I had him out for walks or saw him excited, but after the more in depth tests were carried out by Mr Mullany I felt way more at ease and optimistic about the his condition.

Money WELL spent in my opinion!!(y)(y)
 
I'd like to come with my 3 but would need plenty of notice , especially for weekend as I would need to make sure to keep my work diary clear and I book weeks in advance .
Mimi
 
Count Bubbles in.

Karlin I would love to bring Bubbles along. As you know the vet put her murmur at 4.5 and she is on Vetmedin and Prilactone but it would be great to get a further expert opinion. I'm sure everyone will greatly appreciate an opportunity like this. Great idea!
 
I will go back to him and see what might work for a date then we could begin to plan for it.
 
That's a very reasonable price you were quoted. I was expecting it to be more too! September would be a good month for me, weekday or weekend is great as I live in Rathfarnham so it will be very handy. Thanks for arranging this Karlin and I' m glad your own appointment went ok.
 
Irish Folks:Interested in Getting a Cardiologist Day for Murmur Testing.

That's a very reasonable price you were quoted. I was expecting it to be more too! September would be a good month for me, weekday or weekend is great as I live in Rathfarnham so it will be very handy. Thanks for arranging this Karlin and I' m glad your own appointment went ok.


Karlin,

What a great idea this from you.

To be under the Umbrella of an Expert, will be such a Benefit for the Cavaliers.

Also that things went well for your 4 legged Friends

Bet
 
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