How Often Should Your Dog With Heart Condition Visit Vet?

[alimel]

For anyone that has or had a dog with a heart condition, how often does he/she see your vet?

Mel is on various medications for the disease and I can't help wonder if he should be checked often to be sure the dosage is right for the stage of the heart disease he is in. I see him everyday, therefore, would not notice any minor changes that may warrant changing meds. He was diagnosed last June and so far has had two x-rays, an EKG and an ultrasound. The last time he was in the see the vet was in January for his annual visit. He did not take x-rays, only listened to his heart and lungs to be sure there was no fluid.

I want to do everything I can for him to keep him happy and comfortable without being over protective and neurotic!

[Cearbhaill]

I only have dilated cardiomyopathy experience in a veteran dog.

Initially it is every 2 weeks, until the medication gets sorted out and things begin to stabilize. Then we get to a point where we go every three months thereafter.

If you buy yourself a stethoscope your cardiologist may be persuaded to teach you how to use it and what to listen for. If that is beyond what you want to do, even simple pulse taking daily can help a lot. Just write down a pulse rate everyday and you will perhaps notice when things get out of whack. In my case an elevated heart rate means a trip in, but again- once we get them stabilized on meds it usually evens out fairly well.
Look your dog over well every day- note gum color, respiration, exercise intolerance, rear end weakness, etc. Just be really, really observant and write things down- don't rely on memory.

If you are concerned have a heart to heart with your cardiologist- they know best the specifics of your dogs health and how often a check up is warranted. I can say that in most cardio cases IME the meds do a very good job and their time and quality of life is greatly increased.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

I took Miko to the cadiologist at the vet school every 6 months. Also, I checked his resting respiritory tate twice a week. If it ever got over a certain number, I had to call emergency.

Alot depends on how many/what kinds of meds, if any, your dog is taking. Some require a lot more monitoring than others.

[alimel]

Originally Posted by Cearbhaill

I only have dilated cardiomyopathy experience in a veteran dog.

Initially it is every 2 weeks, until the medication gets sorted out and things begin to stabilize. Then we get to a point where we go every three months thereafter.

If you buy yourself a stethoscope your cardiologist may be persuaded to teach you how to use it and what to listen for. If that is beyond what you want to do, even simple pulse taking daily can help a lot. Just write down a pulse rate everyday and you will perhaps notice when things get out of whack. In my case an elevated heart rate means a trip in, but again- once we get them stabilized on meds it usually evens out fairly well.
Look your dog over well every day- note gum color, respiration, exercise intolerance, rear end weakness, etc. Just be really, really observant and write things down- don't rely on memory.

If you are concerned have a heart to heart with your cardiologist- they know best the specifics of your dogs health and how often a check up is warranted. I can say that in most cardio cases IME the meds do a very good job and their time and quality of life is greatly increased.

Rear end weakness? Can you tell me how this is related to heart condition? (Cardiomypathy) He has arthritic issues and I have noticed he loses his balance and has trouble getting up sometimes.

[Cearbhaill]

The first symptom I ever noticed in one heart dog was rear end weakness- in fact this particular dog was taken to the vet purely for that when we discovered the heart condition to begin with.
The blood supply to the rear end is so poor that muscles haven't enough to function well, and what blood does get there is poorly oxygenated.

[bdrcol22]

If everything is stablized... I would keep a daily log and bring him in every 6 months. I am ultra parinoid, and if I noticed any changes, I would get him there quickly.

[jesika]

Chloe has a grade III/IV heart murmur and she is seen anywhere from every 6 months - 1 year to keep that in check to see if it progresses and as long as she has not having any other signs of CHF, but if their is any change in that, Im pretty sure she would be going more often

Currently we think she could possibly have a significant arrhythmia so in the next few weeks she will have to where a 24hr holter monitor..