really slowing down

[Kate (Tucker's mom)]

We've noticed this year that Tucker is really slowing down a lot. He likes to go for walks, and has always been a big couch potato, but this past year he sleeps a lot more, is so well behaved when we take him out, and is just so much more mellow. Maybe too mellow. Is this normal for 9 years old? He was diagnosed with a heart murmur and an echocardiogram last year, but they said just to watch for symptoms, and he hasn't displayed any. Just wondering if this is how a whippet ages. His appetite is also down. I've made an appointment with the vet for a check up, just to make sure things are ok. Please keep your fingers crossed for us. Kate

[Romans Mom]

Crossing fingers! (They should check thyroid levels.) Please give us an update.

Wish I had an answer for you but Roman is my first whippet & I rely on what others have to say.

Good luck.

Krista

[Kate (Tucker's mom)]

Krista, thanks. We took Tucker in yesterday, and should get back the results of all the tests later today. He did complete blood work, and also checked stool and urine. Tucker has a 1.5 degree fever,and was acting really lathargic. I'm praying it's just something simple. Kate

[Romans Mom]

I hope it's not too serious. Crossing fingers.

Krista

[Kate (Tucker's mom)]

All the blood tests came out fine, and his heart murmur doesn't seem to be any worse. So the vet put him on antiobiotics for 10 days since he had a small fever, and hopefully he should be back to normal soon. I was so scared, I just hate the thought of something serious happening to him. Kate

[Shelbie and Shane's Mom]

Hope the antibiotics kick in and Tucker begins to feels better. Could he have gotten into anything in his new place?
Mine have all slowed down bit around 8 to 9 years of age, more content, relaxed if you will. But when there's action to be had- squirrel, cat, a game of tennis ball, going for a ride in the truck (the all time favorite) and even when dinner is served, they are up on their toes and ready to go.

Kristal (who finally is able to post!)

[Kate (Tucker's mom)]

Our yard is so small here, but it's possible he could have found something that was out before. Last night I started his antibiotics, and later on gave him a biscuit, since he hadn't had any problems with food. And he threw up. This morning I gave him a scrap of chicken meat, and he threw up again. So he's off food today and I'll try him on some rice in the morning. He's been sleeping a lot today. I'll give him a few days with the antibiotics, and if things haven't improved, I'll take him back into the vet. I feel like such a bad mom. First we sell the house he'd lived in all his life, move him into an apartment for two months, move him into another house we bought four weeks ago, and now I'm starving him today. And he still loves me. Talk about unconditional love! Kate

[Tigger and Kira's Mom]

Sorry to hear Tucker's under the weather. Hard to say about slowing down with age, sometimes it's hard to tell (like our Kira, who was such a sedate type even as a youngster that she barely changed with age), but it sounds like Tucker's just not feeling well, poor guy. Did they check for tick-borne diseases? Please keep us posted. You're taking great care of him!

Lois

[Kate (Tucker's mom)]

We ended up back at the vet last Thurs, and the vet said he was just on the boarderline of being amemic and he still had a 1 degree fever. ANd really week and listless. They also said the heart murmur sounded like a 4.5. He'd been on antibiotics for almost 3 days and still had a small fever. So she wanted us to go to a Vet who specializes in cardiology. He also said that Tuckers murmur had gone from a 3 to a 4.5 in the last two years since he'd seen him. He did an echocardiogram, and said the heart didnt show any signs of being diseased yet, but it would be starting soon. He did a chest xray, and also scans of his stomach. He's had complete blood work, stool and urine samples, and still no explaination, so we took him home. We kept him on antibiotics. This was 6 days ago and today, he's almost back to normal. He's still a little slow, but he's going for walks, starting to play with his stuffed animals again, eating well, and being loveable. Also reminding us of all the little things he'd like us to do for him. I'm so relieved. I know the heart disease will come, and am dreading it, but I'm going to just enjoy every second we spend with Tucker. Have any of you lost a dog to congestive heart failure? Kate

[Inquisitive Snoop]

Poor Tucker, hope he feels better.

[Shelbie and Shane's Mom]

[quote="Kate (Tucker's mom)Have any of you lost a dog to congestive heart failure? Kate[/quote]

Shelbie died from complications of CHF 2 tears ago. She was diagnosed with mitral valve disease at age 9 and lived to be 14. She was put on ACE inhibitor (enalapril) early even though she didn't have any symptoms other than a grade 3 murmur. She had a echo and x-ray as a base line and went every 6 monhts to monitor her with repeat echos and x-rays as needed. When she was around 13, she starting having what I called 'episodes'. During these episodes, fluid would build up in her lungs causing rapid breathing, soft coughing upon waking and just generally becoming tired easily. She was put on lasix (a diuretic) and Vetmedin, which really helped and gave her more time. Eventually the episodes became more frequent, her murmur very loud (grade 6/6- could be seen and felt). She became slower and slower, not wanting to eat (and she loved to eat) the last few weeks of her life. It was becoming a struggle.

The only 'infection' she had was a weird UTI the last year of her life. She was on so many antibiotics- two were compounded. Some made her sick, others she was on for months and did pretty good until she got off them. Basicly nothing really worked. She never had a fever but just the need to 'go' more often and at times bloody urine. An ultrasound of her bladder showed 'possible sediment' but we decided against a biopsy due to her rapidly failing heart at the time.

CHF doesn't generally manifest itself as an infection- high or low grade fever, high white cell counts, being anemic, etc. BUT it's always a GOOD idea to rule things out.

Hugs to Tucker and praying he continues feeling better. It's so worrisome when they are sick.

Kristal