A Broken Heart

When I got Keeva, she came with a sales contract, requiring a well puppy check at the vet within a couple days.  That's a pretty good idea, contract or not, so I took her to see my vet.  I had chosen my breeder carefully and I trust her completely so I expected the visit to be a formality.  But the vet found a heart murmur.  Heart murmurs are symptoms of defect, not a disease in themselves.  Some murmurs are termed innocent or benign, meaning they go away around 16 weeks to 6 months and the vet recommended a recheck in a couple weeks to see if that was the case, though she didn't think this murmur would go away.  She graded Keeva's murmur a III-IV out of VI, and said it was a systolic murmur, though she qualified that as possibly a continuous.  Those distinctions help identify the underlying cause of the murmur.  A continuous murmur is associated with a defect called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and it is the most common heart defect in the Irish Setter breed.  It's also fixable with surgery.  Expensive, but fixable.  Only a cardiology vet using doppler ultrasound could definitively diagnose the cause  and the breeder and I decided to take Keeva to a cardiology clinic that was held yesterday.  That gave me two weeks to research  canine heart murmurs.   And make some "pre-decisions."  Some murmurs that stick around  come from heart defects that are mild and do not cause any symptoms.  Some murmurs are fixable with surgery.  Others are devastating and the prognosis awful.   Any murmur automatically, in my book, disqualifies the animal from a breeding program.  Keeva is such a delightful pup and a perfect match with Molly, I decided that any murmur she could live comfortably with  or that was fixable would just turn her from a potential champion/breeder to a lovable, goofy  companion.   I spent the last two weeks trying to balance her need for lots of love and affection with my need to protect my emotions.  Yesterday, as the cardiologist listened to her heart, I watched him closely for clues along the way.  He confirmed pretty quickly that the murmur is indeed systolic, which ruled out a PDA.  He also quickly put to rest any hope that this murmur would go away.  And then he graded it a V out of VI.  My own heart was sinking fast.  Then he spent a good bit of time imaging Keeva's heart with the doppler ultrasound.  Within the first sight, he announced the words I most did not want to hear.  Sub-aortic stenosis (SAS).  That means the area of the left ventricle just below the aortic valve is narrowed, preventing proper blood flow and making the heart work harder.  The cardiologist also quickly told me he himself has a nearly 12 year old boxer with sub-aortic stenosis, that with mild SAS, the dog can have a normal life.  The rest of the exam documented the degree of defect.  It is not pretty.  Severe SAS which means poor little Keeva has a thoroughly broken, unfixable heart.  Her prognosis is awful.  This defect is present at birth but tends to hide until about the time I got Keeva, which is why the breeder did not know about it until I told her.  I do not blame the breeder for anything.  She is a very caring, ethical breeder and the vet said this condition, while known to be genetic in some breeds, is rare in Irish Setters, so the problem in Keeva could very well just be a really rotten roll of the dice instead of genetic.  That's good news for Keeva's relatives.  But Keeva's condition will get progressively worse and her heart already shows damage from the extra demands.  Over time, she will have trouble with exercise, she might start fainting with exertion, develop arrhythmias, any one of which could be instantly fatal.  If a fatal arrhythmia doesn't claim her quickly, she will develop congestive heart failure.  She will die young, the only question is how young, typically 3 to 5 years.  And there is not a damn thing any of us can do about it.  The breeder took Keeva back and Keeva will live whatever life she has there.  Two weeks of preparing myself did not help.

Comments

[Marcia Cooke]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Chris. She's a beautiful dog.

[michelle]

Oh, I'm so sorry. Words are really failing me now.

[Julie]

There is no way to prepare for news like this. I'm so sorry.

[Manise]

Oh Chris! I am just heartbroken and sick for you and Keeva about this devastating news! What a rotten roll of the dice.....Sending you lots of thought waves and hugs.

[Katy]

Oh Chris, that is just rotten luck. I am so sorry to hear this.

[amanda cathleen]

I'm so sorry to hear this, she is such a lovely pup

[Diane]

Sorry to hear the news. That stinks.

[Rachel H]

Oh no. I'm so sorry.

[DebbieB]

Chris, my heart hurts for you today.

[Lesley]

I'm so sorry - even a few weeks is enough time to build a bond that hurts like hell when it's broken. May she defy the odds and live a long life.

[Christine]

I am so sorry to hear the news. Stay strong, I'm sending lots of virtual hugs your way.

[Suzanne]

I am so sorry to hear that.

[Divine Bird Jenny]

I'm so sorry, Chris; that's rotten luck for both you and Keeva. At least she will be cared for and loved, but it is a terrible thing. Hugs to you.

[Dawn]

My heart goes out to you, Chris.

[Kelly]

Oh Chris I'm so sorry! Sending hugs your way.

[Karen]

Oh Chris, that is so sad. I'm sorry.

[Kim]

Chris, I am SO sorry. Owning a breed that has multiple heart conditions, I completely understand not only your broken heart, but Keeva's as well. If I can do anything at all to help please call me anytime!

Hugs to you, Keeva and Molly!

[Risa]

I'm so terribly sorry Chris.

[Cathy]

Oh no!! I am sorry to hear this.

[Denise/CT]

Chris, I am so sorry. Words fail me. I know too well how quickly the bond takes place. I am happy she has a breeder who will give her a good life, however long that might be. Hugs....

[Laurie]

I'm sorry, Chris. It does suck.

[tash]

i very sorry last night i just lost my baby a british bulldog at 10 weeks with a grade 6 murmur my heart is broken but i keep on thinking if he was here for only a short time i was going to love and cherish him it is better to be loved than not loved at all.

[Amy Boogie]

I've just been catching up on posts and I'm sorry to read all this. I'm glad they diagnosed Keeva but I'm sorry you had to give her up. No matter how short the time or how prepared you think you are, you never really are. xox