Common problem in cavaliers - so the vet always tells us.
The breader of Willow said that it is in the bloodline - and that his lines are clear. If so there is more hope if other
breeders are responsible and only breed dogs who are clear.
Tarmac had it and died of it. Guinness has it and from recent x-rays shows quite an enlargement in his heart.
I think that heart tablets are expensive. The way they work is to reduce the rate of the heart - giving it more chance
to fill up and
pump right - rather than the ineffective heart beats that the defective heart is producing.
Apparently feeding heart can help.
When Guinness had to go in for an operation to remove his infection behind the eye, the vet was not concerned that he
had a heart
murmer and was 9 years old. He said that under sedation his blood pressure would be lower giving less strain
on his heart.
STOP PRESS
Just started a new treatment for Guinness to help his heart. This is using supplements that have been used successfully
on animals and humans for heart problems.
L-Carnitine - I think the dose is 1g per 10lb of body weight (we are using 5 x 500mg tablets per day)
Taurine - the dose is about half of the above (we are using 3 x 500mg tablets per day)
Will report on his progress as things develop. Fingers crossed.
Some other supplement ideas are Ginger and Cayeen Pepper. I have heard of some doctors who swear by it - can help immediate
recovery from heart attack.
UPDATE
Guinness is now on heart tablets - called Vetmedin. Also, he is on water tablets occasionally - makes him pee for England.
Found out that I was entitled to a FREE PRESCRIPTION - that is the law at the moment. Your vet should not charge you.
I then bought my Vetmedin off the internet at a much better rate than our Vets were doing it at.
Parasites
If you believe the literature - then with a healthy nutritious diet - worms and fleas will be greatly reduced.
I've got my fingers crossed but the fleas keep coming. Perhaps they might not like to stay on my two - especially with
the brewers yeast in their diet which is supposed to help.
There is a lot of talk about the problems with the toxins in the standard flea and worm treatments, so I am trying to
find out more. At the moment we are trialling a solution of essential oils and water in a cheap water sprayer. There are several
oils that are good - and a combination is probably preferable.
I put in 10 drops of each of following:-
Tea Tree
Citronella
Peppermint
Cedarwood
You then spray the dog all over. This is used as a repellant - so the fleas should jump dog. At this point you might
want to try the idea below.
One suggestion is
Diatomaceous Earth - a very sharp powder which cuts into the insects and they die. Need to know more about this one, but it is sold as a flea
treatment.