This litter was our long awaited litter that we had worked with our mentor to get our foundation litter for our show home. We had done everything right, heart clearances on our dogs, their sire and dams also were heart clear and grsire etc etc. But apparently these pedigrees together were a fatal mistake. :( At this time we are not sure what path other than it will be a different direction, to take for our Cavalier program. It has been so disheartening that I had thought I would just give up, but I have fallen in love with these boys and their faces that I will continue on as I feel this breed needs breeders who will step up to the health issues and try to avoid them and do their best to try to work with other breeders who have the same breeding ethics.
Our boys were diagnosed on
8-10-06 DR Reimer, Cardiologists , Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital
They were both evaluated by DR Reimer Echo/Doppler the findings are:
Grade 5/6 Murmurs Left Sternal Border
Punkin - Severe Pulmonic Stenosis, Severe RV Hypertrophy, 5.32 M/Sec Pulmonic Outflow, possible PDA as well. No SAS or MR
BabyFace- Moderate Plus RVH, Pulmonic Stenosis Peak Flow 4.1 M/Sec, No other defects detected.
We have talked with the Cardiology Vet Techs in Ohio about the boys and had hopes that they would be candidates to hopefully go thru sucessful surgery we have always been concerned about their weights and how surgery could be done on such tiny babies, they are 20 ounces and 26 ounces. We also talked with a DR in Cardiology today from UT god bless him for calling me back today I give him 5 stars!!!
He told me that we need to keep in mind that in order to do surgery they have to have enough space to get the catheter with the balloon on it down the vein and thru and around corners so to speak.. and he said that they do not do this unless the dog is 10 lbs this had been my concern with my pups and possible surgery as I do not want to take them in for surgery and them die in the proceedure due to the fact that their size limitation.
We have been researching and talking to anyone that could enlighten us on this surgery and we are now in the process of going over all the pros and cons and deciding what for our boys will be the best for them.
This is a terrible situation to be in. But we are here and we are thankful for our friends and everyone who has heard our story and sent prayers.