I mentioned not too long ago that our beagle Cricket had a cough we were starting to get concerned about. (“Life Comes Full Circle”) Cricket’s 13th birthday is at the end of this week, and for the last two years, she always seems to develop a health issue around her birthday!
Cricket has had a heart murmur for a couple of years now, and one thing our vet had told us to watch out for was a cough. However, on her initial visit almost three weeks ago, he didn’t think her murmur sounded any worse, and with just a little bit of noise in her lungs, he felt it was more likely an allergy. If not that, he also mentioned the possibility of a tumor. Ugh….that’s the last word we want to hear. We’ve dealt with way too much cancer around here and I wasn’t sure I was up for another battle with that.
We decided to try his recommended meds for an allergy/cough before going the next step to chest x-rays. In retrospect, I wish we’d gone straight to the x-rays. At first, we thought the meds were working, for a couple of days her cough seemed better. Until it didn’t – and right before my trip to Maine it seemed quite a bit worse.
As soon as I got home from my trip and their office was open, we scheduled the chest x-rays. Our week was compounded by a lot of other stressful disruptions to our routines going on, and by the time her appointment came up, I couldn’t get the word “tumor” out of my head. Cricket had to skip breakfast that morning, in case sedation was needed. They always try to do it without that but we had to have her prepared just in case. I told her when dropping her off to be a good girl so they wouldn’t need to, and she listened.
I was relieved when the phone call from the vet came late morning, and strangely enough I was also relieved when he told me her heart was enlarged! I already knew that this congestive heart failure (as bad as it sounds) was treatable and further discussion on that day revealed that her long-term prognosis is good. At Cricket’s age, our vet feels she’s far more likely to succumb to something else other than her heart issue.
We started some new meds (Vetmedin) and now we wait and see if they work. If her cough persists, there is another med which can be added, and further tests can be done as well, if needed. While we are still hearing her cough at this point, she’s only been on the meds for a few days.
Another thing we had seen with her lately was that her energy level had been down. We didn’t know if that was partially because of the heat. The initial allergy med required her to be off her carprofen for her arthritis, but we didn’t see much slowdown in her for the first week and a half on that, but it could be catching up with her now (she has to be weaned off that med but we hope to put her back on the carprofen as soon as that’s done).
Her energy level seems to be getting better though. Even though she’s not back to playing ball like she was (she’ll still sometimes play but only for about 10 minutes and she’s done), she did very well on our walk yesterday morning. She was trucking right along and hopping over small logs and branches with ease. She spent a lot of time outside and was even seen chasing the chickens along the fence at one point!
I am cautiously optimistic that by her birthday on Friday she’ll be feeling even better. If not, we’ll take the next steps needed. I feel like we can deal with this, unlike a different diagnosis. It goes to show that perspective can make all the difference in the world, and hopefully our optimism will have a positive effect on her as well.
Be sure to stop by Friday for our celebration – Cricket wants to do a giveaway of a few of her favorite things for her birthday!
I’m sending POTP to sweet Cricket. I hope that she’s feeling better every day.
Thank you so much! I think the POTP is working….her cough has finally greatly decreased and her energy level seems very good. Her appetite hasn’t been the greatest, but we think her arthritis might be bothering her some. We’ve finally got her back on her carprofen so hopefully that does the trick.
I’m glad that things have turned out to be manageable for Cricket! It’s so scary when there aren’t clear, easy answers right away. My fingers are crossed that she’s back to playing ball by now 🙂
She had a longer than usual game of ball on her birthday, it was great! I even got some video that I’ll be sharing this week. 🙂
All good thoughts Crickets way for her to feel much better real soon, and be back to her old self. Sounds like she is on the way, yay!
She’s getting back to her old spunky self!
I’m sending my very best wishes to Cricket. I hope she improves.
I’ll also send early birthday wishes in case I’m out exploring on Friday.
Thank you so much, Clowie!!
Cricket’s an amazing girl. She never lets anything get the better of her … and I can’t imagine this situation will be any different!
Thank you! She’s not going to give into this old age thing yet, I don’t think. 🙂
Oh Cricket I’m sorry to hear about your enlarged heart. I hope the medications work and make you feel better for a very long time. Can’t believe your having a birthday, how fun!
We hope for the best and that Cricket gets well soon!!
We purr that the medicine helps Cricket feel more like her old self. 🙂
Thirteen years old is certainly something to celebrate! It’s commendable to you as a pet parent as well. Cricket will bounce back I’m sure – we will keep good thoughts! Happy Birthday Cricket….
She’s a fighter so I think she will too. Thank you!
That sounds like pretty good news overall… 🙂 Hope she continues to improve. Please give her a big hug & kiss from Auntie Sheryl.
Sending TONS of POTP and many, many (((hugs))) to YOU
Thank you, Caren. ♥
We totally understand too and keep on keeping on Cricket!
Good luck with your puppy dog and my cat Daisy Mae and I wish you the best. Get well Soon.
Thank you so much, Crystal and Daisy Mae!!
I was dreading this post when I saw the title, but I get it, I really do. Dogs with CHF can live quite comfortably on medicine. Glad to hear the change in meds hasn’t really affected her too much. Keep on truckin’ Cricket!!
She’s a fighter and a stubborn beagle so I think she’ll get through this fine!
Did they X-ray her lungs if so were they clear? After taking Taffy back and forth so many times I wish you would have done a chest X-ray sooner too. Taffy has 2 meds for her cough but taking neither now as she is symptom free, hydrocodone and theophylline (?) which she had reactions too. Hope Cricket is her old self for her birthday.
Yes, they did a chest x-ray, and he said there were no signs of asthma (I had thought of that too after what you went through with Taffy) or any kind of infection.
Thank you!
Sending oodles of poodles healing energy for your sweet girl.
Thank you!!
I’m so glad that you don’t have to deal with the dreaded C. We will definitely be excited to be part of Cricket’s birthday! 🎉
I hope her meds start working and that she feels better soon.
Thank you, Edie!!
I hope Cricket feels. better. Roxy has a cough on and off, but the vet didn’t seem concerned. He did xray her for her back and hip, but said all her organs were good.
So glad Roxy’s cough is nothing to worry about, and she got a good health report! Hope she is doing OK with her back and hip.
Hang in there cricket!
Will do, Auntie Connie, thank you! ♥ Cricket
She’s going to be ok. As you wean her off the allergy med and the vetmedin starts working, her energy level will start to go back up. Besides, she has her sister Sheba and my Callie watching over her. ❤️😇😇❤️
Thank you for your positive thoughts! She definitely is in good paws with those two watching over her! ♥♥
So sorry for you Cricket. Katie had a heart murmur and we were expecting her to get an enlarged heart at some point, but it didn’t worry us too much because it can be managed. We got that heart tumor news instead which was the worst possible. I’m sure your meds will kick in and you will be feeling better in no time. We are thinking of you and wishing you the best! Stay strong and always think positive!
Thank you so much, Emma! Cricket still has her cough sometimes, but her energy level seems to be getting better so we’re hopeful she’ll be even better soon. We know how tough it was for you with Katie, so we’re even more grateful we don’t have to go through that right now….it’s the worst.
oh I hope the meds will do the trick and Cricket can enjoy her birthday party!!! it’s scary that our first thought is: tumor… oh how I wish we would find a cure to made all tumors and bumps and lumps harmless…
We totally agree! It just seems like it’s become way too common, and always the first thing we fear. 🙁