One day, Maple began to develop a dry cough. Maple’s owners instantly became alert over this hacking cough. Every day, around three to four times in the morning, Maple would cough for a few seconds. She would then make a retching sound. By the end of this coughing spell, Maple would lick her lips and seem fine.
But Maple’s owners began to worry there was something amiss with their nine-year-old Chihuahua. So, they took her to a vet to ensure their pup was okay.
What the vet found changed everything for Maple and her owners.
A Chihuahua Heart Murmur
Years before this cough developed, Maple’s veterinarian discovered that the Chihuahua had a heart murmur. Though this murmur was accurately detected, it was very quiet.
A dog’s heart helps pump blood throughout its body. The accurate flow of blood through the heart’s four chambers results in the heartbeat sound we all know.
Meanwhile, an abnormal heartbeat is a heart murmur. This murmur occurs because of issues with the blood flow around the heart. While some murmurs are very serious, others aren’t a sign of health issues at all.
Murmurs can range from a grade I to a grade VI. This scale has been beneficial in helping experts accurately diagnose just how critical a dog’s heart murmur is. Thanks to this grading, vets can help determine whether the murmur needs immediate action or not.
As Maple’s murmur was incredibly quiet — and as she had no symptoms when this murmur was first detected — her primary vet decided to simply monitor her condition. Therefore, the Chihuahua was given no medication or treatments.
When Maple’s owners took her back to her vet with this new cough, it was clear things had changed. In the years since its first detection, Maple’s murmur had become very loud. When using a stethoscope, the pup’s murmur could easily be heard on both sides of Maple’s chest.
Symptoms had begun to appear, as well. Maple’s regular morning cough was now seen in a new light. Plus, the small Chihuahua also had a windpipe sensitivity. Every time Maple’s vet touched her throat, Maple would emit a soft cough.
These symptoms led to a worrying conclusion. Maple now possibly had chronic valve disease. Thus, Maple’s owners sought a veterinary cardiologist.
In Dr. Todd Sumerfield, of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, they found a vet who would work hard to help save the Chihuahua.
Visiting a Veterinary Cardiologist
Dr. Sumerfield quickly got to work on Maple’s case. Dr. Sumerfield first confirmed what Maple’s primary vet had discovered: Maple had a noticeable heart murmur.
However, now Dr. Sumerfield needed to understand what was causing Maple’s heart murmur. Did the little Chihuahua truly have chronicle valve disease?
By using an echocardiogram, the vet was able to examine Maple’s heart in a non-invasive procedure. This ultrasound exam allowed Dr. Sumerfield to see that Maple’s mitral valve leaflets were thickened. This was a clear sign that Maple indeed had chronic valve disease.
“Myxomatous changes cause the valve to become thickened and irregular, which allows blood to flow backwards across the valve when the heart contracts. This turbulent regurgitation of blood is what causes a heart murmur,” Dr. Sumerfield explained to the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
In Maple’s case, her mitral valve leaflets were thickened and weren’t accurately allowing healthy blood flow around her heart. Through the veterinarian’s use of color Doppler applied to the echocardiogram, Dr. Sumerfield realized that this mitral regurgitation was the ultimate cause of the Chihuahua’s heart murmur.
However, this ultrasound exam also officially confirmed that Maple had chronic valve disease. Unfortunately, chronic valve disease is the most common heart disease in dogs. If this condition is left untreated, dogs have a severe risk of experiencing congestive heart failure.
Once Maple’s owners learned about their pup’s diagnosis, they knew they had only one option left. They had to explore medical options to keep Maple as healthy as possible.
Delaying Heart Failure
Sadly, there is no one cure to get rid of chronic valve disease. Even with proper care, dogs with this disease ultimately run the risk of developing heart failure.
To better understand Maple’s condition, Dr. Sumerfield took X-rays of the dog’s chest. By using these X-rays, all doctors involved in Maple’s case can see how the Chihuahua’s heart size changes over time.
Dr. Sumerfield also told Maple’s owners to ensure the dog has chest X-rays completed every six months. This extra attention on Maple’s chest can help vets understand when to adjust the pup’s medication as she ages.
Luckily, Maple was only put on pimobendan. By taking this medication, Dr. Sumerfield is hoping to delay Maple’s congestive heart failure for as long as possible.
Understanding Heart Murmurs in Dogs
Maple’s case is a remarkable study of how the use of echocardiograms, X-rays, and proper medication can help dogs live healthier lives — even dogs that have a higher risk of heart failure.
However, Dr. Sumerfield has explained that every dog’s case is different. Maple’s health journey ultimately led to medication being the key to keeping heart failure at bay. But this isn’t always the case.
For example, heart murmurs can be caused by a variety of different reasons. Treatment of heart murmurs differs depending on what the murmur’s underlying cause is. This is why it’s essential that proper testing is done.
Luckily, most dogs can take oral medications to help combat their heart diseases. Sometimes, surgery is another option owners can take.
Often, only young puppies are considered to benefit from these types of surgery. Puppies that have developed loud heart murmurs can often have surgery done that cures their murmur.
Experts are continuing to study better ways to help dogs with heart diseases. Recently, surgical options have been evaluated to help some dogs that have chronic valve disease!
Helping Chihuahuas With Heart Failure
Studies will likely only continue in the veterinary cardiology field. Maple’s case is a great example of how proper evaluation and testing can help delay a dog’s heart failure for as long as possible.
Sadly, Chihuahuas specifically suffer from heart failure when they’re older. It’s the leading cause of death for this breed. As a result, Chihuahua owners should keep an eye on their pups and any health issues they may have, especially as they age. Staying up to date on annual vet visits is a great way to do this.
What about Chihuahuas who develop heart murmurs? As heart murmurs range in severity, keeping a close eye on the pup and taking them to the vet if other symptoms appear is vital.
Maple’s case is a testament to how accurate veterinary assessment truly can be a lifesaver.
Read more incredible stories all about Chihuahuas by subscribing to The Chi Society.
my baby was 12 when he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure no one had ever found the murmur until then we placed him on medication I was blessed with an additional 6 months with him he had been assigned as an emotional support animal as I had had a massive stroke and he is one of the things that pulled me through all of my rehab just about 6 months after placing him on medications that have took twice a day and hated of course chihuahuas are not medication takers or at least they haven’t been in my 20 years of owning them he woke up the 18th of June 2023 coughing and sneezing and there was blood everywhere we cleaned it off the walls for months after the fact because we hadn’t seen it initially and we rushed him to the vet and him euthanized and cremated I have part of his remains in a locket around my neck so he goes with me everywhere every day the remainder of his remains are sitting on my TV stand and we watch TV together everyday I tell him good morning I tell him good night I tell him how much I miss him I do have a new dog now it’s not the same it will never be the same but there was no more that we could do for him we did the best that we could do for him as fast as we found it and I’m glad to see that you were so diligent about finding her diagnosis and dug into it as deep as you were able to and you’re able to treat her that’s just absolutely fantastic in my mind I wish we had found Little Blue blues sooner and we could have helped him stay around a little bit longer because I miss him dearly he was attached to my hip particularly the one I broke so he was there while I was still in sterile bandages he laid on that hip we both had issues for a while cuz he wanted that have been I didn’t want to touched but I didn’t matter we needed each other they are loyal companions they will never leave your side and they are worth every penny and every minute that you have with them