Does Kai have a heart murmur?

Last Tuesday was meant to be the day that Kai was castrated. Instead we got a call from our Vet mid morning saying that during her usual pre-op examination she had heard a slight heart murmur. He was also pale (gums) so she was concerned about proceeding. She recommended a blood test, which of course we agreed to. We hoped the results would be normal but unfortunately his red blood cell count was lower than it should be. Not hugely but enough to confirm her suspicions.

The trouble is that (she explained) there may be several reasons why the murmur was present. He had got himself really worked up apparently to the point that they had to sedate him slightly. This could be one cause although it doesn't explain why the red blood cell count was lower than it should be. It could also be physiological in nature and he will grow out of it. Or he has a heart murmur which has been picked up really early. She reckons that he has about a one in six chance of having a murmur. So we were faced with a difficult decision. She said she could proceed with the operation but there would be additional risk with the anaesthetic. They monitor them very closely and at the first sign of trouble they would stop. The decision not to go through with the operation was a no-brainer, for the sake of him being castrated, we weren't prepared to put him at risk.

So what do we do now? Well, having discussed it with the Vet, we are going to monitor his pulse rate, breathing rate and gum reaction time, between now and when he has his first booster jab. At this point he will be fully grown so it should have gone if it's physiological. If it hasn't then she will have lots of data to determine whether he needs to have further investigations such as an echo, to see what's going on. We can also review getting him castrated, although that's way down the list of priorities. Our little man's long term health is what we're worried about.

As I write this we have a week's worth of data. It's impossible to check his gums, because there is so much pigmentation (brown/black). The Vet had trouble so what hope do we have? We have been recording pulse and breathing rates each day. Difficult to tell if they are good or bad as the Vet wouldn't give us a 'target' number for obvious reasons. Of course I have looked up details about canine pulse rates on the Internet and the range seems to be 60-160bpm. Kai is at the lower end of this range. Typically after 15 mins at rest he is about 90bpm. Asleep for a longer period it falls to 75bpm. After a play session of fetch and tug it only went up as far as 94. The highest I've managed to record was today. He had running around in the garden woofing at dogs next door. He came in full pelt when I called him (the bribery of a treat does the trick every time). It was 105. She hasn't put any restrictions in place exercise wise, it really is a case of getting a feel for what Kai's heart is doing.

Once we've been recording for a month Eric will take him back and see what she thinks. We're hoping that he just got himself incredibly worked up and that he doesn't have a murmur. Equally we hope it's physiological and so will go of it's own accord. And if it doesn't? Well, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. Pet Insurance means they can do what they need to, to to diagnose and manage it. Whatever he needs he will get it!!

It was and remains really upsetting to hear that Kai may have a heart murmur. He is our gorgeous, wonderful, perfect little dog, who we both absolutely adore. He is an incredible character, so affectionate and just.... brilliant. The thought of him having ongoing heart problems and possibly not living as long as he should doesn't bear thinking about. He is so full of life, always up for a game of fetch or rough and tumble with Kayla. He goes for the same length of walk as our two border collies, and Eric tells me that he runs around constantly with a really zippy turn of speed. He eats well, and doesn't ever pull up or look like he's having problems. This all flies in the face of him having a murmur. Please let him be OK!

As an aside try finding the pulse on your dog. There are two choices. First you feel underneath and slightly down from the elbow of their left leg. The other option is on the inside of the back left leg, in the fleshy bit just below the bone. I can find the spot on Kai's leg almost first time now. Despite repeated attempts (groping around until she looks at me as if to say, 'will you just give it up') on Bella, I have been unable to get a sniff of a pulse anywhere!!

As for our little man, all we can do is take measurements each day and hope everything turns out alright. It's going to be a very anxious wait that's for sure....

How can he be 6 months old already?

Today our little man is six months old. It seems unbelievable that he can have reached that milestone already but here we are. So where are we at, in terms of growth, character and training?

First thing is that his bark has 'broken', if dogs' barks do. What is for certain is that since a week or so ago he suddenly had a deeper more authoritative woof. He retains his wonderful 'woo, woo, woo, wooo' bark of surprise or alarm but again this have gone down tonally. He expresses himself better, or perhaps we understand him more! It helps that in many ways he has taken the lead from the Girls, his beloved Kayla in particular. So if he can't reach something he will woof. He asks to get up by plonking his front paws either on the sofa, or the arm of my chair depending on who he wants to lie near/on. Bless him, he can jump off, but not onto furniture still.

We had a very brief 'stroppy' phase, clearly driven by hormones. Was an absolute imp when I groomed him, wouldn't sit when given a treat, wouldn't come when called. You get the idea. Thankfully we seem to have returned to the lovely young man we know and love. Oh and the grotty little creature has been eating poo. Why do dogs do that when they reach a certain age, and are so pleased with themselves? At least we haven't had snails being brought in. Kayla and Bella both went through that phase. I vividly remember one night when I had gone to bed, Bella joined me, together with a toad!!

I've been working on 'come' with him, A vitally important command for me so that I can get him to come from me from anywhere, when Eric has popped out shopping or something. He's doing really well. I only have to call him and rattle my ever treat box and he comes sprinting in from the garden. Have  to say his recall is better for me than it is for Eric. Bribery and corruption, works every time!! 'drop' is very good, unless it's something he's particularly taken with, in which case he runs away from Eric. So funny watching Eric running after him. He's got a real turn of speed and dodges beautifully (Kai that is, not Eric). Equally funny is when he tries to eject something from his mouth, only for it to get stuck in his beard!

Teeth are a big issue for him at the moment. All of his remaining adult teeth are coming in, with some of his milk teeth refusing to fall out. Currently  both upper and one lower canines have the adult and milk teeth sitting next to each other. It looks really odd! We have collected four of his baby teeth which adds to the ones we have from Kayla and Bella. With luck the milk teeth will fall out soon, must be uncomfortable for him having multiple teeth in a space intended for one.

He was clipped for the second time yesterday, and looks so handsome. Next major event for Kai happens this Tuesday.... castration!

Snow!

It was definitely not the time to be a small dog in the last few days. With about a foot of snow outside at it's peak poor little Kai has had major problems going outside. In turn we've had problems getting him sorted out when he has come back in!

The snow started here late Saturday evening and we had already had a few inches when he went out with the Girls at about midnight. He loved the snow and spent ages out there exploring, playing etc. They were only meant to be going out to do their business before we turned in for the night! Instead at 12.45am we had the hairdryer out desperately trying to melt all the snow that was stuck in his fur. Got him sorted eventually but it took some time.

Sunday morning there was even more snow. He went out, eventually returning  covered in snow up to his body. He loved it out there, refusing to come back in, running round like a mad thing. More drying ensued, finally getting him sorted out again.

Chasing after Kayla

This weather has been really tough for him. Firstly he's just too small for the amount of snow we've had. Add to this the fact that he has longish fluffy fur on his legs and it isn't surprising that he comes back in looking like a little snowman with a snowy beard!


Unfortunately the snow rapidly changes into balls of ice which get matted up in his fur. He tries to pull at them, bless him as he sits on a towel on my lap whilst I try to tease them out with a comb.

We have had to play party poopers and not let him out much because it's such an ordeal getting him sorted out and dry again.


Thankfully today the snow has melted enough so that for the first time, this evening, he came back in with only slightly wet legs.

As long as we don't get any more snow he should be alright. Fingers crossed....