Murmur - Vet Cardiologist

Dingle_berry

Our 9 year young Chihuahua was recently diagnosed with a grade 4 murmur at her checkup No symptoms, completely incidental finding.
I've seen a King Charles decline with one despite proactive medication.
We have received conflicting advise from the vets in our local practise (medicate before symptoms, medicate before anything stressful then withdraw, don't medicate until symptomatic). This has left us unsure of what to do.

Are there any veterinary cardiologists in ireland? I've looked at UCDVH website and there is someone there with an interest in small animal cardiology but their main research seems to be microbiology...

irish_goat

There's Alistair Gibson at Earlswood in Belfast. You'll probably need your vet to refer you to him. http://www.earlswoodvets.com/about-earlswood/staff-profiles.php

Ayuntamiento

The vet who contributes to the Pat Kenny show on newstalk did a piece on heart failure in dogs a few weeks ago (heart failure being the possible clinical endpoint of that murmur your vet heard). He was saying how a recently published study suggested that medication should be commenced before an animal becomes symptomatic which would be contrary to how it's currently treated. Apparently it's an evolving area but he stressed the outcomes were much better in those treated as early as possible I believe.

irish_goat

Asked the missus there, she says the most qualified cardiologist working in Ireland would be Anne French, who comes over once a month to UCD from Glasgow Vet School. She finds Alistair more pleasant to deal with however.

TresGats

Hi OP, my 5 year old cat was diagnosed with a heart murmur in December, I have her booked in with my vet who has a cardiologist who visits & does hear) scans every 2 weeks approx because she had a very scary collapse incident on the stairs new years eve. We thought we had lost her that night.
It is a horrible worry, I would spend my bank balance on my cat, I just don't want to lose her
I hope for the best possible outcome for your little dog. Best wishes.

borderlinemeath

A customer of mine has been attending Nutgrove Veterinary in Rathfarnham with her dog who was diagnosed with a murmur a few years back. Prior to this she had been attending UCD for a different problem and the murmur was diagnosed there prior to a sedation. She wasn't too happy with what she described as the "brush off" that UCD gave her about it so went looking for second opinions and her local vet recommended the cardiology specialist in Nutgrove. She's a medical professional herself so is very au fait with the information the vet gives her and is more than happy with Nutgrove.

Dingle_berry

Thanks for the replies everyone. We'll talk to the vets about a referral
TresGats I wish you success with your cat too (hopefully it won't take your whole bank balance!)

Millem

My dog used to go to Ann French in ucd. She is based in Scotland but comes to ucd once a month.

kathleen37

irish_goat wrote: »

There's Alistair Gibson at Earlswood in Belfast. You'll probably need your vet to refer you to him. http://www.earlswoodvets.com/about-earlswood/staff-profiles.php

Alistair was the cardiologist for one of my dogs for several years. I think he's great, very personable, explains everything and especially explains different options - including options of not very invasive treatment.

He helped my pup really a lot. I'm grateful for all he did for her.

TresGats

Hi, thank you for the good wishes. I know this is not my thread but I don't want to start a new one.
My cat got 2 scans done today (& a microchip) , I got a call from the Vet Cardiologist in the afternoon to ask could he take another type. (I can't remember the initials , she had both types of scans done anyway. She has quite a severe heart murmur, and in her case was diagnosed with HCM-Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy today. He is consulting with a colleague in a southside practise and I hope to hear from him by Friday re: prognosis & treatment etc.
I hope your little dog is doing well , OP.

Dingle_berry

TresGats wrote: »

Hi, thank you for the good wishes. I know this is not my thread but I don't want to start a new one.
My cat got 2 scans done today (& a microchip) , I got a call from the Vet Cardiologist in the afternoon to ask could he take another type. (I can't remember the initials , she had both types of scans done anyway. She has quite a severe heart murmur, and in her case was diagnosed with HCM-Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy today. He is consulting with a colleague in a southside practise and I hope to hear from him by Friday re: prognosis & treatment etc.
I hope your little dog is doing well , OP.

She's on the tablets (and loving them!). It's made her like a puppy again!! I feel guilty that we didn't notice her decline sooner. We're also pursuing the referral to get an experts opinion and prognosis... hopefully...

What your cat is going through sounds intimidating, though now it has a name and the right people are considering it. Best of luck.