Baruska went to the vet today!

Her breathing problem has returned She has always had a problem breathing because her throat is restricted.

She is back on the Oxyphyllin tablets which help her breath with the reduced air supply, it has worked in past years so I am confident it will work again.

Of more concern is that they also found she has a heart murmer and the vet has put her on Novartis 'Fortekor' one 20mg tablet per day.

Has anyone used this drug Was it prescribed for heart murmers Did it cure the problem

Also they did a blood test and found inflamation of some internal organs so she's on anti-biotics as well

Poor thing is rattling like a babies dummy with all these pills but we cooked a chicken for her tonight and I hid the pills in some of the tastiest white meat which she loves

Last week she had diareah (Sp?) and is weak from that and has been unable to settle or sleep properly, I hope that the medication will sort her out.

The vet said that she could have an operation to cure the throat problem but I have read that in England this has to be done by a specialist 'soft tissue' surgeon and there only a handful in UK and none at all in Czechland.

Has anyone had a breathing problem rectified by surgery

She's never been a super fit dog, her tummy is small and very sensitive so we struggled in the early years to find what she could eat, she's eight years old now and usually eats what we give her but didn't touch a morsel last night which really worried us, tonight she has eaten most of her food, just left some of the granules which is quite normal for her.

Dogsey vibes needed for dear old Bara

Huge cuddles and vibes for Bara.......what a worrying time for you.

I cannot help re the throat surgery query, but just want to wish her well - at least she has eaten today which is a good sign. All those tablets must make her feel a bit off colour but hopefully will sort out some of the problems.

Hi Harvey,

Not much to add to what I said earlier, my vet really rates fortekor and I hope it does Bara some good. I think that heart murmurs can be well controlled. I know one of my mum's cats was diagnosed with a heart murmur when she took him on around 2 or 3 years old and he lived to a good old age. I can't remember what he was on, whether it was fortekor or something different but it certainly improved life for my hen that was on it.

I really hope someone on here has had experience of surgery in relation to breathing problems and can offer some words of wisdom for you, how major an op it is, recovery times etc.

I remember all of Bara's tummy problems as they were really bad back in the days when Max was always poorly, if Max wasn't throwing up then Bara was

Loads of Dogsey vibes coming your way, also it is high time we had some more pictures of your two gorgeous girls

Thanks Sally - I hope Jimmi is feeling better tonight

Thanks Jane - how is the old devil today will have another go at posting some pics soon

Snoring like a contented pig (he had hearts for dinner). I better not hold my breath for those photos though as it took you so long to post the other ones

Sending gentle cuddles,hope she's feeling better soon x

Novartis Fortekor is a canine ACE inhibitor, the canine version of Benazepril. It is s a medication used to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and chronic renal failure.

I take 10mg bid Enalapril which is basically the same ACE inhibitor, and have done for some years now. It is not a cure as such, it just keeps things working as they should. My BP is a good steady low now, and the drug acts on the heart and kidney muscles to keep them functioning as normally as they should. Because basically that is what it does.

Heart murmurs are nothing to worry about. I have no idea when mine was first found but my daughter's was found when she was a baby at the start of all her major hip surgeries. Her body coped with numerous GAs - and she is now 43½ and has five children. She never had medication for her heart and as far as I know still does not.

I have no knowledge of Oxyphyllin but could find out as you could, by googling it. I only answered regarding the Fortekor because you mentioned the heart murmur, so I checked to see exactly what it is.

Incidentally I believe that possibly 40% of people have undetected heart murmurs that never have nor never will give them any problem. It just sounds a horrid thing.

As for rattling with pills - Pereg comes rushing when I say "come and get your medicine" as I wrap her pills in a tiny piece of processed cheese slice, and bless her she sits in her "please Mommy" position, right paw up and across her chest, waiting for her "medicine"! To her it is a word for a very special treat, totally different from "sweetie" which is now a rarely given treat on recall.

Please give your girl a big hug from me.

Malka xx

Poor Bara - positive vibes winging their way from me x

Just wanted to send hugs and best wishes at this very worrying time x

Hope things improve gentle cuddles to Baruska xxxx