Help Needed! Right sided heart failure secondary to pulmonary stenosis

[kim n the guys]

Kim maybe ask the staff at Michigan State if there is a good school for her that might be closer than UT?

I'll email Dr. Sanders and see what he recommends! I wish they lived a little closer so they could bring Winston up here!!!

 

[ssesler]

After doing some research, I found a specialist that deals with pulmonic stenosis - Texas A&M. It's about 8.5 hours from us, but it's closer than TN! I had my vet consult and review the information I got from the group in KC. Basically, they said that there is no way they could give such a finite diagnosis as they did not run the correct tests. I have an appointment with them on Oct 8th. I had also contacted the specialist at UT I saw for my other bulldog - he forwarded the info to a cardiologist there... this is what the cardiologist said...

The workup is not complete, in my opinion. Despite the images being reviewed by a cardiologist, there is no severity of the pulmonic stenosis documented. This leaves open to question whether the right sided congestive heart failure is more due to the pulmonic stenosis or more due to the tricuspic regurgitation they commented on. With pulmonic stenosis, it would be more difficult to rule out pulmonary hypertension, but possible with a little mathematical gymnastics if they got a velocity on the tricuspid regurgitation (not documented).
The comment that bulldogs cannot undergo valvuloplasty for pulmonic stenosis is premature without an agiogram to confirm an aberrant coronary artery. Some bulldogs don't have coronary artery anomalies and can therefore be ballooned like any other dog.
In reality, since the dog is in right sided congestive heart failureit's late in the game. An angiogram might prove an aberrant right coronary artery, making valvuloplasty contrainidcated. but even if you could try valvuloplasty, it might not prolong life for very long at this stage of the game, especially if the tricuspid regurgitation is severe.

Bottom line: Winston should have seen a real cardiologist.

If anyone is close to UT, I highly recommend them. They have helped me so much with consults from a distance. I wish myself and Winston was well enough to make the trip, but unfortunately, we cannot, so Texas A&M will have to do. I'm hopeful though. While there may not be a surgery to "correct" his issues or fix him, I want to make sure he has the best care.

 

[Davidh]

I am so sorry to hear this, but the vets at Texas A&M are just great. Give your big boy a hug from us and we will keep him in our prayers,

 

[kim n the guys]

so glad you found a specialist. Remy and Sebastian both had the angiogram done and Remy's coronary arteries were very close to being in the normal position but not close enough for the valvuloplasty, Sebastian's coronary arteries are so far out of place it might as well have it's own zipcode!

 

[ssesler]

So we took Winston to Texas A&M, which is a wonderful facility, and got even more bad news. Not only does he have pulmonary stenosis, but his coronary artery is wrapped around the pulmonary artery AND they found a mass in his chest that is resting on his heart. They are afraid to do any testing that requires anesthesia as they think there is a strong chance he would not survive it. At this point, we can only manage his condition with meds. This just hit us so hard as he's only 4 years old. Winston is our first bully and was the reason I got involved with rescue and research for the breed. He has taught us so much and has given us more than we could ever give him. I don't know if it's possible for us to spoil him more than he already is, but we're sure going to try. I dread the day he leaves us.

 

[Sherry]

Oh no.....I'm so sorry to hear this news. I can't imagine having to go through that. They're our baby's. Prayers for strength are being sent to you and your family. I hope he isn't in pain. :crying:
I'm sure that you are. So sad

 

[redhed]

I'm so very sorry to read this. Poor Winston and poor you :'( Positive vibes your way.

 

[kim n the guys]

I'm so sorry about Winston. Please know that we are all here for you and your family!!!

 

[JAKEISGREAT]

I'm so very sorry. Winston is a lucky guy to have you loving him. We learn so much from these special babies and he will teach you even now. Loving him will be the easy part. Keep us informed and I will keep him close..

 

[Lucy-licious]

I am so sorry to hear this Love and support coming your way xx

 

[kazzy220]

Oh no .. and I was so hoping for a good outcome to all this.

Now is the time to treasure every moment you have with him. Take extra pictures and take even more videos. When my Maggie was diagnosed with cancer she was gone within weeks and I regret so much not having even more to look back on than I actually have.

I am so so sorry.

 

[ssesler]

Thank you for your kind words. One of the first questions we asked was if he was in pain. They assured us he was not. I definitely plan on taking more pictures and videos, if that's possible. LOL. Just on my cell phone I have for 8000, mostly of the bullies. But that's always a good reminder.

 

[RiiSi]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Hugs and pryers to you all