tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post921821871129153225..comments2023-10-30T04:01:58.570-04:00Comments on The Writer's Dog: Ike has a big heart, but it beats too slowPeggy Frezonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11087038771857532951noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-38182571413855005682013-10-01T07:23:37.692-04:002013-10-01T07:23:37.692-04:00No problem. I am glad that Ike is doing well and t...No problem. I am glad that Ike is doing well and that you are all the the good hands of Dr. Dietrich.Parker Clacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-44629883377742821112013-10-01T00:01:23.212-04:002013-10-01T00:01:23.212-04:00Thank you Parker for this thorough and thoughtful ...Thank you Parker for this thorough and thoughtful response. I appreciate your insights very much, and know those reading the comments here will also benefit from your expertise. As you say, Dr. Dietrich is a wonderful veterinarian and Ike is in good hands. Thank you for all you do to help keep others healthy, and for taking time to explain the EKG strip here. Your explanations truly help.peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-81790855365887382232013-09-30T19:46:04.167-04:002013-09-30T19:46:04.167-04:00Greek yogurt can be good for doggy digestive syste...Greek yogurt can be good for doggy digestive systems... although not in quantity. A scoop/day, max. But some dogs don't tolerate dairy well - watch out for flatulence, diarrhea or constipation, excessive thirst, signs of dehydration, or itchiness.LamChopnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-83592915358601808252013-09-30T15:47:41.681-04:002013-09-30T15:47:41.681-04:00I am a good friend of Peggy's husband Mike and...I am a good friend of Peggy's husband Mike and he asked me to copy a reply that I made on a thread he had started on Home Theater Forum regarding the EKG strip shown in this blog. <br /><br />"Mike:<br /><br />From the EKG that the vets iPhone showed it looks like your dog was having PACs or premature atrial contractions which can sometimes continue on to a higher degree heart block. The SA or sinus arrhythmia isn't that big of a deal but both point to a potential electrical conduction abnormality of the heart. The main things to watch out for is if the dog is less energetic, loses appetite or wants to sleep all the time (more so than usual). This type of arrhythmia can lead to a heart block that in the end would require a pacemaker (not sure if they have pacemakers for dogs).<br /><br />Thanks for the post. It is amazing what they can do with these portable devices now."<br /><br /><br />I am a Cardiovascular RN by profession and have looked at more EKGs than anyone should and I picked up on the first strip as what is called Bigeminal PACs. The sinus arrhythmia that Dr. Dietrich saw on the EKG rhythm strip and the PACs can all point to what is called a conduction abnormality. <br /><br /><br /><br />Basically the heart has its own timing mechanism controlled by cells within the heart and when these cells, that control the rhythm of the heart, go haywire the heart starts to get out of rhythm. The upper chambers of the heart are the atria and the bottom the ventricles. The atria pump blood into the ventricles and the ventricles pump blood into the circulation. When the cells that control the atria stop working correctly back up cells take over and cause all sorts of issues. The bottom line is that when these atrial arrhythmia get bad enough the heart can really slow down and not enough blood gets circulated to the rest of the body. Hence the lethargy, loss of appetite, etc. And in that case often requires a pacemaker to help the heart out.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now I am talking about what happens in humans here. The expertise in this area is in the hands of Dr. Dietrich and other vets. As Will Rogers said "A veterinarian is the best doctor of all as their patients can tell them what is wrong with them". I really appreciate doctors such as Dr. Dietrich (whom I do not know unfortunately) that take the time to keep up to date on the latest tools to help take the best care of their patients and the humans that make them a part of their family. <br /><br /><br /><br />I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. As with any concerns you have over your animal's heath be sure to take them to your vet to have them examined.Parker Clacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-40700190297601784882013-09-27T16:33:43.747-04:002013-09-27T16:33:43.747-04:00Hi Kay thanks for sharing. I'm sorry your york...Hi Kay thanks for sharing. I'm sorry your yorkie had heart problems too but glad you're in a good place now. My vet is great. We're actually in upstate NY! Thank you for the prayers :)peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-83370667250193820732013-09-26T19:07:00.607-04:002013-09-26T19:07:00.607-04:00Found out my boy(12yrs and still my service dog, a...Found out my boy(12yrs and still my service dog, a yorkie) had heart problems in April while visiting a friend in upstate NY. He did well, then had to up his lasix. This caused his kidneys to fail. Got fluids, caused his heart to have problems. I think we have finally got things settled and are the even road now. It sure is scary. What a great vet you go to Peggy. I am thankful we have wonderful care here too. Nothing as fancy as yours though, lol. Good luck with Ike. Keeping you guys in our prayers.Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-7171068610918986122013-09-25T19:33:08.235-04:002013-09-25T19:33:08.235-04:00I know how Slimdoggy always likes to learn. Yes, i...I know how Slimdoggy always likes to learn. Yes, it is good that it may not be too serious, we hope. We will have to keep an eye and an ear on things.peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-11374388203133170212013-09-25T19:32:22.252-04:002013-09-25T19:32:22.252-04:00Thank you. My vet is pretty awesome. They are many...Thank you. My vet is pretty awesome. They are many vets located much closer but since we're happy there we're willing to travel a bit out of the way.peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-24611475484828580772013-09-25T19:31:27.334-04:002013-09-25T19:31:27.334-04:00I'm glad it hasn't caused your mom any ser...I'm glad it hasn't caused your mom any serious trouble. I hope all continues to go well for both of them.peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-31057304779081344322013-09-25T19:28:46.185-04:002013-09-25T19:28:46.185-04:00Thanks....fingers and paws crossed!Thanks....fingers and paws crossed!peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-1740959979523325102013-09-25T19:28:28.768-04:002013-09-25T19:28:28.768-04:00You wouldn't know it from watching him, either...You wouldn't know it from watching him, either. He's full of energy and even runs and chases his tennis ball. Hope it's just one of those weird things that will resolve itself. Thanks for checking in!peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-54900516424814619932013-09-25T11:58:19.687-04:002013-09-25T11:58:19.687-04:00Hi Peggy. Wow. Ike's heartbeat is really slow....Hi Peggy. Wow. Ike's heartbeat is really slow. I pray that all is well. Those pads on the doctor's phone looks cool. It can make her device a life saver, which is pretty cool.Haopeehttp://www.mydogslove.me/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-87093720992946041272013-09-25T11:58:18.580-04:002013-09-25T11:58:18.580-04:00Wow - the things they can do today. I'm glad t...Wow - the things they can do today. I'm glad they think it is not too serious. Hopefully no symptoms show up and he's fine! Fingers crossed he stays fit and healthy!!Jackie Bouchardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-40858710447450398932013-09-24T23:20:36.913-04:002013-09-24T23:20:36.913-04:00Technology is pretty cool! I'm glad that Ike ...Technology is pretty cool! I'm glad that Ike is mostly okay, at least much better than you initially thought. Your vet sounds pretty awesome, too!houndstoothhttp://TalesandTails.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-81695638458063275182013-09-24T18:51:45.977-04:002013-09-24T18:51:45.977-04:00Such good news. I'm so glad that the Dr. ran t...Such good news. I'm so glad that the Dr. ran these tests and that it doesn't seem to be as serious as it was. And the movie - very cool - thanks for sharing all of that with us - good education!SlimDoggynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-64032162980625226582013-09-24T18:20:13.592-04:002013-09-24T18:20:13.592-04:00Thank you. The doctor was very nice to let me hold...Thank you. The doctor was very nice to let me hold it and take pictures of it!peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-45245571058210178202013-09-24T18:19:12.456-04:002013-09-24T18:19:12.456-04:00Thank you for the purrs Brian. Ike woofs back, hop...Thank you for the purrs Brian. Ike woofs back, hope it doesn't scare you!peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-6982729863984101682013-09-24T18:18:50.780-04:002013-09-24T18:18:50.780-04:00I'm sorry about LittleBear (what a cute name)....I'm sorry about LittleBear (what a cute name). There are many new advances in medicine but also, we have to incur many expenses to use them as well. I was surprised Ike was so still too. He's a pretty chill boy, but he is a bit flinchy at the vet's sometimes.peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-38021910996169473072013-09-24T18:17:25.289-04:002013-09-24T18:17:25.289-04:00The phone was cool. I asked if my phone could do t...The phone was cool. I asked if my phone could do that but you have to buy the $200 cover, lol. Thank you for the suggestion of the Greek yogurt. Some people have suggested sardines too but Greek yogurt sounds yummier!peggyfrezonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-46914238928275863842013-09-24T17:58:55.659-04:002013-09-24T17:58:55.659-04:00Woah. I've never seen anything like that cell ...Woah. I've never seen anything like that cell phone EKG, but what an incredible tool! I'm relieved to hear that Ike is doing ok and that he feels well. We had to get Cooper to gain weight, and I added scoops of full-fat Greek yogurt to his kibble. That stuff has a TON of (delicious... creamy...) calories. I may have helped myself to a scoop or two, too! :)Maggiehttp://ohmydogblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-69451725157305052812013-09-24T17:24:25.429-04:002013-09-24T17:24:25.429-04:00Great post! So glad you got him checked out! Our...Great post! So glad you got him checked out! Our LittleBear had heart issues and we feel he could've lived longer if only we had seen a vet more knowledgeable and well-equipped to understand/treat cardiac issues. It's great that you seem to have a wonderful vet that you can trust! <br />Thanks for sharing all the pictures and video... so helpful to actually SEE everything. And Ike was SO good to lay there perfectly still for the doctors! Oh Lord, my two would NEVER be that still... they'd have to be sedated for that kind of calmness. <br />I hope that Ike's condition remains stable and doesn't slow him down a bit. What a sweet boy... I just want to hug him for being so good.Words With Wienersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-76224946592332810152013-09-24T15:29:27.758-04:002013-09-24T15:29:27.758-04:00So scary. We are sending you all good vibes sweet ...So scary. We are sending you all good vibes sweet Ike<br />Benny & LilyTwo French Bulldogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10504475675258871866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-10734599937629641982013-09-24T11:54:16.201-04:002013-09-24T11:54:16.201-04:00That is a little scary, but if Ike seems OK, then ...That is a little scary, but if Ike seems OK, then maybe he really is OK. We had to cancel Ginko's cardiac consult (EKG / echo) due to the massive flooding in CO recently, but we hope to get him in soon. Our vet is hearing an irregular heartbeat.Roxanne @ Champion of My Heartnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-85211753689971722022013-09-24T11:34:10.583-04:002013-09-24T11:34:10.583-04:00I'm so glad Ike's prognosis turned out wel...I'm so glad Ike's prognosis turned out well and I'm fascinated by that cell phone gadget...medicine sure is changingGizmo Geodoghttp://www.terriertorrent.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8636731278531757769.post-47779523369347974792013-09-24T11:05:44.041-04:002013-09-24T11:05:44.041-04:00That's great! I'm gonna keep my toes, fing...That's great! I'm gonna keep my toes, fingers, legs cross and Titan can keep his paws crossed for Ike ;)Bren Leehttp://www.pibblesnme.com/noreply@blogger.com