Irregular heart beat

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Ruth_Cymru

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My 26+ horse has an irregular heart beat, along with the after affects of re-occuring cellulitus. He has suddenly dropped a lot of weight, and have spoken to my vet, who thinks that it could be due to his heart slowly failing, then again, it could be the cold weather. The vet thinks that I am doing all I can for him, he is on 3 bute a day (this dose has been slowly increased due to his needs), 13 hours a day grazing, ad-lib haylage, blue chip and his regular feed.
My question is, what are your personal experiences of horses that you have known, with slow heart failure?
Thank you for any information that you can give me.
 
Heart failure (if that is what it is) is a horrid. And to see it happen in anything or one is distressing.........

I drew the line at giving an arthritic horse I had 3 bute a day - feeling that if that level of support was required it was perhaps better to call it a day. This was a decision made with the vet, and with other problems that the horse had taken in to account.

You clearly love this little horse very much - but I do wonder from your posts if it's time for a full and frank conversation with your vet?
 
Don't worry, I have not taken the decision to keep him going lightly, and have been in constant contact with my vet. I understand your point of view, and if I'm honest it was the same as mine, before I went through it myself. I do believe that there has not been a point yet where I have regreted anything that I have done, and I am, despite how it may seem, fully aware that the time is fast approaching when I will make the decision to put him to sleep.
Thank you for your advice, I appreciate that you have taken the time to see my other posts to get a full view of my situation.
 
In 1994 my lovely horse developed irregular heart beat and after countless test and treatment similar to what Denman has had I had to have him put down . Autopsy showed that all the valves of his heart were diseased and after discussing the case with Newmarket vets we came to the conclusion it was caused by the herpes virus.
Signs and symptoms were
Irregular heart beat, Atrial Fibrilation
Oedema ++++
Weight Loss.
Raised respiration+++ 24/26 at rest.
Collapse at the smallest of effort.
I also thought he had lack of oxygen to the brain Started to do things way out of character Vet said that could not happen.!!!!
The decision to have him put to sleep was not easy and I fought the vets for weeks but had to concede one day when he collapsed 3 times in the space of 5 minutes and broke my hand. I was blind to his failing health and always thought he would get better. I am a health professional and should have known better.
 
Thank you for taking the time to reply. In answer to babybells he has an irregular heart beat and the vet was concerned that it was giving up on him, however, she came out last night and didn't think it had worsened, and thought his weight loss may be down to the cold. He has brightened a lot in the last day or so(bute went up to 3 a couple of days ago, and started him on blue chip). He is on bute as he has arthtitus in both front legs, but he is quite mobile and spritely.
proudwilliam, so sorry to hear what you went through, but thank you so much for describing the signs to me, the only one Baxter is showing is weight loss, and we are optomistic (if that's the right word!) that that is down to the cold. However I will be watching out for any other signs, and make a promise that if he collapses I will make the decision to put to sleep, and of course if it gets too much for him and he is suffering.
Thank you all for replying and not taking my situation at face value ie old horse, 3 bute a day etc= put to sleep.
 
RuthC - nothing further to add, just wanted you to know that people are thinking of you and wishing your ned well. Fingers crossed it's just the cold and he picks up soon. If not, it's clear he is in good and loving hands xxx
 
Thank you. It's an impossible situation, weighing up his strengths and weaknesses, but I know that I haven't taken him to a point where I have regreted keeping him alive, it's just the waiting for the point where he needs to go, could be tomorrow could be a month. Knowing Baxter he might just do a 360 and get through the summer! He's a determined old boy
smile.gif
 
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