Poor Poor Poor Poor Doodles

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We are back from the veterinary clinic where Doodles had an examination and an echocardiogram. As expected, he has a serious heart condition. He was diagnosed with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy is a genetic disease that occurs when cardiac muscle fibers are in a disorganized pattern. This results in more muscle fibers being laid down within the ventricle creating higher pressures at rest. The increased ventricular pressures during rest force the atrium to stretch as it attempts to overcome the elevated ventricular pressures. This can lead to other heart problems including blot clots and congestive heart failure. As a result of the tests, they found an enlargement in his left atrium, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve, and to top it all off, a false tendon on the heart. How serious? Out of 1 to 10, Doodles is a 6. He will be on 3 prescription drugs and baby aspirin. He must also lose 3 of his 17 pounds, so barely any more treats. Doodles needs more lab work in two weeks, and a recheck echocardiogram in 3 - 4 months. His prognosis is guarded. No knee surgery is allowed until the vet checks his heart again. We will do everything in our power to help our precious boy live as long as possible. By the way, today is Doodles' 10th Birthday.