This just got in. I got a call from the Animal Doctor after their appointment at the U.P Vet Teaching Hospital. Its confirmed, our adopted dog Trudis has cor pulmonale. This is just what I got so far from the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library:
Cor pulmonale is right ventricular enlargement secondary to a lung disorder that produces pulmonary artery hypertension. Right ventricular failure follows. Findings include peripheral edema, neck vein distention, hepatomegaly, and a parasternal lift. Diagnosis is clinical and by echocardiography. Treatment is directed at the cause.
Darlings - from a UK source:
ReplyDeleteContributors Dr Serena Brownlie BVM&S PhD CertSAC MRCVS
Introduction
Usually concurrent left-sided endocardiosis, rarely tricuspid endocardiosis with right-sided heart failure predominate over left-sided lesion.
Cause : insufficient right atrioventricular valve.
Signs : right-sided heart failure.
Diagnosis : signs, echocardiography.
Treatment : symptomatic.
Diagnosis
Clinical signs
Concurrent mitral endocardiosis .
Systolic murmur of tricuspid regurgitation on right hemithorax.
Signs of right-sided congestive heart failure
Ascites.
Hepatomegaly.
Distended jugular veins.
Positive hepatojugular reflex.
Jugular veins pulsating with severe tricuspid regurgitation.
Loss of body condition.
Diagnosis
Differential diagnosis
Ascites
Right-sided heart failure due to other conditions:
Cor pulmonale
Dilated cardiomyopathy .
Tricuspid dysplasia .
Pulmonic stenosis .
Dirofilariasis (not endemic in UK)
Pericardial disease
Portal hypertension
Liver failure
Protein losing conditions:
Glomerulonephropathy
Amyloidosis
Enteropathy
Abdominal neoplasia
Thrombosis of caudal vena cava veins.
Sequelae
Prognosis
Poor if right-sided congestive heart failure (especially if concommitant left-sided heart failure as is usually the case).
Expected response to treatment:
Control of ascites.
Improved body condition.
Improved exercise tolerance.
Normal gastrointestinal function.
Better quality of life.
Trudis - as Ruth wrote in her theatrical play on the sisterly relationship between author Jane Austen and her sister Cassandra - "Nothing is perfect without its imperfections."
We continue to love and pray for you ALL. Please let us have any updates as soon as you can. xx