Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums banner

Richter's echo/holter is tomorrow...do you all usually do an x-ray?

3.9K views 42 replies 19 participants last post by  Maria1  
#1 ·
Richter's cardiologist appointment is tomorrow. He's getting an echo and 24 hour holter (and he'll have to be glued to my side for 24 hours, because I'm very nervous about Captain Naughtypants chewing the holter monitor...he's coming to work with me for a few hours tomorrow and I'm taking Thursday off). He's also scheduled for an x-ray, but I'm wondering if most of you do that? I guess I'm wondering how useful it is. I'll be talking about it with the cardiologist before we go ahead with it, of course, but I'd love some input.
 
#5 ·
Hope all goes well and that he is good with the holter.

I'm not sure, but I think x-rays are done to see if heart is enlarged or if there is fluid somewhere, also shows if there is any pressure on the trachea.

Over here vets do that firts, than eco and electrocardiogram and found out recently that very rarely do the holter (only 3 hospitals in the country have them).
 
#7 ·
Fingers crossed and very positive thoughts coming your way.

I skipped the x-ray too. My boy was completely asymptomatic so I actually started with a proBNP test. Kind of curious what everyone else's thoughts are on this test. The vets weren't crazy about doing it, and would only run it with much insisting from me, but my understanding is that their reluctance to run it was because it can sometimes (maybe) give a false positive — but not a false negative. For an asymptomatic (neutered, so obviously no plans to breed) boy like mine, it seemed like a very good place to start. Anyone else have any other experiences with this test? Is there any reason you would recommend NOT starting with a BNP test?

Sorry to get off topic, MeadowCat.
 
#15 ·
Richter cannot wear his coats in his crate unsupervised, either! LOL.

Good results for Richter. We will all laugh if Captain Naughtypants chews the holter moniter.
You guys might laugh, but I will not be laughing if I have to pay to replace a holter!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Maria1 and Rosemary
#17 ·
Echo normal!

Holter is on. Richter is already WAY too interested in it, despite the vest over it. This is going to be a LONG 24 hours...
 
#21 ·
Richter has a coat over his holter vest because he's a little too interested, Lois :) So I don't think it would be all that interesting to see! My cardiologist actually uses Thundershirts with a pocket sewn into them, which I think is a pretty cool idea.
 
#23 ·
Richter popped that kind when he had his neuter, churchill, so...that doesn't work for us. He's being pretty good right now, but we're just supervising him very carefully. Like I said...Captain Naughtypants!
 
#26 ·
He's very special :roflmao:
 
#28 ·
I guess it depends on what they are looking for. But usually an echo shows more than just a xray would show. If your vet recommends it than I would def. do it. When my black lab had congestive heart failure they only did an echo and they were able to tell me that there was fluid around the heart.

Sending good thoughts to you and your boy.
 
#29 ·
The cardiologist did not recommend an x-ray, so we just did the echo and have the holter on now. Thought I would update that!
 
#31 ·
No, the cardiologist did not feel it was necessary at this time, so no x-ray.