Our AnnaBelle

[Madame Boomer]

Just an update on our AnnaBelle -

I took her to Texas A&M Wednesday morning for heart surgery and she is FINE! Hopefully I'll be able to bring her home this afternoon.

I've burned up the road (Texas 6) between Cypress and College Station 3 times this week! I hope I won't have to make any more in the near future.

AnnaBelle had a conditon called PDA (Patent Ductus Arterosus) which simply means she had a hole in her heart. This condition is more common than one might think, yet not something seen everyday. I'm putting this on the boards in hopes if anyone has ever had their vet detect a "murmur" during any examination that they would go the extra mile to find out what is causing the murmur! It is a "life and death" issue for your beloved pet.

PDA has to do with a puppy's (and human babies as well)umbilical cord while in the womb. After birth, this cord dissolves within a few days and the entry point in the heart is closed. In some cases, it doesn't and a hole is left open in the heart which causes continual blood flow and constant pumping of the heart.

Left untreated, the animal usually dies within several years as the heart literally wears out.

The less invasive procedure is much like an angioplasty where a tube is inserted through the leg area to the heart and a "plug" is dropped into the hole. The more invasive surgery requires an incision in the chest area to manually close off the opening. Thankfully AnnaBelle's less invasive surgery was a success!

Early detection is a MUST to ensure a good prognosis. This surgery should have been done before 3 months of age - thankfully AnnaBelle's heart will be fine even though she's 2 years old.

Now we go into recovery stage! Thank you all for your thoughts, phone calls, emails and prayers! I didn't feel "all alone" during this procedure!

<span class="ev_code_RED">a very special thank you</span>to Mike and Kim Martensen for allowing me to crash at their beautiful new home in College Station during the day long procedure!

Sandy

[Madame Boomer]

Just an update on our AnnaBelle -

I took her to Texas A&M Wednesday morning for heart surgery and she is FINE! Hopefully I'll be able to bring her home this afternoon.

I've burned up the road (Texas 6) between Cypress and College Station 3 times this week! I hope I won't have to make any more in the near future.

AnnaBelle had a conditon called PDA (Patent Ductus Arterosus) which simply means she had a hole in her heart. This condition is more common than one might think, yet not something seen everyday. I'm putting this on the boards in hopes if anyone has ever had their vet detect a "murmur" during any examination that they would go the extra mile to find out what is causing the murmur! It is a "life and death" issue for your beloved pet.

PDA has to do with a puppy's (and human babies as well)umbilical cord while in the womb. After birth, this cord dissolves within a few days and the entry point in the heart is closed. In some cases, it doesn't and a hole is left open in the heart which causes continual blood flow and constant pumping of the heart.

Left untreated, the animal usually dies within several years as the heart literally wears out.

The less invasive procedure is much like an angioplasty where a tube is inserted through the leg area to the heart and a "plug" is dropped into the hole. The more invasive surgery requires an incision in the chest area to manually close off the opening. Thankfully AnnaBelle's less invasive surgery was a success!

Early detection is a MUST to ensure a good prognosis. This surgery should have been done before 3 months of age - thankfully AnnaBelle's heart will be fine even though she's 2 years old.

Now we go into recovery stage! Thank you all for your thoughts, phone calls, emails and prayers! I didn't feel "all alone" during this procedure!

<span class="ev_code_RED">a very special thank you</span>to Mike and Kim Martensen for allowing me to crash at their beautiful new home in College Station during the day long procedure!

Sandy

[Don (W5IT)]

Dang Sandy, you have had a heck of a ride dealing with all the troubles with you "Furry kid".

Glad it looks like everything will iron itself out and yall will have MANY years with your fur-baby.

Kim and Mike are just plain ole pure-dee good folks! Glad to hear they are in the new house and all settled in.

[RustyJC]

I linked this post from the South Central section as it has some good information for anyone with pets, regardless of location. As Sandy said, if the vet says your pet has a heart murmur, based on our experience, find out why!!

Rusty

[JayC]

Rusty and Sandy, we're so glad that everything worked out on Annabelle and hope she has a very long and uneventful life from now on!

[cuvy]

Glad your baby is doing all right. I know how I am about My Marty Dog. I may be worse now because all my kids and grandkids are grown and no body loves me as much as Marty. Take care of yourself and Anna Belle. Shirley C.

[Madame Boomer]

It's been 4 days now since her surgery. I was told in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS to keep her calm and quiet: no excessive barking, no jumping up and down, no running, no getting up and down off furniture, no playing with Coby....no nothing!

HA! I think I'd rather make 3 long trips to College Station, jump off Niagra Falls on a bungee cord, ride a roller coaster! There's no way on this earth that I can keep that girl down!

She's definitely on the mend to say the least!

THANK YOU ALL for your thoughts. Any one who's ever known the love of an animal knows how we've felt this week. We're happy to see her FULL of life!

Sandy

[heinz577]

Sandy, so glad that Annabelle is doing so well.
I'm sure our girls are looking forward to seeing her at the rallies.
Heinz thought you would enjoy this
Betty

Do you remember Love

[allendp]

Betty,

Pat and I enjoyed it too. For any pet lover it really hits home. What a sweet piece. So thoughtful of you all to share. I am sure God in his merciful wisdom answers prayers for our animals as well and it seems He has done so for Annabelle.

[Madame Boomer]

Heinz and Betty -

Thank you for posting this beautiful link - it touched my heart (and my life) and the answer to the question is a resounding YES, I WILL REMEMBER!

Sandy

[M2Kelley]

Sandy,

So happy Annabelle is doing well! Those little creatures are just like children that we love so dearly.

We had a tough couple of days last week with our poor old Sidney. Thought for sure we were going to lose him but he's pulled through. He's now chasing and generally aggravating the cat.

[Barbara S.]

Thank you for posting this link for those of us who love our fur kids. My foster dog that I have had for several months was just adopted. I know she went to a wonderful home but I still feel a bond with her and I miss her even though I still have two dogs at home to keep me very busy.

[MonacoMama]

Sandy,
How is your little one doing now? I was relieved to hear that everything turned out well after surgery. Our son has his heart repaired when he was 2 - so I know that similar feeling.

[Madame Boomer]

MonacoMama -

I never realized how often this happens not only in our furr-babies, but in human babies! Our AnnaBelle looked fine and acted fine - who would have ever thought she had a problem!

It's been seven days since her surgery and she is doing wonderful! Other than a lot of hair missing and a horrid looking bruised area on her tummy, no one would know she just had heart surgery!

The vet said to keep her "quiet and calm" this past week...ha! Dogs are so much more resilient than us humans. I'm the one who needs the calm and quiet!!!

I'm so glad to hear your son is doing well. It is so amazing what modern medicine can do these days...for all our beloveds!!!

Sandy