> Even though we check hearts annually, do you also do a heart > check with your regular vet immediately prior to each breeding for > reach dog and bitch?
Most of my dogs are checked by my vet within a month of the cardiologist--many right before. That is why I know that of the 10 vets at my clinic, only one is consistent at always hearing grade I murmurs and one other is pretty good. Seven others can't hear murmurs until they hit a grade III or higher. The other one I can't figure out--he hears all kinds of strange things and never agrees with anyone else including the cardiologists. I trust the one vet completely and rely on him mostly for retired dogs. My Prudence developed a grade I murmur at age 11 and Winnie a grade I murmur at age 9 (verified by a cardiologist)--both having been cardiologist clear months before. I relied on my vet to tell me how they were for almost 3 years--he kept telling me Prudence still had a grade I murmur that was quite positional (if you weren't in the exact right spot you couldn't hear it) and Winnie eventually advanced to a grade II. Last September I took them both to the cardiologist at the match in Michigan and Dr. Riepe verified--grade I in Prudence (at just short of 14 years) and grade II in Winnie (at 12 years of age). So I do trust this vet completely--but still take all breeding dogs to a cardiologist yearly. I am confident in him for puppies and retired dogs though. Winnie's daughter Elle (retired for some time now) was declared clear by her vet too and in April--just a month before she turned 10 years old--she saw a cardiologist and was indeed pronounced clear! I was very happy about Elle because I have 3 of her children in my breeding program. Yes, some vets can hear grade I murmurs, but the vast majority cannot. I would never trust a vet to hear grade I murmurs unless I had as much positive experience with him/her as stated above. Laura Lang ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
