Hi all, I have a mongrel with some corgi in her boarding, she`s about 16yrs & used to be on Encard & Frusenide for a heart condition. This last time she arrived tho her owner told me she is had also been put on Vetmedin as well because she had started having heart attacks/strokes & the vet told her that the dogs heart is very enlarged. Since she started on the Vetmedin they had stopped. Till about half an hour ago when she just had one while I was feeding her, suddenly in the middle of eating her food she collapsed for about 2 minutes then she got up looked around & carried on eating her food. It was a bit scary but I`d been warned so all was OK. What I`d like to know is does anyone have any experience of this condition & what can I expect, really what is going to happen? Thanks.
Christine, Spain.
PS. forgot to add she is hard of hearing & a little sight impaired but other than that is very happy, has little walks, no probs running around but tends to keep to a quick trot, loves her food & sleeps a lot :)

Sorry to say this Christine, but I would not have considered boarding a 16yr old dog WITHOUT any problems, let alone the poor dog you are describing. I think the sooner she goes home the better. JMO
Dawn.

Hi Dawn, I can understand you saying that but you may feel different if you know some of her history. She`s been a regular client for about 3yrs now & her medical probs only stated about 18mths ago. And since then she doesn`t stay in the kennels she stays in our spare room in the house. She`s not on her own there either, she has for company a 13yr golden retriever who`s been a regular customer for 6yrs but is now having a lot of probs walking. But at the moment they have quality of life & go out for walks, healthy apetites & enjoy sitting on the lawn(when the rain stops!) :) My boarders are all going to get old, it`s life, so I really can`t say to their owners when they do get old I won`t take them anymore. I`ve discussed everything with these owners & know what they want/expect of me if/when anything happens. These 2 go home on Tuesday but that same day a 14yr deaf/blind staffie is arriving! & he`ll be staying in there too :) My vet is smashing & I have him on call 24hrs so thats covered. I can`t turn them away Claire can I? Do you turn your regulars away when they get old? I`m not here to judge the owners, just to take very good care of their dogs while they are in my care, which is my job. :)
Anyway, have you got any info on what`s likely to happen with this heart prob, it`s just for myself so I`ll know what to expect really.
Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine.
Spare room in the house, company of some one elses dog?? things are very different over there than authorities would allow here. I agree its up to you which dogs you take, but I think old dogs however long they have been boarding for, get to a time when they should be at home. I say if someone has had a dog for 16yrs and now that dog is faced with many medical difficulties, then your holiday can wait!! I don't judge owners either, I'm sure you see young dogs in poor condition etc.. as we do, but I feel for the oldies and don't like to see them upset. As for the heart problem, you say the owners said the attacks have stopped, now she has another, they clearly haven't, or the attack is a sign of stress, or purely the fact the dog has further deteriorated. If she were in my care, I would contact the family (we always take a contact name+ number) explain the situation, and see if she could be cared for in her home environment. I know we have different thoughts here Christine, but we both want what is best in different ways, nice to "talk" to you on this one.
Dawn.
p.s. It's raining here too now!! :D

Morning Claire, yes things are diff over here. The only other kennels nearby, well lets just say they would be closed down over there & the other one is OK, but the brother of the owner of them brings his dog to me.
I too have contact numbers for all of them but these 2 dogs will be buried here & the owners have left me to make the final judgement should it be necessary. They have stayed together the last 5 or 6 times & know each other. A lot of my clients are like myself & have family back in the UK, sometimes people from Gibraltar with medical problems have to go to UK for treatment/specialists, sometimes the Spanish people have to got to Cadiz for treatment & need to stay for long periods. Children go to study in UK or Madrid & parents go with them to visit the Unies & then to visit them in term time. Lots of different circumstances here that need taking into consideration. I have 1 dog who`s been coming for 6yrs & he`s nearly 10 now. His owners circumstances changed & they now work in the tourist industry & he comes for 3/4mths every summer cos they are out all day every day thru the summer & they prefer him to be here rather then left on his own all the time. In fact a couple of yrs ago they asked me could they will him to me in case something happened to them both as they have no family here.
These dogs would go somewhere else if I didn`t take them so I think they are better off with me. Now whatever our thoughts are on it, me refusing to take them won`t change that, so surely thats better for the dog`s? At least they know me, they are well cared for & they are reasonably happy here & are with someone who knows & likes them. Thats just how it is over here.
Hey we got sunshine & blue clouds today so I`m :)
Christine, Spain.

Coincidence or what? I`ve just got off the phone from a woman who lives alone & has no family here. Her hubby died last yr & a few mths ago she rescued a rough collie who`s got a few med probs. She had a fall a few wks ago & it got her to thinking what would happen to her dog if she went to hossy or anything, so has been looking for kennels if she ever needs them. She has been & had a look at 2 or 3 up the coast & also the 2 I mentioned in my last post & she didn`t like any of them. Someone gave her my number & suggested she speak with me, so we had a little chat & she is coming tomorrow to have a look around & another chat. This is how it goes. From the sounds of it her dog is a sweety & if we both like each other & she likes my kennels, no doubt I will probably end up saying yes & board him if it`s ever necessary.
On the bright side tho, I do have some young, fit & healthy NAUGHTY dogs :D :D
Christine, Spain.

Hi Christine.
I think you mis interpreted me, I do not mind taking dogs with medical problems at all! If we didn't I doubt there would be many dogs at all. Nowadays there is always something wrong with at least one in the kennels that has meds of some description. My problem is a dog such as you described:- Very enlarged heart
Heart attacks/strokes
16yrs old.
This dog should be at home. I understand what you say about some one else would have it if it wasn't you, but then surely if they really did care about the dog in the first place a holiday could wait, after all if they were willing to go to one of the other kennels you mentioned, in my opinion they couldn't have cared that much about the dog in the first place.

I hope the Collie is ok, and copes well if you board him/her.
Dawn.

Sorry Dawn, having lot`s of power cuts so try & reply tomorrow
Christine Spain.

Hi Dawn,right with you now :) Of course I agree with you, best place for her & him is at home, and I ask can`t they find anyone to stay in the house with these dog`s & invariably the answer is always no. Tho I have had some success & have had a couple of cancellations because they have found somebody, which makes me quite pleased & relieved! I try & jog them to think of alternatives. Some people have even started taking their dogs on holiday with them when I`ve given them links to places that accept dogs.
The spare room where they stay is actually our spare bedroom & it`s v comfy for them & it`s where one of us goes to watch a video when the other one wants to watch telly. I can keep a close eye on them & it`s a bit more homely for them. Just didn`t say so before cos I didn`t want anyone to think I`m madder than some might already think I am! :) :)
So looks like we agree on this, but I don`t know how I can change things.
Christine, Spain.