MMVD - It's All About the Heart

Ever heard of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD)? If your answer is no, then you’re not alone. I didn’t know what it was either until my dog Cas was diagnosed with it a few years ago.

After Cas’ primary vet detected that he had a heart murmur, I started taking him to a cardiologist for an annual echocardiogram (a test that uses soundwaves to create images of a dog’s heart). That is where I learned that the heart murmur was caused by MMVD. I was worried, but the cardiologist had emphasized that dogs with MMVD can live long, full lives if the disease didn’t get worse. 

Unfortunately, the results from his latest echocardiogram weren’t good. Not only had the disease progressed, there was no stopping the inevitable: Cas will eventually go into heart failure. 

How did we go from Cas living the rest of his life with just a heart murmur to one day going into heart failure? 

For starters, MMVD causes the degeneration of the mitral valve, which is located between the two chambers on the left side of the heart. When the valve works normally, it opens to allow blood to flow from the top chamber to the bottom chamber and then closes to prevent blood from flowing backwards. As the valve degenerates, it creates a leak that causes the blood to flow back into the upper chamber. That backflow of blood is the source of the murmur, and it can eventually cause increasing pressure in the left chambers of the heart, which in turn causes the chambers to enlarge. All of this can lead to congestive heart failure. 

MMVD is the most common heart disease in canines and affects about 80% of small breeds. The chances of a small breed getting it increases by 60% when they turn seven. It is categorized into the below stages to determine how advanced the disease is and if/when medication is needed. 

Stage A: At risk of getting the disease, but no signs of  a heart murmur.

Stage B1: Signs of a heart murmur. 

Stage B2: There’s visible enlargement of the heart.

Stage C: Heart failure; symptoms can be managed with medication.

Stage D: Heart failure; medication is no longer effective.

Cas’ disease had originally been diagnosed as B1. Now it is categorized as B2. Medication isn’t necessarily automatic when a dog’s disease progresses to B2. How enlarged the heart is really determines when medication is recommended, and for Cas, the enlargement was labeled as moderate. This was enough for the cardiologist to suggest medication. 

Medication isn’t a cure, but it buys more time. As Cas’ cardiologist explained it, it would be an estimated 6-9 months before Cas’ disease progressed to stage C. With medication, it delays it by 1-2 years. From a logical standpoint, the medication doesn’t delay heart failure by much, but from an emotional standpoint it gives Cas more time to live his life without symptoms. 

As a mom to senior pets, I anticipated health issues to arise as they age, but it’s still hard to hear a diagnosis that brings no hope. Death was only a theory, a probability that I didn’t have to think about because why wouldn’t I think my animals would live forever? 

Now I’ve been brought back to reality. The silver lining is that Cas doesn’t realize what is happening. He isn’t faced with his own mortality. He remains innocent and pure. I can take some comfort in that even as my heart breaks. 

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The information above is summarized from the sources below as well as the information provided to me by Cas’ cardiologist. I do not work in the veterinary field. I encourage you to conduct your own research or reach out to your dog’s vet to learn more about MMVD. 

• https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/animal-health/heart-murmur-dogs-symptoms-and-how-treat-it

• https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/mitral-valve-disease-in-dogs

• https://www.uvsonline.com/myxomatous-valvular-degeneration/

• https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=8526511

• https://cardiaceducationgroup.org/resource-list/the-abcds-of-cardiology/

• https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/mitral-valve-disease-dogs-understanding-and-managing-most-common-canine-heart-condition

• https://www.vetbuddyexpert.com/ClinicResources/ACVIM_Consensus_Statement_Infografic_updated.pdf

Should You Adopt of Shop?

If you’ve spent any time among animal lovers, you’ve likely heard someone say to adopt or shop responsibly when considering adding a new pet to the family. Its message is hard to miss–either adopt your pet from a rescue/shelter, or purchase your pet from an ethical breeder. You’ll also find that plenty of people within the animal community prefer one over the other.

But what if you’re not sure if you want to adopt or shop? Is one truly better than the other? That depends on what you're looking for because there are pros and cons to each option. Below is a general guide of what one should consider when adopting or purchasing a pet.

Adoption

• You save a life. That’s probably the most rewarding aspect of adopting. City shelters are overrun with stray and owner-surrendered pets, and rescues can only take in so many before they reach capacity. There are more animals than there are fosters and adopters, so shelters often resort to euthanasia to free up space.

• Adoption fees are usually cheaper than a breeder’s sale price. Having a pet will certainly get expensive over the years, but there’s a difference between spending a huge amount all at once and a huge amount over time. Adoption fees can range from $100 to $500, depending on where you’re adopting from. Some places might have special programs or events where they reduce or even waive adoption costs entirely.

• You may have a hard time finding a purebred. Lots of different breeds find themselves in shelters and rescues, but it’s more often than not the mixed and common breeds who end up there. For example, according to a survey done by the NAIA Shelter Project back in 2015, it was discovered that only about 5% of purebred dogs were found in shelters, 2% of which is made up of chihuahuas and pitbulls. While the study was done almost ten years ago, I don’t think much has changed.

• The animal’s past might be a complete mystery. If a pet is surrendered to the shelter or a rescue, their previous owner may be able to provide some insight into the animal’s past, personality, and temperament. That’s not the case for found strays, where no one knows where they came from or what kind of life they had. Adopting a pet with little to no information on their background could lead to some unexpected behavioral or health issues that you weren’t prepared for. 

Shopping

• You can buy your preferred breed, especially if what you’re looking for is a purebred. Let’s face it, some of us have a clear picture of what kind of animal we want, and there could be multiple reasons as to why only that breed will do. The chances of getting exactly what you want are higher when purchased from a breeder who specializes in that breed, particularly if the breed is uncommon and rarely found in shelters and rescues. 

• There are no surprises in terms of temperament and health if you buy from an ethical breeder . An ethical breeder will do their due diligence by getting the animals vetted and vaccinated before you take them home, and since you buy them young, there are no black holes in the animal’s past that could negatively impact their temperament or personalities. 

• Expect a high price tag. Much like shelters and rescues, how much you spend will depend on where you are and who you buy your pet from. You may spend anywhere from $500 to $2500. A responsible breeder will incur costs such as veterinary bills, housing, and food, which cuts into the net profits they make on the purchase price. Hence why they charge so much. 

• You may encounter unsavory breeders. I mentioned ethical breeders more than once for a reason. Unethical breeders only care about their profits and nothing else. They will cut corners at the expense of their animal’s health and safety. They will overbreed the female and sell the litter before they are ready to leave mom. They may tell you your new pet is from good stock and had their vaccines only for neither to be true. Unethical breeders come in all shapes and sizes, so do your research and avoid them.

Now that you have some information to mull over, don't rush into making a decision just yet. Take your time to consider the pros and cons, and then move forward with whatever option you feel is best for you, your family, and the animal.
  

And so it begins...

I've always had a passion for writing, but a blog about pets wasn't on my bingo card. Don't get me wrong, I've toyed with the idea of blogging before, and I have so many feelings when it comes to animals. One could say that I should've tried my hand at blogging a long time ago. However, a combination of anxiety, low self-esteem, and imposter syndrome made it difficult for me to try. And yet, there was always a desire to share and connect with those who loved animals as much as I do. If I had the space and money, I'd build a dog and cat sanctuary, or maybe operate a bookstore where customers could cuddle with adoptable animals (especially seniors—I have a soft spot for them). 

So, what changed? I decided to go to therapy, and it has helped me push past insecurities that were holding me back. After plenty of sessions and a few conversations with my husband, I finally took the plunge. It was a slow plunge, with this post alone taking me weeks to draft, but it's here. I'm proud of taking this step, because over the years my desire to touch on topics about animals only grew stronger.

If you're anything like me, you’re passionate about animals. You probably have your own share of opinions when it comes to them. You might not agree with everything I say, but I want to emphasize that this blog isn't here to tell anyone what to do or how to feel. That's not up to me. What I want to do is start conversations, provide information, educate, and even share some feel-good stories. In turn, I could learn from readers like you. You might give me a different perspective that I hadn't considered before, or provide me with information that I didn't know existed until you told me about it. At the end of the day, I think our end goals are the same, which is to give these animals a voice. 

I have two senior furbabies: a twelve-year-old dog and a seventeen-year-old cat. I also have a red-eared slider that I've had for twenty years. Sometimes I can’t help but think of where they’d be if they were in the wrong hands. What if they were being abused and neglected? What if they were being used in dogfights? What if they were wandering down the streets, constantly in danger of being attacked by a wild animal or getting hit by a car? 

Thankfully, they’re here with me, safe and sound. That doesn't stop me from thinking about the ones who aren't safe and sound. The ones who are currently sitting in shelters and rescues, waiting for a home to call their own. The ones who lost their lives before they even knew what a loving home was. If we amplify the voices of animals, then we might be able to bring changes to the way they are viewed and treated. 

Speaking of Paws is merely a blip in a sea of blogs right now, and I have no idea what kind of impact it’ll have. It might not have any impact at all in the grand scheme of things, but I can try my best. Is it scary? Yes. I’m terrified. Like I’ve mentioned, I have anxiety issues and no one is more critical of me than myself. I almost don’t want to embark on this newfound journey, but that's letting my fears win. So, I’ll put one foot—or maybe paw?—in front of the other and see where it takes me.