Doggy has heart murmur and enlarged heart...
Moochie is a 12 yr old chihuahua/jack russell mix. Just wondering if anyone has experience with this. Took xrays and no fluid in lungs, which is good! It's a strong murmur, a 4 on scale of 1-6. She is sleeping more, gets tuckered out easy. So hard to see your baby age 
= new reply since forum marked as read
He was (then) a 10 year old Australian Cattle Dog - always exercised, ate fairly well but had several surgeries over the years which probably weakened his heart/valves.
The vet initially diagnosed it as a 3 and recommended all manner of meds/diuretics etc, which I declined. 6 months later, with the consult of Purdue U Vet School, he had surgery to remove a (unrelated) mass in his mouth. They almost lost him, but thank Goddess and science, he came back to me.
He was just at the vet on Monday for a checkup - now a grand old 13 year old - and the murmur hasn't gotten any worse.
He does sleep alot, seems out of breath most of the time & it looks to me like his rib cage is changing shape to accomodate his enlarged heart which is pushing on his lungs. Instead of the 3 mile walks & hikes we used to take, now every once in awhile I'll take him to the stream or woods to just let him wander for a little while, he also still loves to swim and come in the car with me on errands.
I know it may seem cruel to some here but I've wrestled with saying goodbye many, many times during the past year and I honestly believe that when he's ready to leave me, he will let me know. Today is not that day.
Love your baby to pieces and trust that you know what's best, despite all the medicinal/mechanical shit they will try to talk you into.
My vet wanted to do over $800 of tests. I found a new vet that took some scans and bloodwork for half that price. I'm in SoCal, so vets are outrageous with their prices. The new one said I may want to consult a cardiologist, but they start at $500! Nope, no way. Once Moochie's quality of life goes down hill, I will not let her suffer. I hope it's not for a while though. She still loves car rides, so we try to take her on one every evening 
Thanks for responding!
my baby. Luckily and hopefully yours will have many more years left.
My baby has bad neurological problems, and is not long for this world. It was sad to come to this realization, but his spirit must be set free soon. That's the way it is.
He was the product of bad breeding. Careless, is what it was. However, I'm honored to have known him and gave him the best life I could. I'm proud of that.
Mine was a stray that I adopted at 5 yrs. old. I've spoiled her
Lots of Furr-parents in there to share stories/pics/ideas etc with.
