04/21/2016
The reason I am re-publishing this page is in hopes that any families of Kitty and Declan's puppies that I have lost contact with will see this. Kitty, our beautiful buff baby, is suffering from Canine Cardiomyopathy, a very serious and terminal heart disease. In Cocker Spaniels this is typically caused by a deficiency of Taurine and L-Carnitine, which Kitty's level of Taurine was dramatically low. Please tell your vet that your dog needs to be tested for Taurine levels, it is vital to your pet's survival! If I had this information, we may have had many more years with our girl :'( Do not wait until it may be too late! You will know it is too late, if your dog starts coughing and her gums and tongue are gray, caused by a lack of oxygen and fluid in her lungs. From this diagnosis, with medication, the typical life expectancy is 6 months to 1-year. Kitty was diagnosed in October 2015. The Taurine test is costly, approximately $400 but compared to devastation, suffering and $5000 plus expense of canine cardiologist, (yup, you read it right) it is money well spent! I would spend probably every penny I have to keep her with me....(do they have canine oxygen tanks..hmmm) but she will not have the quality of life she deserves and it will selfish for me to ask her to stay because our family will be so sad! I told the kids, Auntie Sharon will be waiting for her when it is time to cross over the rainbow bridge and we will see them both again.