I went to pick up Billy on Friday from the veterinary ophthalmologist in Burlington, Vermont. Billy's surgery on Thursday to remove his eyes had gone fine, but on Friday morning Dr. Sarah Hoy and her techs became a little concerned about how he was doing. He was more listless than they expected, even considering the post-op "blues" you normally would see. Walking seemed to tire him out, and his gums would get a little on the pale side after any exertion. Mindful that he was heartworm positive, which always puts a strain on the heart, Dr. Hoy wanted me to be aware of what they were seeing.
Of course, with Avery's tragic loss fresh in our minds and hearts, Dr. Hoy's report alarmed me. I knew we needed to get Billy's heart checked out as soon as we could. In an ideal world, we wouldn't have put him through surgery without treating his heartworm infection first, but that can take up to three or four months from start of treatment to the "all-clear" for surgery. Because he was in so much pain, this was a triage situation where we had to get his eyes taken care of first. This was the same predicament we were in with Avery, so the similarities were even more uncomfortable.
Sitting in the truck outside Dr. Hoy's clinic, I called our internal medicine specialist in Burlington, Dr. Bryan Harnett, at Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists. I knew it was a long shot, but I thought that just in case he might have an opening, I wanted to get Billy in for an echocardiogram to check out his heart function. Dr. Harnett was off on Friday, but his new associate, Dr. Tanya Donovan, was available and graciously offered to look at Billy as soon as I could get him over there. Less than ten minutes later, I was sitting in front of their door.
Dr. Donovan is also an internal medicine specialist and just joined the clinic two weeks ago, which is why you haven't seen her in previous blog posts. In the photo above, she is listening to Billy's heart. Another view:
She took him into the back for his echocardiogram, and I sat nervously in the exam room, waiting to find out. It wasn't long before the door swung open and Dr. Donovan walked into the room carrying Billy. She smiled and said, "His heart is gorgeous." Whew! He did have a very small leak in his mitral valve, which is producing a mild murmur, but she found no evidence of "decompensation" or disease. In fact, she also didn't see any worms, which could mean either his heatworm test in Georgia was a false positive or he has a very low worm burden. So Dr. Donovan recommended retesting him for heartworms before treating him. His bloodwork was also normal. As she was telling me all this, Billy was zooming around the exam room floor, climbing up on Dr. Donovan and then me, and clearly regaining some Beagle spunk.
I also had little Wilbur in the truck with me -- he needed to get some more bloodwork done at the opthalmologist's clinic -- and since I'm never one to waste an opportunity, I asked Dr. Donovan if she had time that afternoon to do an abdominal scan and echo on Wilbur, too. He is going to have surgery in another week, and since we don't have any medical history on him, I figured it would be wise to get the wee-one checked out. Again, she was kind enough to fit him in, and off he went for his scan. I will post more on Wilbur next time, but Dr. Donovan said his organs looked great. Judging from some age-related changes in his gall bladder and adrenal glands, she figured he was closer to 10 years of age.
After she came back with Wilbur, Dr. Donovan had sat down on the floor to tell me her findings on him, and pretty soon both dogs were sitting in her lap. Wilbur had squeezed in under her right arm, and Billy had come in from the left and was leaning up against her chest, his nose on her shoulder. They clearly liked their new doctor. It was so cute and I was such a dud for not getting that photo!
With all the good news in hand, I put the two boys in the truck and headed back to New Hampshire.
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I am grateful for this good news after all the heartbreak you all have gone through lately good news is great. I have a cat who has hypertrophic cardio myopathy and have been fortunate enough to have seen him survive for nine yearswhich I know is great.. so I know some of the issues you deal with but on a much greater scale lol
Posted by: anne neumann | July 10, 2012 at 07:01 PM
So glad to hear. We have an eyeless dog that has a heart problem, but he is one of the first reasons I smile every morning! You guys make me smile too. I know you put your heart out there by taking in animals that might be in your life briefly, but the extreme joy that disabled pets can bring, even for a worth time is worth the effort! I was excited to hear you are now in NH, (saw you on Jack Hanna). I grew up in Burlington (live in Essex) and was happy to hear we have good enough facilities that you travel here for care!
Posted by: Michelle Graveline-Welch | March 09, 2012 at 05:23 PM
Great News! Thank you Dr. Donovan! Yes, the boys sound like Flirts! Alyne and Steve, keep up the great work ..... You truly bless the lives of many!
Posted by: Barbara Ann Bessey | March 08, 2012 at 09:54 PM
Very good news!
Posted by: Katie | March 08, 2012 at 09:13 PM
OMG! My heart stopped when I first started reading your post ... but THANK GOODNESS there was a positive ending. Wouldn't it be awesome if Billy was heartworm negative?! So glad he's doing well and is out of all that pain!
Posted by: Michele | March 06, 2012 at 06:18 PM
Good news, Steve! And "welcome" to Dr Donovan! She sounds like a gem, as Wilbur and Billy will attest!
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | March 05, 2012 at 08:04 PM
Glad Billy is perking up and doesn't have heartworm after all. The fact that they love their vet is a definite bonus!
Posted by: Tonya Allen | March 05, 2012 at 05:01 PM
Good thing animals don't play soccer! (and by that I mean, you spend enough time hauling them around to the vet, that if they were like children who played sports, time would become the enemy!!) Hope your weather starts warming up soon!
Posted by: Linda Murphy | March 05, 2012 at 04:26 PM
Whew!
Phyllis
Posted by: Phyllis Snow | March 05, 2012 at 02:55 PM
Wonderful news. phew!
Love the Beagle spunk and gorgeous heart. Your kindness will be repaid exponentially. :)
Posted by: Margaret | March 05, 2012 at 12:23 PM
Steve, you got the pups taken care of in record time, in spite of your very understandable worry about Billy's condition being similar to poor little Avery's. So you missed one cute photo-op. You're hardly a dud since you've provided us with thousands of smiles over the years. We can forgive you this one lapse, honest!
Glad for the good news!
Posted by: Debbie Burke | March 05, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Hooray, hooray for little Billy and Wilbur! -can't wait to see more pictures of these little nuggets.
Posted by: Angela | March 05, 2012 at 11:38 AM
What fantastic news! I have been worried sick about Billy knowing that he was going to have to go thru heart worm treatment. I didn't want a repeat of our Avery so I'm just over the moon with the news that it doesn't look like there are any worms!!! :) :) :) Let's all join arms and do a happy dance! (Sounds like the 2 boys are becoming little flirts!)
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | March 05, 2012 at 10:48 AM
B-man and the Wilbster rule! Great news to start the week.
Posted by: Mary H. | March 05, 2012 at 09:29 AM
phew! We like happy hearts!! I am SO glad you live so close to such good veterinary services, especially vets who the patients really snuggle up to! I am glad Billy is out of the eye pain.
Posted by: Anne in FL | March 05, 2012 at 08:48 AM
Three cheers for Billy, Wilbur, and Dr. Donovan!!:-)
Thank you, Steve, for being such an attentive "Dad".
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | March 05, 2012 at 04:23 AM
So happy to hear the good news for Billy and Wilbur! Looking forward to the updates!
Posted by: Ann | March 05, 2012 at 01:44 AM
Thank goodness! When I started reading the blog I got so nervous. I am so happy both dogs are o.k. This is a great way to start the week. You really have some wonderful specialists for the dogs. I am amazed at all they do to help.
Posted by: Betsy | March 04, 2012 at 10:40 PM
Billy's new life has begun. He already feels better and knows he is among friends. And little Wilbur knows things are going his way too. Stories like this are what you are all about. They all have endings but it is the life and love you give them that counts for the little furry guys and gals.
Posted by: Bob | March 04, 2012 at 10:17 PM
I was holding my breath until the report from Dr. Donovan and then laughed out loud with happiness.
Billy has a gorgeous heart and Wilbur has great-looking organs.
What a wonderful way to start the week.
Posted by: Chloe | March 04, 2012 at 09:40 PM
Good news!
Posted by: Janet in Cambridge | March 04, 2012 at 09:06 PM
Super news to end the week on! Thanks, Steve and Alayne.
Posted by: Carolyn Kupferschmid | March 04, 2012 at 08:41 PM
Hooray for the good news on Billy and Wilur...
Great job, everyone!!!
Posted by: Glenda | March 04, 2012 at 07:47 PM