Grover had a murmur diagnosed about 3-4 years ago and graded by the cardiologist at a 2/6 with ultrasound. She had atrial enlargement. I think on the right side.
September 2005, it was upgraded to a 3/6 after we went to the Emergency Clinic because she was having difficulty breathing. We did another ultrasound and put her on Furosemide (Lasix) and enalapril. I recall her being on a third medicine but I'm not sure what. I'll have to dig out her files. On those medicines, she did great -- I mean, absolutely great!
December 2006, we did lose her due to massive congestive heart failure. She was 12 years old. She was doing great until Thanksgiving Day, when her tongue turned deep blue. After another ultrasound, the cardiologist ramped up the Lasix a lot, and it seemed that she turned the corner. We had bottled oxygen in the house just in case, but used it only a couple times. Then she was up and her regular self again. On December 5, she went into heart failure and died quickly. It was, quite honestly, a shock.
So after her diagnosis, Grovie had several really good years. She ran, hiked, camped, swam, played, beat up on Camper, and did everything that she always had done. She barely missed a beat, and when she did, tweaking her medicine did the trick.
Her death was quick and relatively painless. We took her to the Critical Care Clinic. Once they told us that her heart was failing, we decided to end it early, and she died surrounded by those who loved her most. It was a dignified end.
I wish I could tell you that a murmur doesn't mean anything. But for Grover, it did spell the end....but after several years. In the interim, it didn't keep her from living a full life, and her death was sweet and fast.
Good luck to you and Indy, Lisa. Indy will be in my heart.
Let us know what the cardiologist says.