Question Details
Heart Murmur
by mikemesley - October 11, 2009
15 y.o. Border Collie X, has had a heart murmur treated with fortekor for over 2 years.
Today presented after first (that we know of) seizure that lasted for about 3-5 minutes acc to O.
Medical Hx - deaf 100% for some time. Eye issues - inflammation of 3rd eyelid and sclera - treated with antiinflammatories periodically (very red). Coughs irregularly - weakish cough. I am guessing cardiogenic as mild increase lung sounds.
Exercise intolerance.
Abdomen very tight - unable to palpate well but tender in hypochondriac region.
Tongue - Red,
Pulse - thin, choppy (?), maybe a touch wiry - especially wiry on R pulse.
Lipomas and skin cysts present in numbers.

In general to look at you would feel she is a deficient dog - old, doddery, blind in one eye, deaf etc. However all the disease processes seem like excess - heat, dampness etc.
Presuming seizures are Liv Yang rising but unsure if due to heat in Liv channel or Liv BLood deficiency - seems more likely the former.
I think maybe I need a better TCM brain than mine to put it all together...
Also unsure about the use of any meds for seizures that cross over with heart medications.

Can anyone shed any light?
Replies
by naturevet
October 12, 2009
Hi Mike

When you see these mixed Hot and Cold, Excess and Deficient symptoms, it can be a sign the dog is 'dis-integrating' - i.e. that Yang and Yin are splitting. Where this is associated with seizures, congestive heart failure, heat in the upper burner (eyes, tongue), pulmonary edema, and costal arch pain, the first formula I think of is Chai Hu Jia Long Gu Mu Li Tang. If you look into it, I think you'll see it fits. It opens the TB to allow descent of Yang and fluids, allowing the upper burner to cool and the heart to pump more effectively.

Hope that helps you out.

Steve
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