Mike From New Mexico - TVD - Heart Valve Disease

Hi, I just joined the forum to get more information on something TVD. We had an 16 month black lab that died this past week, with no signs that anything was wrong. After talking with a few breeders they are telling us that it was probably TVD which occurs in certain labs, with only a 1-3 year life expectancy. Me being naïve I got him from what now turns out to be a puppy farm. Guess I'm a fool, but that another issue. I'm asking everyone that if they have any information on this issue I hope you will share with me. We are now looking for a new puppy from a legit breeder. (learning has occurred).
Thanks
Mike

 

Hi Mike, so sorry to hear about your loss. What a shock.

When I googled TVD I found that it's Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia, or a heart valve deformation.

Many many years ago I did know a young Labrador with this or something similar. His tongue was often blueish, as his heart wasn't able to pump enough oxygenated blood round his body. Because of this very obvious symptom they'd had a diagnosis and, sadly, already knew that their dog would have a short life. The doggie did pass away at under two years of age. I'm afraid I don't know any more about it than that.

Best of luck in your search for a dog from an ethical and responsible breeder. Fortunately they definitely do exist.

 

Hi Mike,

I don't have any experience with TVD, but I wanted to say I'm sorry for your loss. To lose your pup at only 16 months must have been a shock and heartbreaking.

I just visited a breeder this weekend who has a really thorough section on her website about Labrador health and everything that can be tested for. She has a sub-section on cardiac health which you might find it interesting. The site is in Italian, but if you click the little UK flag in the upper right corner you'll get a translation. http://www.joywavelabrador.it/salute/44-cardiopatie/

 

Hi Mike, so sorry to hear about this.
You must have been pretty devastated.
Losing a dog so young is so often unexpected, such a difficult thing to deal with.

I would have thought a valve problem would have caused a heart murmur. Had nothing been picked up in vet checks? I'm guessing it may have been a quiet murmur, difficult to detect.

Even dogs from recognised breeders can have health problems, but risks are obviously reduced with health testing.
Good luck with you puppy quest.

 

Hi Mike, so sorry to hear of your loss and sorry that such a tragedy brought you to the forum.

Welcome from me and Ella (18 month chocolate girl) in Melbourne, Australia.

All the best for your upcoming search and we'll look forward to hearing your updates.

 

So sorry to hear of your loss.

 

Hello Mike. I'm so very sorry for your loss, it must have been quite a shock.

 

Hi Mike sorry for your sad loss.

 

Hi Mike, really sorry to hear of your sad loss. Our 5 year old boy died suddenly of a blood clot in the heart, so I completely feel your pain.

Wishing you a warm welcome to the forum from me and my 22 month old chocolate girl, who of course doesn't fill the gap but has certainly eased the pain. I wish you lots of luck in the search for your new puppy, and no I don't think you are a fool just unlucky. There is lots of advice these days on how to spot a puppy farm which will help you, I'll be looking forward to some lovely puppy photos in the future

 

Thanks to every one for your thoughts. I was a blubbering mess when I found him. To let everyone know I have done some asking around and reading all I can about this and found that it is a very quite heart murmur. Some Vets cant hear it because they use a regular stethoscope and with the back ground noise and the dog jumping around its hard to hear. I've been told by a Veterinary student that if vets would use something like a Pediatric stethoscope they may have a better chance of hearing something since they are a little more sensitive.

 

Hello Mike sorry for your sad loss.

 

Sorry to hear you've had such a sudden loss.

 

Mike, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. And want to thank you for sharing and highlighting TVD with us here on this forum, we are a small community of dog owners but passionate nevertheless. Hopefully we'll be able to pass on awareness to others and ask questions of breeders and vets about more rigorous health checks.

I very nearly picked a puppy from a backyard puppy farmer, it was only a chance meeting with a colleague at work that made me change my mind and choose the dog we have now. So I know how easily this can happen and how much you love that little pup regardless of where he came from.

A neighbour had two kittens, brothers, one of which made itself at home in our house. This was before we got Homer so it was a quiet household and, not so secretly, we enjoyed, encouraged his visits. His brother died suddenly and then within a month the cat died. The owner managed to get the cat to the vet but it died of genetic heart failure and they strongly suspect the same happens with the other brother cat. This is my only experience but it did make me ask the vet to double check my puppy's heart beat.

Hope you stay on the forum and share your new puppy with us.

 

I want to thank everyone again for your thoughts and well wishes. We have found a new pup and we will be getting him the 3rd or 4th of Dec. He will be 8 weeks old then. The breeder does test for the obvious, eyes, hips elbows. We are currently looking for a Vet that will be diligent on testing the pup for anything and everything. My wife is real reluctant going back to our 1st Vet so we are looking. I'm just hoping that with all the reading and asking around that learning has occurred, and this puppy will get all the loving and care he deserves. Thanks again and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I'll keep you folks informed on this puppy, with his training and all the crap he is going to put us through I'm sure.

 

Sorry to hear about your loss

How heartbreaking for you and your family. I have no experience to offer, but just wanted you to know we will be thinking of you.

Good luck with your new pup! Wishing you guys a long, and happy future together!

 

Thank you so much. Its been a while since I've been on-line in this forum, but life gets busy sometimes. We pick up our new puppy this weekend and are so looking forward to it. His name is going to be Remi so we will. I will keep everyone informed on how he is doing.

 

First off, I want to thank everyone for their thought and prayers. Second, we picked up our new puppy (Remi) this past week. He's 10 weeks old and its great having a new best friend in the house. I know he's only a few weeks old, but can anyone give me an idea on how to get him to stop biting. I know its way to soon to ask that question, because he's a pup, but those teeth are sharp and I have a few scars already. I've tried the ignore thing, putting him back in his crate and trying to get his attention focused on something else, but that seems to get him more excited. He's got sit and stay figured out, but he is biting everything in site. Like I said he's only a few weeks old and all this is new to him. Any quick ideas would be a great help. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

Here is the best advice on puppy biting - http://www.thelabradorsite.com/labrador-puppies-biting/


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With some puppies, there is no quick solution. Certainly none if you don't want to go down the punishment route (which you don't). It's just being absolutely consistent with your chosen method. We often hear "I've tried everything and nothing works!". If you've (not you specifically - "you" in general!) tried everything with a young puppy, you've not been consistent, so it's not surprising it's not working. Maybe sometimes nothing works except time, patience and thick gloves

My new puppy is a bit of a biter from the get-go. My last puppy didn't bite until she'd been with us a couple of weeks, but Luna is a much more outgoing pup. Still, I've had her two days now, and removing my attention for a couple of seconds when she bites too hard before re-engaging appears to be working. It's still very, very early days, though, so I'm not counting my chickens. I don't yelp, unless it slips out unintentionally
It sounds like you might be removing your attention for too long if you're putting him back in his crate. I literally just look away and hold my hand out of reach for a few seconds, then start fussing her again. All the time she's playing nicely (which does include some biting still at this stage, just not the ones that hurt), I tell her what a good girl she is.