Sometimes advice is not all that it's cracked up to be.

[Jennifer and Jack]

..

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jennifer, I am sorry you are upset, but I think it is unfair to change your original discussion and leave just the responses, so those of us not involved can't get a true picture of what happened. I do know that the people who commented are wonderful individuals.  I look at it like this...you ask a question on here...you get responses...some people agree with you and others don't... maybe you take the advice, maybe you don't....but ultimately what you do with Jack and any health issues is up to you. I have found DK to be a caring community and we all want what is best for Jack.  

[Jennifer and Jack]

Laurie, I totally understand why you think they are kind and loving,,,, because they are to you......

All I wrote was i took Jack for a check for his seven year check up,,,. He had x rays of his spine and hip and they were fine...but they found a heart murmur and I was afraid. I said he was fighting a full cardiac work up on monday to check things out....

I dint ask about if he shoud go, I asked for other people, who had dogs with heart murmurs...... I erased my response because I felt like I was kissing butt in my replies explaining over and over again that I was t looking for trouble that I had x rays because Jack lost his ability to jump on things and while I was there they heard a heart murmur.

I was looking for others with experience.......

The other post I took down was because I was ticked. I told people who told me I should wait and not get it checked out to wait when they have lumps in their breasts or pooping out blood I....I was making a point. Prevention and early detection are the best tools and weapons and way more cost effective.

I don't want to engage in this kind of stuff.....but I will say how I feel. I felt bullied, judged,,and treated like I was just looking. For troubled. All. I wanted was someone with dogs with murmurs to reassure me Jack would be okay,,,instead I was treated with what you see is left in the post


Can you imagine taking fudge for a check up and having the dr say they heard a murmur. Then hand you information about congestive heart failure and that it could progress rapidly and that they are more prone to sudden death syndrome and the. Coming in her pe and benign greeted with that horse crap of driving up health is fiancé and over Anyoyzinf stuff ... When you just went for a check up... That's mean.... Real women bulls each other up don't send private messages behind others back and talk crap... We are grown ups and their is such a thing as compassion,,,,,high school children pick clicks and groups....then get all their friends to stick up for them....not saying that's what you are doing......

I have a lot of friends who blindly. Love me. But my closest friend he,O me see areas j can improve on.

I don't mean to harp on the point but it shouldn't go unsaid.... The way I was treated Should it have been " the chosen few on here" would have had a different repo se.


I am sorry I have t sent gifts to people. Or gone on vacations with people. That doesn't mean what I say is less valid. Please don't take it the wrong way because you have a huge heart of gold... I enjoy your posts. Your pictures your mom stories. I am just sharing hoe I feel.

I would love to see people, more welcoming and loving to all people on here....like you are

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

I agree wholeheartedly that we should ALL be more welcoming and loving to each other! Regardless of any personal issues, we should all want what is best for our Doodles and for each other!

[Nancy & Echo]

Hear, hear!   I certainly have posted some things which, on reflection, were not supportive.  When I read Jennifer's post, to me it was clear she wanted support and was very worried about her doodle. I didn't post because I don't have a doodle yet so have zip experience. When people say or imply I shouldn't feel a certain way, I get angry or confused or something; not in a good place. 

We all can have different views, and goodness knows I've learned new perspectives in reading this website, which is very helpful.  But as Lori eloquently said, we should all want what is best for our Doodles and each other regardless of any personal issues.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Goodness my spelling is horrible and do was my grammar. Yikes. I should proof read when I am doing my treatments and typing. It makes everything fuzzy.

there are plenty of loving and kind people in this group and I am grateful for them. It's so much easier to be kind. Or if you can't say something nice. Don't say anything. Especially if you don't have a dog with a heart murmur and that was th related topic. Just my 0.02

[KATHY FITZGIBBONS]

Hi Jennifer!! I am Kathy In Southern Calif. I also had my Jac who passed Sept 2014. He was born with Pulmonic Stenosis , Severe! Dr. Lesser from Advanced Vet Care performed his Surgery and saved his life. The Surgery was High Risk,but I would not have traded my 81/2 years with the Love of My Life Jac, for Anything! I also had a Schnauzer prior to Jac that I treated for Congested Heart Failure for about over 2 years. The Meds gave me time with him also that I do not regret! You are Brave and a very Loving Person! There are very few pups who have Pulmonic Stenosis, because most of them do not get Surgery and Pass or are put down as Puppies!

I am all for saving a Life!, Your JACK is your Family a big part of your Heart!! May he have long years and thrive with the Medical Support he Requires!! I have had alot of Experience with Cardiac Issues with my dogs, if you have any questions or just need support, contact me!!

I now own Obie, 18 month old Schnoodle. He brought Healing to My Broken Heart! Lots of Doodle Luv, Kathy and Obie 

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you for your kind encouragement. I am fortunate in that I live close to an excellent vet specialist center. The cardiologist Jack saw is also an interventionist ..... They now can do heart Caths on dogs and ballon open the pulmonary stenosis.

In fact Dr Hall th cardiac specialist has a dog with pulmonary stenosis he treated. I feel much better knowing Jack will be followed and treated right away should he progress. I just hope he doesn't. I know with the medications they have now, they can live longer lives.

They currently do not do valve replacements on dogs here in the US, there is one surgeon in Japan that does them. The bigger the dog the higher the success rate... The little guys throw off blood clots and because they are so little it's hard to do the surgery on them. I think it's fascinating that they have come this far..

Right before I left work at the Cath lab, we had just started doing TVARs. They go in through the groin and can replace the aortic valve without having to cut the chest open.....

I am very thankful we caught it early and will be on top of it before his heart gets enlarged or damaged. He did say some dogs die of old age long before they need treatment..... That's what I am hoping for

Thanks again.... Jack for sure is my family.

[Marie and Hoka]

Jennifer and Jack,

I haven't been on this site since we moved cross country in the fall. I randomly decided to look in today. I am so sorry to read about your troubles with Jack, but also with feeling judged. I too am an ICU nurse thru and thru. I am the official worrier for all humans, pets and things in our home. I believe vigilance is the key for all good ICU nurses!

We all differ on both what we will and will not do- and what we can can and cannot do- for our beloved pets. 

Not only am I an ICU person, but my husband is a physician as well. When our first and so, so beloved doodle Tinker began to have seizures in spring 2012, we even disagreed among ourselves what to do and how much to pursue diagnosis. In the end, we decided to pursue the very expensive MRI. For Tinker, it didn't make a difference. BUT, that experience led me to get pet insurance for our new puppy Hoka first thing. By 9 months Hoka needed $10,000 in surgery for the swallowed squeaker. 

You need to do what makes you most comfortable.

Good luck with Jack. We all need to enjoy every day with our pups, and our families. You never know what is coming down the road.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks Maria,

Jack is my first and probably my only and I am with you on the critical care part of nursing.....even though I am too ill to practice now, I assess everyone and everything....it's not intentional.....it's habit. When I was a triage nurse, before they finished even saying why they were there I could tell so many things...... I notice everything....

The funny thing with This was I didn't even have a clue he had clicking or prolapse, he didn't have any signs or symptoms.... Of course since being dx I have broken out my stethoscope and listened, you can. Only hear it with the bell.

My doctor who bought Jack for me is the one who told me about pet insurance and I am so grateful. I do have limits on what I would allow for Jack to have done but it's not thankfully because of insurance money limits, it's on what I feel would be a loss of quality of life. I am big on quality of life

I have a personal policy I follow, this comes from burying the love of my life, many loved ones and also seeing tragic deaths everyday in the ER... I will always do my absolute best by everyone that I know so if they die I won't have regrets. There isn't one sole alive that's in my life that doesn't know how much I love them...Including Jack..


I plan on doing my best by him as long as he and I are both alive.... One thing this experience has taught me is more confidence in myself. ... My judgements and decision making skills...

Thanks so much.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Hi Jennifer,

When I read your initial discussion, my immediate reaction was that while behind many of the responses were good intentions, you would probably be offended. I'm sorry that this happened and that instead of feeling supported, you felt disrespected. I believe, though, that everyone meant well. 

Like others have said, you and only you know what is best and appropriate for Jack. The same is true for all of us and our pets. I hope that you are able to easily keep him (and yourself) healthy.

Best wishes!

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thank you ! I would like to believe that was the case and that it just came across wrong but I have not heard otherwise. it is what it is...... My life has so many incredibly awesome things, people and love in it.....I am so grateful for that.

Jack just ran over a mile ....my scooter could hardly keep up...that does my heart good!,

[Sally M]

Jennifer, you just have Jack, right? Just curious...who is the other Doodle in your profile picture?