The Brittany Forum

Jouals · Bretonnier Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 6 Location: France

We are thinking of taking on a rescue Brittany (male, c. 8 years old), who seems in good health apart from the fact that he apparently has a heart murmur (type G). We have always had rescue setters before, so are not familiar with Brittanys. He is now on "death row" at the refuge (they have too many dogs and need to euthanase some) - so we need to decide quickly! He has been at the refuge since January - so has had very little exercise since then.

I wonder if anyone can throw any light on the condition.

Thanks
Jouals

guy · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

I have emailed you.
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Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

doganjo · Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 2:38 pm Post subject:

I'm sure Guy will have given you the medical facts, but most people including rescue centres are not know to be accurate in ageing Brittanys. So it is possible he is older than 8 in which case the murmur may be due to that. Let us know what you decide.
Annie
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Annie

Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away

Jouals · Bretonnier Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 6 Location: France

We brought Eliot home with us yesterday (could not bear to see him in a dark room at the refuge any longer!). He seems fine with our dog and he has already enjoyed a couple of walks and is ok off the lead so far. We live in the French countryside and have plenty of walks close by. He has also not had a go at the cat - although she got a bit of a shock when she first saw him! They all settled round the fire last night. But he was rather restless overnight, probably confused. Will keep you posted - he is currently snoring in his basket.

I walk at least twice a day with our dog Deinah, so he will enjoy that. I noticed he was a bit trembly in his back legs after a run round, but that could be due to some loss of muscle tone - he has been at the refuge since January.

We are keeping our fingers crossed that he will settle ok.

Jouals

Patricia · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:10 am Post subject:

I guess the French SPA is full of Brittany type dogs and others if the French Forum is anything to go by... Crying or Very sad

Congratulations for taking on this poor old boy who would otherwise have probably been PTS. I am sure he will repay you in more ways than one.
Yes, indeed, being stuck in a kennel for such a long while won't have helped his muscles but it should soon come back with exercise.
I would not worry too much about the heart murmur...
Keep us posted and well done Wink

Lin Dyke · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

He has found a good home with you. Smile

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Lin, owned by Rudi and Copper the Brittanys & Zac the Springer.

guy · Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 8:08 pm Post subject:

Welcome. Look forward to reading updates.
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Guy, Ellie, Topaz, Catja and in memory Barley
Beauty from Structure
www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1304

Hi - I adopted my first brittany when he was 10 and he had a Grade 3 murmur (not sure how that compares but for him he was mid-scale). It did not stop Mugi and I spending a very active and fulfilled 2 yrs and despite the heartache of saying goodbye only recently I don't regret having offered him a home.

I hope you and Eliot have many happy years together. Mugi was 'weak' and unfit when he arrived here but a few months of good food and building his exercise left him a fit hard muscled lad even at over twelve and a half.
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Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

Jouals · Bretonnier Joined: 11 Apr 2009 Posts: 6 Location: France

Annie - I think you could be right about Eliot perhaps being older than 8 - but we will never be sure. He seems quite active and lively for an older dog - but does get a bit puffed which could be due to his heart and/or lack of exercise for the last few months. We are not overdoing it with him to start with. He slept all through the night last night which is a good sign - we managed to tire him out and he must be feeling more relaxed.

Patricia - you are right about the possibility of him being PTS! If anyone is interested, by coincidence our local paper has run a story about the plight of the local refuge (municipal, not SPA) today (afraid it is in French though!). I have met Noëlle Brune a couple of times and she is a dedicated volunteer fighting the cause for a new shelter (the land the current one stands on is earmarked for a business site) with better conditions and more resources to re-home dogs and educate people.

http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2...ne-veut-plus-tuer-nos-chiens.html

We went to the shelter recently for the first time with the idea of re-homing a dog following the loss of our old English Setter, Pepper, in January. The majority of the dogs are abandoned hunting dogs. We did not see Eliot on our first visit as he was locked in his dark room with another dog. But we did find out about him and take him for a walk on our 2nd visit (we have been going along to help out by walking some of the dogs).

I have enjoyed reading more on the forum - it is a great help to find so much useful information and support on the site! It was interesting to read about separation anxiety and tips to overcome it, as I can see signs of this in Eliot! He loves going in the car and was very happy when I lifted him into the back of the car so he could settle down for a snooze this morning after an early am walk and breakfast.

Sorry to read about Mugi - we had an elderly hunting dog (rescued from Greece, as was Deinah) for 3 and a half years until we had to say goodbye - and I know it is a devastating feeling to have to take that last step - they are all such characters with a special place in our hearts.

Thanks for the welcome.
Jouals

PS - Eliot is currently snoring in his basket after another exciting day walking in the woods and going to town for a run out with us and Deinah (we were collecting a ton of gravel for one of our DIY projects from the supplier who happens to be directly opposite the shelter - hope he didn‘t think we were taking him back!!).

Patricia · Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 9:29 pm Post subject:

Oh what a sad story ( I am French). I hope the lady who runs the Shelter finds new accomodation with more space to save the dogs... Crying or Very sad

You people who take on older dogs have my full admiration. At least they can have some happiness and comfort in their latter years.
Gundogs or hunting dogs don't always have the best endings to their career in some countries; we met a lady at Crufts who saved a Brittany as where she rescued it from, they hang dogs and leave them... Mad