a message and an update

Boy have I learned this life lesson in the past year or so... I shared it on my latest art piece.  A nice, short simple, but meaningful message.  In quietness is your strength...I still struggle with finding the "quietness", but when I achieve it, I find my message, lesson, and sometimes strength.

My little old man Rocky...His x-ray was yesterday...He is defiantly not out of danger with his heart, the murmur is not going away. He had 2 small enlargements on the left and right side of his heart. But the arteries should be the same size and they are. She was very pleased to see that. He is not in heart failure, but she said he will eventually be. We will go with the dental next Wed (after taking antibiotics) and just watch him close. It could be 8 weeks...or 2 years??? But he can start treatment (pills) once that is the case. So I feel a bit better now, just have to get him thru the dental.  One day at a time, right?
Have an awesome day friends, I am going to go junking... all alone... spend some time with ME!

my sweet boy...

This is my old man Rocky, he is my "persnickety" fur baby... he is 11 years old.
A trip to the vet for his annual, brought some worry to me.  The vet discovered a heart murmur, canine murmurs range from 1-6 and his is a 3-4. Of course I am very REACTIVE and my anxiety comes flooding back to me when I am given information like this..and I set up tests that included xrays, EKG, and an echo cardiogram for next Monday.  I came home and researched online I talked to friends and I discovered many of them had dogs and cats with murmurs.  Most had not had the testing...and I started second guessing, it is what I do!
I called the office back and asked to have another visit with the vet I admire and have seen for the past couple years, while she heard the same murmur, her take on the situation was a bit different.  So we decided to go ahead with just xrays and see if this is enough information for now.  These tests are very costly and he is showing no symptoms as of now. 
It is so hard, when you are faced with these issues, some of the tests may be unnecessary and you have to hope you are making the right choice.  I do know his teeth need cleaned, and this could have caused the heart concern...so that is foremost for me right now.  When he goes in for the xrays we will start antibiotics and get the dental done.  When our furries get older, any time they have to be put out is scary...
So if you have any experience with this, please do share.