Darwin

  Pleasanton, California

Male
Age: 13 1/2  (DOB 4/5/2011)
#13
Health: Cardiac Evaluation/Echocardiogram -  January 9th
Adoption Donation: TBA

Welcome in, Darwin! 13 year old Darwin (DOB 4/5/2011) has found himself needing a new family after his moved out of the country without him. As you can see, he’s found a nice soft spot to land in his foster home in Pleasanton, California 💕 Anyone else just kiss their screen?! 😍 

Sweet Darwin will soon be visiting our vet for his intake vetting and we will be sure to share a medical pupdate soon 💜

 UPDATE December 12, 2024  We recently introduced you to darling Darwin - a 13 year old boy (DOB 4/5/2011) who has found himself in need of a new family after his moved out of the country without him. He has landed softly and safely in his foster home in Pleasanton, California, and yesterday he underwent his full intake vetting. Darwin came to us already up to date on vaccinations, neutered, and microchipped, but he underwent a thorough physical exam and full labwork. All his labwork including his fecal test, heartworm and tick borne illness test, and urinalysis was normal and negative, and his bloodwork looked fantastic for a senior dog with zero concerns! 14 pound Darwin’s physical exam revealed mostly just normal aging changes although a mild ear infection was detected which he is now being treated for. A heart murmur was also detected and to be expected for a senior Cavalier, due to mitral valve disease (MVD). He has never had a cardiac workup before and so off to the cardiologist he will go for a full cardiac evaluation and echocardiogram 🩺 We are hoping this will also clear him for a much needed dental, as you can see. Lastly, we are starting him on a daily joint supplement to help support his aging joints. His foster family reports that he loves short walks through the neighborhood 🐾 Darwin will see the cardiologist on 1/9 and we will go from there. In the meantime, he’s continuing to settle in well, his foster family is showering him with an abundance of gentle love 💕, and we are all majorly in love with him 😍

 UPDATE January 14, 2025  A significant heart murmur was detected at Darwin’s intake vetting (to be expected for a senior Cavalier), and so he (and his treats!) made a trip to the cardiologist for a full cardiac evaluation and echocardiogram 🩺 Darwin's echocardiogram revealed changes to his mitral valve consistent with degenerative valve disease (MVD). He has a moderate mitral valve “leak” which has started to cause some mild remodeling/enlargement. Mitral valve disease is a progressive disease and so in effort to help slow down any further progression and enlargement, Darwin has started a heart medication called Pimobendan. He has also been cleared for a much needed dental cleaning which he is scheduled to go at the end of the month 🙏🏻Darwin should remain under the care of a cardiologist so that his mitral valve disease can best be monitored and managed. He is due for his next echocardiogram in 6 months and his echo measurements and results then will be compared to these baseline results to see how he is responding to his medication and if any adjustments need to be made ♥️ Precious Darwin, who will turn 14 years old in April, is being fostered in Pleasanton, California 🏡