Help cover Berlin's heart murmur treatment

Update January 26th, 2024:

Berlin has just past 2 months post op and he has been having an amazing healing journey in his new foster home, being able to enjoy every day with his new foster family and canine foster sibling. He has settled in to being the best boy, that gets to go for walks, play every day in the backyard with doggie friends and inside with his foster humans, and gets lots of love!

We have booked Berlin's 3 month post-surgery follow up for February 29th, 2024. Berlin will having an echocardiogram done so we can quantify post-surgery results, and set up next steps (if needed).

This follow up appointment has been quoted at $700 for only the follow up and echocardiogram. If we require further testing, the cost will be upwards of $1000.

Update December 22nd, 2023:

Berlin's dog sitters have become his new foster family! They are very excited to get to foster Berlin, as he has gotten along really well with their resident dog and they love his sweet personality.

They will be taking care of providing him with his heart medication, Sotalol, that he gets twice a day. This medication costs us $25/every 1.5 months.

Update December 14th, 2023:

Berlin is off to the dog sitters for 3 weeks! His dog sitters are excited to spend time getting to know him, and to help him along his journey to find a forever home, regardless of his health conditions!

Update November 23rd, 2023:

Surgery was a success, and Berlin did amazing! It is now time for post-op recovery at his foster home. He is very happy to have some blankets to snuggle up in again!

Update November 22nd, 2023:

It is surgery day! We were a little unsure of being brave today, but once we were inside, Berlin saw some people he knew and was ready for his big day!

Update November 19th, 2023:

With everyone's amazing support, we have hit our goal for Berlin’s surgery! Berlin will be having his surgery on November 22nd & we are so happy for him!

Update November 16th, 2023:

Berlin has been prescribed a medication called sotalol from OVC. This medication could help to decrease complications during surgery.

Update August 31, 2023:

Berlin was examined by the vets at OVC and it was confirmed that he has a severe pulmonic stenosis. In order to prevent heart failure or sudden death he must have a balloon valvuloplasty procedure performed at OVC. We have tentatively scheduled this procedure for November 22, however if we do not raise the funds before then we will not be able to have this procedure done. The cost is estimated at $6-7000.

On April 3, 2023 Berlin was born into rescue along with his 6 siblings. He was a seemingly normal puppy until we learned at his 8 week check-up that he was born with a heart-murmur. Our vet told us that it was a pretty noticeable murmur and rated it on a scale of 2-3. At the time they told us that murmurs are not uncommon in puppies and that we should wait until he was 16 weeks old before doing any further diagnostics.

At his 12 week check-up the murmur was still present. In July, at his 16 week check-up, the news was not what we had hoped. Not only had he not outgrown the murmur, it appeared to be getting worse and it was now a grade 4-5 murmur. At this time they suggested we take him to a cardiologist to have his heart evaluated to determine what was causing the murmur.

Today, on August 31st, we received the most devastating news of all.

Berlin has a condition called pulmonic dysplasia which is causing stenosis

• Severe obstruction

• Severe right ventricular muscle thickening and moderate right ventricular internal dilation

• Moderate right atrial dilation

At risk for arrhythmias, symptoms (such as syncope/fainting), and sudden death

At present the cardiologist is recommending a procedure called a balloon valvuloplasty which would significantly increase his quality and length of life. His life expectancy is expected to be greatly reduced given the heart condition and he isn't expected to live more than a few years.

We are asking for donations to cover today's vet visit which totaled $982.84 and the referral vet visit to Ontario Veterinary College.

We will update the fundraiser when we have seen the specialist at OVC, but we have been told to anticipate a procedure cost of upwards of $5500.