When Iro first became unwell, we were told his liver appeared inflamed, but the cause was unknown. In March, he underwent a general anaesthetic to check for internal bleeding, and scans showed some fluid. He was prescribed liver medication and steroids to reduce the inflammation, but even two months later there was little improvement, so our vets referred him to a liver specialist.

After further tests, the specialist confirmed that the main issue is not his liver, but his heart. We also learned that the changes seen in his liver are linked to the steroids he had been taking for almost a year to treat his ear infection, which have caused his heart to work harder.

Iro has now been diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. Over time, this has led to pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs), making it much harder for the right side of his heart to pump blood.

The strain on his heart has caused one of his heart valves to leak (tricuspid regurgitation) and has resulted in right-sided heart failure. Because the heart is struggling to move blood efficiently, blood backs up into other organs, including the liver. This is why the liver inflammation we were initially told about is now believed to be linked to his heart condition.

In simple terms, Iro’s heart has been working much harder than it should for a long time, and it is now affecting other parts of his body too.

Iro is now on medication to help manage his condition and requires regular check up to keep him as comfortable and happy as possible. While this diagnosis has been incredibly difficult to hear, we’re focusing on making every day count and giving him all the love, care, and adventures we can.

Thank you to everyone who has followed Iro’s journey, checked in on him, and sent messages of support. Your kindness means more to us than you’ll ever know. ❤️

Unfortunately, we are having to self-fund all of Iro’s consultations, medication, and treatments, as our insurance does not cover his heart condition.