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Health / Could his heart be defective?
« on: July 24, 2006, 12:01:40 PM »
I have two little boys who are 16 wks old. One is a standard (who is very big compared to the other one), and a Black Velvet (BV). When I let them out to play they race around until they are done playing, then go back in their house.
But, I have noticed when the little BV races around, he will just stop, crawl into one of the hiding boxes on the floor and fall into a deep sleep. After about 20 minutes he is up and about. Is this normal?
The reason I am so concerned, is that in May 2006 I lost a little BV to Congestive heart failure (from a different breeder out of state). When the autopsy was performed, the vet told me half of his heart never developed, and that likely the local breeder is inadvertently breeding this particular heart condition. I've since learned that the local breeder, doesn't keep careful records, and does not change breeding stock.
Though Gage doesn't exhibit any particular symptoms of the previous little BV (though the other one never acted sick either), he was small too when compared to the standard.
Do I need to be concerned, or his he like a small child, who plays until they are exhausted, then falls asleep right were they are.
Thanks to everyone who wrote.