StarTails began with my dog, Star.

He was the funniest, goofiest and most affectionate dog I've ever met. He would make me laugh every day!

In October 2022 during a routine check-up, he was found to have a grade 4 heart murmur. This completely took me by surprise as he was happy and well in himself with no symptoms at all. An echocardiogram the following week revealed that he had stage B2 valvular heart disease affecting 2 heart valves.

I had so many questions, but being so overwhelmed by it all, I just did as the vets advised and he was started on Vetmedin.

He was pretty stable and continued to be his usual self until one evening in June 2023 (8 months after diagnosis), he suddenly started making an unusual noise, like he was exhaling repeatedly very quickly. A call to the emergency vet led to his first overnight admission, where he was diagnosed with stage C heart disease which meant that he was now in heart failure.

As time went on, he had repeated sudden similar episodes and subsequent admissions roughly every 2 weeks. I learnt more about canine heart disease; from vet visits to medications to monitoring his breathing and changes to his symptoms.

There were a lot of moments of uncertainty and a constant feeling of wanting to do the best for him.

He crossed Rainbow Bridge in October 2023, peacefully and with his family around him. Looking back, there are things I know now that I didn’t know then. And while I can’t change that, I can share what I’ve learnt.

Star is the reason this exists. And through StarTails, a part of his story continues in helping dog parents feel more informed, supported and prepared in supporting their dogs in the best way they can.