What resting respiratory rate is too high?

Many cardiologists want asleep rates consistently under about 30 breaths per minute. A rising trend is more useful than a single number. Log it in the vault.

Cardiac surveillancetoy breed

Adult Heart Health Screening for Malteses

Q: When should a Maltese get a heart echo?

Any new murmur, arrhythmia, collapse, or unexplained cough deserves a conversation now. Some breeds screen before breeding even if they sound normal. Bring the full history; a single auscultation is not a lifetime clearance.

A murmur-to-echo screening calendar for adult Malteses - because tracheal collapse and white-dog shaker syndrome and cardiac disease share the same appointment slot more often than owners think.

Adult weight 4-7 lb
Typical lifespan 12-15 years
Watch list tracheal collapse and white-dog shaker syndrome

Clinical context

Why this stage is different for Malteses

Adult Malteses should have heart auscultation at every physical. Some lines in this breed need earlier echocardiography, Holter monitoring, or blood pressure checks. Do not wait for collapse. Store every murmur grade, echo PDF, and medication start date in chronological order - that is the difference between a useful cardiology referral and a shoebox of paper. Pair cardiac notes with weight: extra pounds are afterload the heart did not ask for.

Interactive watch list

Cardiac symptom checklist

0 of 5 checked

Fainting, collapse, or sudden weaknessurgent
Night cough, faster breathing at rest, or abdominal swellurgent
Exercise intolerance that is new for this dogwatch
Pale, blue, or brick-red gums with efforturgent
Cardiac meds given at inconsistent timeswatch

Dated protocol

Adult Maltese screening timeline

Annual
Auscultation + history
Resting respiratory rate at home (count while asleep) is free surveillance.
If murmur
Echo decision
Grade, timing, and breed risk decide urgency - not “we’ll watch it.”
Diagnosed
Staging
Archive ACVIM stage, radiographs, blood pressure, and kidney values before meds start.
q 3-12 mo
Recheck
Cardiology cadence depends on disease. Put the next echo in the same reminder system as vaccines.

Digital vault

Cardiac vault protocol

Resting respiratory rate log (goal typically <30/min asleep unless your cardiologist sets another number).
Every ECG, Holter, and echo as PDF - not a portal screenshot that expires.
Medication list with mg and time, including missed doses.
Cross-link tracheal collapse and white-dog shaker syndrome so orthopedic limping is not misread as “just getting old.”
Anesthesia history - last echo date must travel with the dog to dental procedures.

Bowl notes

Heart-aware feeding

Ask before using boutique grain-free or exotic-legume formulas if dilated cardiomyopathy is on the differential.

Moderate sodium if congestive failure is diagnosed - home-cooked “treats” are a hidden salt source.

Keep the dog lean. Cardiac diets still require a gram scale.

SERP-ready clinical FAQ