rainddobes

My prayers are with Maxwell..Did you not test him for Cardio with an Ultra Sound and Holter since you had already lost your Zak to cardio? These tests may not cure cardio in a dobe, but getting on meds can certainly prolong life.
I think they recommend getting the tests yearly starting at 3 years .Once they reach about 6 years the tests should be done every 6 months.

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Rainddobes

Ch Marquis' I Am Arya "Layla" 5 years
Doyerdobes No Kidding V Raindance "Jaden" 4 years - Major pointed
Marquis' I Am Neytiri of Raindance both majors
Raindance Genesis of Marquis 21 months
Raindance Armed and Extremely Delicious 3 months
and the Italian Greyhound gang

LIVING WITHOUT A DOBE IS NOT LIVING

rainddobes

I finally got the test results back.. I submitted my swab the beginning of April. I have been e mailing and calling. Finally Dr Meuers e mailed me and she had to look in the archives for the results.
Layla is Negative...

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Rainddobes

Ch Marquis' I Am Arya "Layla" 5 years
Doyerdobes No Kidding V Raindance "Jaden" 4 years - Major pointed
Marquis' I Am Neytiri of Raindance both majors
Raindance Genesis of Marquis 21 months
Raindance Armed and Extremely Delicious 3 months
and the Italian Greyhound gang

LIVING WITHOUT A DOBE IS NOT LIVING

Anneliese

CONGRATS Layla

Kobe's Mom

Dr. Meurs and her lab have just moved to North Carolina State University. You can go to web page: Veterinary Cardiac Genetics Laboratory for information or email VCGL test request or call 919-513-8279 for a collection kit (oral swabs) Testing is now $51.00 US I just ordered mine and talked to them...very helpful.

Anneliese

No wonder i couldnt find them,they moved.

One Boy out of my A-Litter was tested and came back Neg.We were so happy,but still kind of unhappy that there isnt anymore yet to test with.One Gen is just so unsure................
In Munich nothing is happening either.................................

Luvbirds

I am so sorry to read this. How is he doing? How are you doing? Please feel free to start a thread for him that you can update. Hugs to you and him.

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Fitzmar Dobermans

Thanks for the information - I had heard that they had moved but was not sure where - I've got the site saved now

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CH Cha-Rish A Moment Like This RN WAC CGC "Louise"
AKC GRCH/UKC CH Fitzmar's Command A Minute CGC "Harvard"
Fitzmar's Victory Hop Devil "Jezebel"

max2005

Thank you for your kind words, sadly Maxwell passed away on 11/7/11 at 11AM we are totally devastated, he was only 6 years and 3 months of age, he really was a fantastic friendly loving loyal companion and I miss him so much.

Luvbirds

I'm so sorry...Please post in the Rainbow section when you feel up to it. You will find a lot of support on this forum. So many of us are either going though DCM or have already lost dogs from it.

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sroberto

I have sent dna swab samples to NCSU for testing of both my dobes and just got the results back tonight by email. Havana, my three year old female is negative. Tank, my eight month old male is positive (heterozygous).

I have mixed feelings about doing the test. First of all, Dr. Meurs tells you that the mutation they test for may not be the only one so you cannot totally rely on a negative result to mean there will be no heart disease.

Secondly, in the case of positive heterozygous, just because there is a positive result it does not always follow the dog will get the disease or if it does the disease may still be mild.

Finally, there is nothing you can do to save the dog even if you know the test result is positive.

So I am sitting here wondering what to do and feeling mixed emotions about a problem I did not know Tank had yesterday and that I can do nothing about tomorrow.

Luvbirds

I wouldn't worry about it in the least, right now the test is incomplete, more studies need to be done, additional genes found. Enjoy your dogs every day they are alive and healthy. My Petey was diagnosed with DCM @ 3 years old, and he is NEGATIVE. His blood is being used to help find another gene. The disease strikes about 60% of all dobermans at some point in their lives, average age is much older then when my boys was found. We are hoping for a 5th birthday in October. His litter mate has already died from DCM, so I'm very grateful for each day we have.

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sroberto

If you are thinking of having the test done but are not sure, please consider this email explanation of how to interpret the results from Dr. Meurs. This test does not a black or white answer.

Hi Steven
As a veterinary cardiologist who spent years working with very sick affected Doberman pinschers and then who spent 15 years trying to figure out what caused it, i do believe that the test is an extremely useful took that will gradually reduce the prevalence of this horrible disease. As you said, the general public may not have a great understanding of the complexities of these genetic disease so I spend alot of time educating veterinarians about the test and the disease and most of our clients use their veterinarians to help interpret the results. I wish I could make it a bit clearer for the general public but these are very complex diseases and the answers to the questions about expressivity and penetrance are not known in the dog or the human being with this disease.


This is how I suggest using the test:

if the dog is positive heterozygous, this means that this dog is at increased risk for DCM and I would recommend more careful evaluation on an annual basis of this dog for evidence of clinical disease. If i had breeding program , i would carefully weigh this information with consideration of risk benefits of breeding.

If the dog is negative , this means it does not have the only known cause of this disease in the Doberman. We know that in human beings there are over 100 known genetic mutations that can cause DCM, we have no idea if there is more than one in the Doberman but this is likely, since there are so many in people it is likely that there will be > 1 in the dog, therefore, IF your dog should ever develop signs of heart disease such as a cough, or exercise intolerance we would have it evaluated by your veterinarian for heart disease since it is still possible that it could get DCM from other causes yet to be discovered or have another heart disease

Hope that helps
km

sroberto

Thanks, that is very wise advise. Sometimes we can love them too much for OUR own good, right?

Anneliese

Is there anything new from dr.meurs ? Has anybody heard anything ? I am really hoping for a new/better test.

JacksDad

We lost both of our male sibling Dobies to DCM. Bubby began to be symptomatic 10-08-11, and passed away 10-14-11. We took his brother, Jack, to the vet who noted that their x-rays and exams were identical for severe DCM and CHF. HOWEVER, the vet began Jack on Lasix, Enalapril ( normal ) and Vetmedin ( a medication specifically tailored to DCM ).

After three days, Jack was wild and spent the next four months running in the pastures and woods like he was a two year old, having the time of his life. Then, he began coughing one evening and six hours later, my baby boy was gone.

I'm only posting this in the hopes that maybe, maybe...someone will look into Vetmedin and it will give you some more time with your baby, as it did mine.

Bubby and Jack were both BIG Dobies, usually 110 lbs. in the summer and 118 lbs. in the winter, but always active.

"Grief is the price we pay for Love"

Luca0829

I had just found this on my own last night and already submitted an email to ask about a test kit (oral swabs) for this. Then I found this forum today, signed up and came across this. How ironic!

fastdobie

This is AMAZING. We just lost our doberman Luke to DCM on December 27,2012 at 5 years old. I really want another doberman but wife not sure because of DCM. I cant wait to see how breeders will respond to this knew test.
This really made my day!

feverone

Dont get too excited ... Dogs tested negative are still dying of DCM... this test is ONLY one step period... DCM is always out there in EVERY line soooo sorry you lost your dog as did I and many others..
The best thing u can do is test your dog every year starting a 2 yrs old ... right now the meds and catching it early is the dogs best chance at a longer life.

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Deb

avianantics

Sadly it doesn't mean much by itself. As was said, dogs are testing negative and are still dying from DCM.

Your best bet is to find a reputable breeder that is breeding for longevity.

So, sorry for your loss.

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Shelly Wing
AKC GCH/UKC CH Lyndobe's Wheel of Fortune, "Wheeler"
AKC Ptd Lyndobe's Loquacious Charm, "Lola"