robbie

As placed in the Rainbow Bridge section (Broken Spirit heading), Jake is currently in intensive care after a bad 36 hrs and has been diagnosed with DCM and also has fluid in his lungs.

He is expected (should he continue recovery) to be out tomorrow and these are the drugs he will be on

Your thoughts will be most welcome, in particular any advice on exercise and quality of life after DCM diagnosis.

Fortekor
Vetmedin
and a product called MODURETIC with several links but not found a good one yet

Not sure of the doses as yet either.

I have removed this from the Rainbow Bridge section as I dont feel it is appropriate.

ellenm

When my girl was diagnosed with DCM she also had CHF diagnosed. The cardiologist said we could increase her life span by only letting her walk on a leash, no free running, etc.

In our opinion, that restriction in her lifestyle alone would have killed her....we let her do what she wished. We did not take her out riding with our horses anymore, etc. but we did let her play off lead and have her normal lifestyle. As the symptoms worsened, she slowed down on her own. She just did not feel up to going out and running around much.

I have a feeling that your boy is going to tell you how much he feels like doing. I'd let him do whatever he wanted to do at this point, if he were mine. Spoil him rotten.

Murreydobe

Vetmedin was finally approved by the FDA within the last year, and it probably has done more to increase lifespan and improve quality of life for dogs in CHF than any other drug so far. It's not a miracle drug, it can't/won't cure them..but it can seem pretty close to a miracle when you see just how FAST a really sick dog can bounce back once you get them on this drug.

Prior to Vetmedin being an option, the average lifespan for a doberman with DCM after they went into heart failure was 90 days-some of them lived considerably less time (my first DCM experience involved a dog who lived exactly 7 days after diagnosis). With Vetmedin, that average lifespan after diagnosis has been expanded to something like 270 days.

Even the dogs who don't make it to the maximum amount of time with Vetmedin tend to have better quality of life, continue eating (always a struggle with DCM), etc.

But as I've said before, this disease strikes every dog differently. Some respond to treatment well and can be maintained for long periods of time on low dosages of their meds. Others never really get stabilized, and you wind up constantly tweaking their meds, having fluid crises, etc.

So sometimes a decision has to be made about how much you're going to put a dog through and whether you're being selfish making a dog go through a crisis time and time again. I'll give any dog a chance and try to get them stabilized-but I wouldn't keep pulling a dog back from the jaws of death time and again. My personal experience has been the first period of time after you get them stabilized is the longest period of quality time you're going to get, after that relapses become more frequent...so I wouldn't practice any heroics after that first relapse.

I think DCM dogs should be allowed to choose their own exercise level..I'd rather see one die doing something they loved than be kept in some kind of bubble.

I'm so sorry to hear about your boy, and wish him well. Treasure every day-you can pack a lot of memories into the time after you find out the clock is ticking...

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CH. Birchrun Who's On First, aka Razzle
Foxfire N KO Simply Madness WAC, aka Connor

duroboat

My Tristan made it 13 months on Vetmedin. At the time we had to mail order it online due to it not being approved yet. He was also on afew other heart meds too. Our cardiologist only gave him 3 months but our boy set a new record for a dobie at his office. All the meds were kind of expensive but worth every penny.

KCFilley

Looking back I suspect my Wheeler had DCM for possibly a year before his death. He was mis diagnosed for almost 8 months and once properly diagnosed he went back to almost his same activity level before the diagnosis. I honestly believe had he been on all his medications including that wonder drug Vetmedin from the onset he may have lived even longer. I, too, believe the dog should adjust his own activity level. I much preferred seeing Wheeler run out to the barn and race back than seeing him look longingly out the window wanting to go. He never did become bedridden (Thank You God). He maybe slowed just a bit and then he died in his sleep. His appetite was great (although he was extremely thin) and he was a happy happy camper. I miss that dog something fierce. He had the best temperament of any dog I've ever owned. Such a lover.

Enjoy every moment you can with Jake. Watch him be as happy as he possibly can. When he goes, and I hope it's a long time down the road, we will be here to help.

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If ya git ta thinkin' yer a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. Cowboy wisdom.

Doberdog

I cry so much when reading things like this. God bless you all.

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Have a great day, Sheila-owned by Quentin (b&t,M, dobie), Maggie Mae(1/2 shar pei, 1/2 ?, F, from the pound), and Peaches (red dobie, F)