Froglet

I've just been told my beloved Dobe Oscar, who is 9 and collapsed out of the blue yesterday (with quick recovery) after rushing him to the vets, now has this dreaded heart condition which a lot of Dobermans get. Basically the vet stated that we had got to him early, then in the next breath he's saying he has 6 weeks and at best 6 months left!! There were no signs up until he tried to get up to a sitting position yesterday, then toppled over. I thought he was having a stroke! When he recovered and was able to walk an hour later, I was over the moon....until I was told the cardiac scan results, and my life has come crashing down around me. I've just found this forum to find out all about this condition...this was not the way I wanted to introduce myself as a new person, but I'm glad I found this website! I'm Silvia, have had my blue tan dobie almost since birth, along with a german shepherd Emily, who is also 9. The 2 of them along with my cat are a devoted trio. The crappy thing is that 3 weeks ago, my cat who is almost 18, is in renal failure and is also living on borrowed time.....guess when the stuff hits the fan, it sure splatters!!! Maybe someone who has been there can prepare me for what is inevitable so I'm better prepared. Thanks for listening XXX

Amelia_

Hi Silvia, so sorry to hear about your boys diagnosis and about your kitty too. There's loads of topics on here with advice for DCM and quite a few members here have dogs who currently have DCM or have had DCM dogs in the past.

Welcome to the forum, though I'm sorry it's under these circumstances. I'm from Buckinghamshire too

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dapple

Sorry to hear your sad news.
I ....knock on wood....have not had any experience with this.....
But many others unfortunately have. I'm sure they will help you along.
You've come to the right place for help.
Hugs.

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River

Welcome to the forum. I'm sorry to hear about your boy. I've not had a Dobe with DCM, although I lost my fawn to osteosarcoma. He went into the vet's for a limp, they sent us to a specialist, and three weeks later he fractured the leg at the tumor site and was gone. It's hard, having a healthy dog and getting a sudden diagnosis like that.

As for what to expect- I know DCM is very different from cancer, but the vet told me to make a list of things that Logan liked doing and was able to do. Eating, playing, his physical ability to move and live without much pain. When he stopped being able to do those things, then I'd know it was time. Some people with the same experiences told me at the time to watch him, that he'd tell me when he was ready, and I'd just know. That's also true. I never got to that point because of the fracture, but it's a good guideline.

alan j.

It is not fair and it happens to the best ones! Enjoy Oscar.

MsMoppett

Do a broad search here, and you will sadly come up with more information than you need on DCM. It is quite the killer of a lot of our beloved pets. It can be managed for a period, but as your vet said, it is ultimately fatal. Chin up, though. No pup ever was helped by having their owner down and out! Just do your best to make him the happiest he can be for as long as you can!

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"Rooooooooooooooooo!"

CalamitysHuckleberry

What MsMoppett said!

Do nothing but fun stuff with Oscar and feed him what he loves to eat. Don't forget poor Emily, she has probably never been alone. We will be here for you and you for them.


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pdubois64

Hi and welcome to DT.

Many of us here have lost our dogs to DCM and know what you are going through. I lost my boy last Sept at only 3 years and 7 months of age.

Check out the Health section of the forum and you'll find lots of info there on DCM.


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dax0402

Hi and welcome to the forum. So very sorry you have found DT under these circumstances. You will find a wealth of information on DCM here and a lot of knowledgeable Dobe people and a great support group. Please keep us updated on Oscar in the Doberman Health Forum.

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sandy2233

I am sorry that you have to experience this. For me, I like to know what will be coming down the pike and what I need to look for. I am blessed to work in a vet clinic with wonderful people and I have a daughter in law that is a vet too. I have always been able to handle what I know about and with all my resources, I felt I knew what was ahead for my little yorkie. I hope you can come to this site and learn more and know in your heart you will do what's right for both of you and that can help prepare you. I just hate it that this breed of dog has so many health issues. It's just not fair.

LindaH

Very sorry you found this forum under such sad circumstances. The only advice I have to offer is to let your other dog see the deceased body when he passes so she won't hunt for him and will know what has happened to him. Sorry for bringing this up, but doing this should help her deal with the loss of her buddy

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Toby'shuman

I have no pearls of wisdom to offer you, only my heartfelt sadness that this is happening.

I know you will cherish the time you have left, make everyday count and love your animals with every fibre of your being as they do you and when the time comes you will know.

JobeyV

Hi & welcome to DT from Essex. So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. If there's anything you want to know, just ask. Plenty of us have gone through this, me included. I lost my boy in July, he was in CHF for 3 months before we let him go.
Can I ask what medication Oscar is on?

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Maximo

Welcome to the forum. There are alot of people here that have wonderful input.

To answer your question, we lost our first dobe at 11 years old to DCM. We did not know anything about the condition until our boy developed a cough. To the vet we went on July 5th....with a video of his coughing in hand. Dartagnan had just had a check up by this same vet one month earlier. He received a clean bill of health. Now we were in the office having our vet tell us that the cough was a symptom of heart problems! We were devistated!!

We tried medication, alot of medication. But, he passed 5 days after is 11th birthday on July 13th. Once we found out he passed away 8 days later in our bed right between his Daddy and me.

I'm so sorry that your beloved dobe has been diagnosed with DCM. Every experience is different. Medication works well for some dogs. I think our our case, Dartagnan was too sick for the meds to work.

I wish the very best for you and your boy. I pray that the medications work well and you have more birthdays to share. They truely enrich our lives with every moment that they are with us.

cath66

There are so many here with a wealth of experience and knowledge, you've come to the right place. I'm sorry you're having to face this though. I haven't dealt with DCM in my own dog but did have a beloved dobe client who had it. As others have said, enjoy the time you have with your boy and hopefully you'll be on the far end of the estimate, if not well past it! (I lost my cat to CRF in the spring...she was 17 and had lived with her diagnosis and minor meds for 7-8 months before taking a downward turn. It's always so hard, but we just try to make sure we provide a decent quality of life and have the strength to make the tough decisions when we need to)

Lady Kate

So very very sad to hear this. Hugs to you and Oscar and cherish the time you have left with this brave boy

Froglet

He's on Cardisure 10mg tablets, half a tablet twice a day. Thanks for replying!

Fortheloveofadoberman

Hi and welcome. I am sorry to read about your diagnosis. I have not had to deal with that medical issue as of yet, all I can do is just try and cheer you up. Love your pets (as I know you do ) spend as much time with them as you can and have a positive attitude. They pick up on our feelings and when you are not right they wonder and worry about you. I will keep you in my prayers and thoughts. From what I have read on here with this forum, you will find many who have alot of knowledge about this and can help you along.

Hugs to you and cherish every moment .. also take lots of pictures of him, of all your pets and put an album together. I am working on a scrapbook myself.

dobiemads

Welcome to DT, so sorry to hear your boys diagnosis.
My 9 year old girl was diagnosed 5 months ago with DCM she is on vetmedin and fusimide, she had a scan and xrays to diagnose it after she collapsed on a walk, her heart was very enlarged, her left ventricle was not pumping correctly and she had fluid around her lungs.

I also give her 1,000mg L-carnitine per day (just L-carnitine not products with other things added) and 2,000mg fish oils (give Vit E too) Taurine may also be helpful ( my girl is raw fed so i believe she gets enough taurine from red meat).

Hope your boy is doing ok.

dobegal

Hi, I am sorry that you had to find DT under such curcumstances. I loss my 2nd girl to this terrible disease. Stay strong and know that you are not alone.

KissNme

I'm sorry for the bad news you received. Welcome to DT. Many people here with experience. This is a great support system. I certainly hope and wish the best for you and your boy.