Living in Orlando Fl I have access to the University of Florida Vet Hospital. Just called them regarding Holter and Echo testing. I want to have a base line when Dax is 3 years, she is now 2.3months. Their cost for the Holter is $335 and Echo is $330. If a follow up Echo is required that cost will be $190. What are your thoughts regarding these prices Thanks

I’ve seen prices of around $700 for a full heart workup (exam, echo and Holter) but all done by a specialist in cardiology--not sent away for reading. But I always thought the vets were expensive in this area.

Were you thinking about doing that now? I would wait til Dax is 1 or even 2 years old--puppies are so active, I would think it would hard to keep the leads of the Holter vest in place for 24 hours.

Have you looked at the NCSU holter program? https://www.dobermantalk.com/doberman...r-service.html For the pre-breeding Holter with a cardiologist interpretation, it's only $150.

Dax is 2 years, 3 months I am going to have base line testing when she is 3 years

Typo in your original post. It didn't even register until I'd read it several times.

Check with Doberman Chapter clubs and Boxer Chapter clubs to see if any of them do cardio clinics.

Let me give you an example: Mt Hood DPC (Portland, Oregon area) holds two a year--one in the winter and one in the summer. The club has, and will rent to club members Holter set ups--rental is about $25 and report from ALBA on results is $30 I think. The cost for the echo varies a little--running about $225 per dog now--and a Holter, done within two months of the echo is required. Occasionally the club offers an echo at a reduced fee--sometimes as much as $100 off. Membership in the Mt Hood club is also required but an Associate Membership is $25 (might have recently been raised to $30) per year.

The echos are done by a cardiologist and the Holter results are reviewed by the cardiologist as part of the cardio exam.

These are the least expensive places usually to get a Holter and echo done. Mt Hood as one of the first Chapter Clubs to offer clinics like this and every year I see more and more clubs offering clinics like this.

DPCA has a Holter rental program--information on it is at the DPCA.org web site. I think you need to be a member of the DPCA to rent the Holter units.

And Alba has new and used Holter units--check with them for pricing. A friend and I bought one several years ago--so the price wasn't so awful--but we had (between us) 7 or 8 Dobes--3 were seniors being checked twice a year and all but one puppy was being checked once a year. In terms of conveniene (not having to drive from the far east side to the far west side of the Portland area) and not having to make sure we got all the Holters done in a timely manner it paid for itself (even considering the low cost of rental from the club) in two years. So if you can find two or three other Dobe or Boxer owners you might want to think about actually purchasing a Monitor and Vest from Alba.

Those are typical prices and fairly good. U of Fl has been great and a spearhead in the advancement of research on DCM and Dr. Estrada had the huge stem cell study there a few years ago (my dog was one of the dogs in the study).

NO matter where you get your echo and holter done, please remember that you should also be cultivating local cardiologist relationships. I hope no one needs one for their dog, but once diagnosed you need someone local and accessible to manage the case.

If you read the 3/16/17 post, the latest study/report on DCM, "An update on the genetic status of the Doberman Pinscher (DCM)," pre-breeding screening of the parents isn't going to solve the problem. Just because you breed two Dobes that are negative for DCM, the pups are still likely to have it. The reports explains why.

I had Richter's original holter and echo with a local cardiologist. I now do his echo yearly through the same cardiologist but during our club's echo clinic, and holter myself. I maintain a relationship with that cardiologist should we need to follow up with her if anything looks off in either screening.

But screening even your “pet” dog may help you catch the problem early and, by starting appropriate treatment at that time, considerably extend his lifespan while maintaining his comfort.

There is presently NO genetic test for cardio that could actually be regarded as either positive or negative. What there is are two genetic tests which identify genes that are probably involved in Doberman DCM. DCM is a polygenetic disorder. There is a very similar disease in humans and the number of genes identified which contribute is well over 20 (last thing I saw said 28 reported).

I don't regard that particular "update" report as valid--there is a big bias which is aimed at "proving" a particular point of view

Prescreenng will identify cardio issues so that at least you aren't breeding dogs with early cardio but even more important cardio testing is most valuable when done over time so you can see what the trend is and provides an opportunity to treat identified cardio problems which may result in years of quality life for YOUR Doberman.

Identifying the causes of DCM is really in its infancy and while each discovery all by itself doesn't cure cardio--it's a path with markers (if you will)and the information gained is what IS valuable.

Even though I do test for the two genetic markers that have been identified I regard them as valuable for further studies not really as breeding guidelines.

Just my opinion--for what it's worth.

[QUOTE=dobebug;3802697]
And Alba has new and used Holter units--check with them for pricing. /QUOTE]

I bought a refurbished monitor and vest from Alba for a little over $1000. The results are stored on an SD memory card and you simply email the contents to Alba for a report returned via email to take to your cardiologist. That costs $30 currently (per their site). ALBA Medical - Holter Monitoring Company

You need to get the echo done by a cardiologist which in my case is going to be difficult to impossible. Haven't found one yet where I am going.

I have Riley scheduled for an Echo in April. The cost is $470.
I am located in Chicago.. I was told we would do a Holter depending on the Echo results. Riley is 7 years old and this will be her first visit with a cardiologist.

I have a refurbished holter from Alba as well. Last year, Indy had his echo done at my vet by a Cardiologist group from MD that has a mobile unit and it was $450. This year, I have his echo scheduled through a cardio clinic at a nearby dog show. The cost is $250.

BEST site for ALL dog health clinics

Dog/Canine Health Test Clinic Schedule

it lists them by state and dates

Thank you, your link is greatly appreciated. I am contacting one of the clubs listed in my state.