[alys]

I know there will be a lot to read about it but I wonder if anyone has direct experience of this terrible condition as my five and a half year old Dobe has just been diagnosed. I am devastated and just want to do the best I can for him. He is on Pimobendan 10mg bd,spironalactone 40mg od and frusecare 40mg bd.Thank you for any help.
Best Wishes Alys

 

[mmctaq]

I, and far too many others, have had direct experience.

If your dog is not under the care of a board-certified veterinary cardiologist, I would find one. Their understanding and knowledge of the management of this disease is better than that of general vets.

If you are in a position to do so, Dr. Estrada at The University of Florida is beginning to do stem cell transplant therapy to treat DCM. It is very early in the development of this treatment, but the results are promising. If I was to have a dog diagnosed now and I was able to do so, I would choose to have this done.

 

[alys]

Unfortunately I am in England and whilst I would love to have the chance to try anything, not sure if anything like that available here.
Thank you
Alys

 

[Luvbirds]

I am so sorry. Try to live one day at a time and enjoy each one to the fullest. Here is our story. http://www.dobermantalk.com/doberman-health/34967-petey-has-dcm.html Lost my Petey 10 weeks ago, he would have been 5 on the 27th. Hugs to you.

 

[KCFilley]

I too lost my Wheeler to DCM. He had lived a long life and was 12 when diagnosed. As Carol said, live each day to the fullest. I'm sorry you are having to deal with this horrid illness. Prayers and hugs to you.

Linda

 

[feverone]

Please also start him on CoQ10 200 mg a day, aswell as 2000 mg fish oils per day, I think he has also be higher dose of the pimo. And be started on Vasotec. I Lost my beloved Fever to Cardio But these things did help him live 3 more years(great yrs) after I was told he was occult.. He was caught very early . I dont know how far along your boy is? But the earlier its caught the better the out come will be.
I would also say do not run him, just light trotting thats it. If he is on lasix already give LOTS of water and potassium as that will rob his body of it.
Good luck my thoughts are with you both.

 

[Murreydobe]

I've lost more than one dog to DCM. It's an ugly, ugly disease.

It sounds like your dog is already in congestive heart failure. Sadly, survival time isn't good after the dog reaches that stage of the disease. I think the average survival time for a dobe in CHF is around 6 months-although I did have one dog who lived almost 9 months after diagnosis of DCM/CHF. Some only live a matter of days or weeks.

I always let dogs choose their own activity level. If they don't feel good or can't breathe well, they're not going to want to be running around. On the days when they do feel good-well..I'm not going to rob a dog with a terminal disease of one single moment of joy.

I agree with what someone else said-if at all possible, your dog needs to be under the care of a board certified cardiologist. This disease is just too complex for a general practice vet.

Treasure every minute!

 

[Violet]

Greta died 4 months after CHF. This disease really sucks. It is on top of the list of the meanest diseases a Dobie can have.

I am very sorry you have to go through this and I wish you strength for the upcoming process, as well as for the possible decision you have to make in the end.

I second, find a specialised cardiology vet. You do have them in England and they are affordable. Google, you will find them. If you do not find them, you can call the next big veterinary hospital at a bigger city or call the veterinary department at the next university. Or, maybe better, call an emergency vet. They usually have long lists of specialised doctors they refer to.

Why is that? Because the mix of medication your dog needs now is, as you already see, very specific. Only a cardiologist is state of the art and can give you the exact mix your dog needs. This is not the same for every dog.

All the best, keep on posting to this forum if you like, there is a lot of support here, especially regarding DCM.

 

[Reds]

Sorry to hear about this. Wish there was a more positive outcome for you. I agree with Murreydobe, treasure every minute.

 

[alys]

Thank you all,I am struggling to come to terms with everything. I lost another Dobe,Banner, about 15yrs ago to DCM but he was 10 and it was more acceptable, he died in his sleep,which was a blessing. I knew so little then and I think that was easier, now I know what is coming and I feel so useless. I cannot do much to help him, nothing will change the outcome,it is so inevitable! Thank you so much for your kind thoughts, it is nice to be able to talk to others who know how I feel.I have sobbed reading about others in the past, never thinking it would be me so soon.
I am going to find a cardiologist, we have the Royal Vetinary College nearby and I will go there.
Thank you again
Alys

 

[LindaH]

I'm very sorry you have another boy with DCM. My best wishes for you and prayers for your boy. Just make each day as happy for him as you can.

 

[dax0402]

So very sorry for this diagnosis. There are far too many of us on DT who have/had first hand experience with this horrible disease. My Baron was diagnosed with early stage DCM last March at 4 years 4 months. He is currently on 80 mg of Sotalol every 12 hours and 2,000 mg of fish oil a day. This is his thread: http://www.dobermantalk.com/doberman-health/53082-baron-has-dcm.html

Like others have said, live in the moment with your boy. Enjoy every day. Please post some pictures of your Dobe. We love pictures on DT. Also, please feel free to PM me if your need to talk to vent.

 

[dobegal]

I am sorry for this diagnosis. I too had a girl who had CHF who left me at age 9 yrs. Please take one day at a time.

 

[eegreen]

I'm so sorry.

 

[alys]

Hi All

Thanks for your help,how much excercise do you give your Dobes with DCM , my boy loves to run,as all dobes do, in huge goofy circles. I feel I should let him but will it drastically shorten his life?
Thanks again Alys

 

[Australdi]

... If he is on lasix already give LOTS of water and potassium as that will rob his body of it.
....

Whilst I realise you're refering to Lasix...the OP mentioned he was on Spiralactone which is a potassium sparing diuretic. I'm not a vet....but when Zil was put on it in the last few weeks of his life (for ascites) I was advised to beware of excess potassium or high potassium foods as the drug would tend to retain it which could lead to too high potassium levels....which can be just as dangerous as too low.

I would not be giving any extra potassium whilst using spiralactone.
...just thought that needed to be made clear to avoid confusion/mistakes.

 

[alys]

I have a cardiology appointment on Thursday morning,at least I feel I am doing as much as I can,will never be enough!
Alys

 

[dax0402]

Hi All

Thanks for your help,how much excercise do you give your Dobes with DCM , my boy loves to run,as all dobes do, in huge goofy circles. I feel I should let him but will it drastically shorten his life?
Thanks again Alys

Baron gets the same amount of exercise, playing, and training as he did before he was diagnosed with DCM. I think keeping him in good shape will help. Also, keeping his weight at a good level will help. So happy you have an appointment with a cardiologist. These are also questions you can asked his opinion on. Please keep us updated.

 

[Luvbirds]

Hi All

Thanks for your help,how much excercise do you give your Dobes with DCM , my boy loves to run,as all dobes do, in huge goofy circles. I feel I should let him but will it drastically shorten his life?
Thanks again Alys

Petey was allowed to play and run all he wanted at home, he was kept on a lead in the woods during hiking for his last half a year, only because I didn't want to lose him there if he died suddenly. After we knew how severe his arrhythmia had gotten via his last holter, we were pretty sure he would die suddenly, where we hike there is tons of wildlife, no way I wanted to have to search for him. The week before Petey's death he had the time of his life, we were on vacation with both dogs. Petey and Monty went to a dog park, ran around the rental all day long and swam in the lake. He died the day we came home, suddenly. He didn't suffer at all. He was far too young, strong and crazy to keep him down. I let him enjoy *His* life the way he wanted to. The cardiologists that I went to told me to let him run and play the way he always did, don't treat him any different. Again I'm so sorry....I do know where you are at, and it just plain SUCKS. ox

 

[[email protected]]

I am so sorry for where you are at right now. It is the most painful experience I went thru with my baby girl, Kenya, who went into CHF 2 Aug this yr and lasted 56 days. I felt a part of my heart go when they diagnosed her in the hosp in the wee hours that morning. I lost whatever was in my stomach on the spot. Coming home alone and not having her for 2 days while they cleared her lungs was pure hell. But I made up my mind to not let her down - as the cardiologist told me she would not even know she was sick. And my girl played as she wanted/when she wanted/how she wanted. I did not let her run full out with her dog friends for fear she would be too far away from me in an emergency situation. I look back and feel she adjusted her play time/activity level in her own way. I look at videos of her antics at 2 yrs old and then during her last few weeks and I see the difference now. I also changed my schedule for her in that things I could do later in the day, I did, just to have a sleep in time with her neck over mine, cuddle more, give more ear rubs, closeness, playtime. I followed her lead in the end. My wish, like evone else on here that has gone thru this horrible disease, was that I could make her better or buy her more time but it is not the way this nightmare unravels. If you listen to any one thing, it is to be there as much as you can and love your baby to the nth degree. Document your memories. I wish I had done more videoing. Please know that you have many dobe parents thinking of you and sending you strength.