D85, sorry about your boy's coughing spells. Five is way to young, as he's in his prime. Don't give up on your boy yet. Even if he has DCM, you can get another 6+ months of good quality life with him if put on canine cardiac meds, like our Eva got. (Vetmedin & Salix). . Keep us updated...

 

D85, sorry about your boy's coughing spells. Five is way to young, as he's in his prime. Don't give up on your boy yet. Even if he has DCM, you can get another 6+ months of good quality life with him if put on canine cardiac meds, like our Eva got. (Vetmedin & Salex). . Keep us updated...

thank you! I’m trying to stay positive it’s hard to see. I feel like failed because I missed the early stages of DCM.

how expensive are the meds? I’m going to get them no matter what they cost but I need to plan my budget as I’m a disabled veteran. The Keppra XR has cost anywhere from 150-600 a month, I wish I had insurance at this point.

 

I'm so sorry your boy isn't doing well. I'll be thinking of you folks tomorrow. Keep us updated...

 

So very sorry.

 

If you have a Costco anywhere near you they do pet prescriptions and have always been the least expensive place to fil prescriptions. I could get some of the cardiac meds from Costco for less than I could get them from my employer--I work for a vet and paid our cost plus 10% and Costco always beat our prices.

Hope your boy makes it long enough to get some meds to stop the coughing--sounds like he's already in the congestive heart failure stage and is coughing and coughing because his lungs are full of liquid.

dobebug

 

I thank you all for your support. It breaks my heart to say I had to do a very hard thing and put him down this morning. He started coughing up blood on the way to his appointment. The veterinarian said his congestive heart failure was severe and with drugs and everything she could do he would probably go into cardiac arrest while on oxygen over the next 24 hours. The only thing giving me the slightest bit of peace is that he died in my arms and wasn’t alone with strangers.

I didn’t get him until he was 6 months old. Very wealthy people couldn’t handle his energy so I was a re-home. I contacted the previous owners when he was diagnosed with epilepsy to try and track down his breeder to no avail. Is there anyway a breeder can be tracked down by microchip number? I really want the breeder to know he had epilepsy and congestive heart failure and died before his 5th birthday so others don’t have to go through so much pain and heartbreak.

Thank you all again for your support.

 

Oh no.

I'm so sorry to hear that, Dace. That's just not fair to you.

 

What a tough break for you. Your premonition turned out to be right. So sorry for your loss.
Besides being with him at his demise, also be comforted that your boy had a loving home for majority of his life, with a family who cared for and loved him.
Hope this experience doesn't turn you off on Dobermans... They always give us humans everything they can, no matter how many years they are with us.

When you feel up to it, please post some favorite pictures of your Doberboy, either here or in a Rainbow Bridge Thread.

 

also be comforted that your boy had a loving home for majority of his life, with a family who cared for and loved him.

Thank you, I definitely thought about that. He was very happy with me since I’m retired from the military young I was able to give him many hours of attention and love daily unlike his last family.

We keep saying it--we never have these dogs long enough...

It was my first experience as a Doberman owner. I love the breed, it’s very rough with the health issues they face. When I’m ready to get another I’ll definitely be getting the best pet health insurance I can.

 

I'm so so sorry you and your boy had to go through such a heartache. He was blessed to find someone who treated his epilepsy and gave him a loving home for as long as you had together.

 

Wow! Life came hard and quick for you today.
Sorry for the loss of a friend.

 

I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend.

 

So sorry you had to go through so many health issues and lose your boy so young.

We keep saying it--we never have these dogs long enough...

And for your boy--he'll be remembered by many here and may he sleep softly....

dobebug

 

I am really sorry. Please stay in touch. When you decide to get another Dobe, folks here would be happy to help.

John L
Portland OR

 

Thank you, I just saw you’re in Portland. The couple I got my Doberman from lived in Eugene, Oregon.

 

So sorry for you loss.
Many Pokes!

 

I'm so sorry for your loss.

 

Such a sad and sudden passing. Our Real Bear Hugs go out to you. May your Dobe boy wait patiently and romp well at Rainbow bridge.