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Thread: my dog has cardiomyopathy

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default my dog has cardiomyopathy

    i just found out today that my beloved great dane, named Zaine has cardiomyopathy. it's a heart condition that means he has a very enlarged heart and the muscles in his heart don't work properly.
    so they have given me medication to give him which will help but the vet said that usually dogs who have this condition only live a couple of months.
    i am completely devastated. i don't know how i can cope with this. every time i look at him i just start crying. he is only 6 years old, i thought we had a lot more time together than this.

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    *hugs* Just live from moment to moment. Chances are, once the medicine kicks in, he'll be back to normal and you wouldn't know anything was wrong with him. Just be thankful that there's treatment for him so that you can get him feeling better!

    Cherish what time you have left, be it months or years.

    You'll get through this. I promise.

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    thanks xoxoxoxoxo however long he lives i want him to enjoy it and be as comfortable as possible.


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    tampafldancer
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    nothing you can do? NO SURGERY OR ANYTHING.. ???

    Animal stories like this pierce my heart..

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    well im doing my own research to see if there is any other options out there.
    apparently humans with this condition get heart transplants.
    it is called canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM for short. if anyone has had a dog with this and know of any treatments please let me know.
    as far as my vet is concerned, it can only be managed with medication but not cured.
    i also have the option of speaking to a veternary cardiologist for a second opinion.

  6. #6
    tampafldancer
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I don't know much about that but PLEASE GET A SECOND OPINION!!!!!

    esp when something so close to you is slowly dying.. God, that must hurt

    hugs to you and your dog <3

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I'm so sorry... that sucks
    Fools laugh at others. Wisdom laughs at itself...Osho

  8. #8
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    Poor guy! Yes, definitely get a second opinion. And just love him as much as you can.

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    God/dess Silverback's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    There's a lot of web information available. Here's a couple sites:


    http://www.upei.ca/~cidd/Diseases/ca...iomyopathy.htm

    http://www.southpaws.com/topics/canine-dcm.html

    It looks like the expected lifespan from diagnosis is a couple months to two years.

    I'm really sorry.
    "He will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg! Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor! Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you!"

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I am also sorry to hear about your baby. I know what it's like to love an animal like they're your own child.

    I hope he defies all odds and lives to a ripe old age.

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    God/dess FrustratedBunny's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    awww, i'm so sorry! That is a miserable feeling, knowing your baby is in poor health. My dog has a back problem that's flared up and it kills me to see her in pain and then I think about her dying and I just cry. Hopefully our babies will both live a lot longer! And do get a second opinion. they thought my dog had cushings a while back and it turned out she didn't.

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    thanks everyone for the lovely posts. he really is llike my baby.
    i was sitting with him and i started crying and he looked up and gave me such a concerned look - even with all he is going through he still shows so much concern for me. he has just been the best dog. im waiting for a different vet to call me to discuss whether there are any better treatment options.

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I'm so terribly sorry to say that the condition is congenital and chronic. There is no cure for it. The best you can do is take him to the best canine cardiologists (not regular vets) for your best drug and treatment options. It's also likely that they will have to drain fluid from his heart a couple times a month. Honestly, this is very, very expensive. But more about that later.

    Cardiomyopathy is common in many mammals. The condition is congenital -- it's continued growth of the heart muscle, so that the cavities that pump blood shrink continuously over time. In humans, you usually hear about it when a high-school athlete drops dead on the field with no warning. Because chest X-rays are not usually required for high-school sports (the only way to spot the enlarged heart) there is no warning.

    Now the (relative) good news. Every dog and cat diagnosed with cardiomyopathy is given about three months to live. That's because the life expectancy is calculated without treatment or intervention. I had a stray cat I adopted who had gone all the way to end-stage feline cardiomyopathy, where basically they didn't think he'd make it out of the examining room alive. There is no way I was going to take that crap lying down.

    So I got him all the pills and two injections a day and three appointments a month to drain fluid from his heart. He didn't live for three months, he lived for two years. And his quality of life was good up to the end.

    What makes this such a difficult discussion is that it's terribly expensive to keep up all the treatments -- I spent well over $15,000 to keep a stray cat alive because I couldn't bear the thought of giving up on him. Even though it was really crazy -- he was going to die anyway, no matter what I did, or how much I spent. I always told my friends it was like trying to swim up a waterfall. You are never going to win the battle but what other choices do you have?

    Your best bet is to take him to the cardiologists and make sure you watch his fluid levels like crazy. Draining fluid off his heart will keep him alive. They will probably put him on several drugs, which are really easy to administer to dogs by hiding them in food (cats are much more difficult).

    I wish you the best in your treatment for your baby. I've been there and know how difficult and exhausting it can be. Good luck!

    P.S. The second link Silverback posted above was from the website of the cardiologists who took care of my cat.

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    Take it from someone (just see my "My cat, Bibs" thread) with a cat who has cancer and is currently going thru chemo.... I CAN TOTALLY EMPATHISE.

    I don't know how much experience you have had with animal companions in your life and their deaths so I'm only going off my own personal experiences etc. Anyway... enjoy each and every moment you have now with your dog. Love him and treasure him each day as if he was healthy. Try not to be too worried or stressed (I know easier said than done!) ... and do not focus on him possibly dying.

    Focus on the here and now ... the present... learn this lesson as this is the lesson every animal teaches us: live for today, do not worry about tomorrow.

    Whilst my cat's condition isn't totally curable at least the chemo will help her have a good fighting chance. I'm thankful for that...


    enter: E3167322D9 for your 10% discount

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I'm so sorry for you and you're baby. It kills me that we have to go through this. My little girl, Kiki, is 11 years old. In the past year her health has changed dramatically. She suffers from seizures every few months, has arthritis, her back knees pop out of there sockets and gets diarrea from eating anything. She falls over almost every time she squats to pee. Sometimes she has her good days. I can't imagine a day without her. There are even days that I purposefully take off just to be with her to enjoy her. I have to do this while I can. It kills me more when people ask me her age and then begin to ask me wat my plans are for her when she passes. Or they mention how funny is her walk, when they don't even know how she suffers. It hurts. It kills. I don't know what I will do when that day comes. Enjoy Zaine as much as possible. Take lots of pictures and video, make a mold of his paw. Get professional photos done, those are beautiful. Most importantly, get a second opinion. You never know it could be something else that can be treatable. Are there such things as heart transplants for dogs? Good luck and XO's for both of you from Kiki and me.


    "Where there is love there is life"-Mahatma Gandhi

    "Be The Best, F!ck The Rest"- P.P.


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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    thanks everyone for the lovely words. i suppose it's something u have to go through when u love a pet so much.
    zaine is the third great dane my family has had and we just love the breed so much. my girl zoe passed away a few years ago and she was almost 10 years old (which is quite elderly for giant breeds) and i had her cremated and her ashes put into a nice wooden box with a gold plaque with her name on it.

    i will cherish every moment i have left with my beloved zaine and i am in the process of finding a specialist cardiologist to discuss treatment options. he is currently taking 12 pills a day - 3 heart pills and 3 diuretics in the morning and the same doses at night.
    i know the diuretics are very important to keep the fluid out of his lungs but i feel sorry for him having to constantly get up and urinate coz he needs his rest right now.

    i will post a photo of him so u can see him. he is a very handsome boy indeed.

    once again thanks everyone for your sympathies. i also totally empathise with u others who are also caring for a sick pet right now xoxoxoxo

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    oops i forgot to attach the files in the last post.
    here he is.
    Last edited by jaizaine; 06-21-2007 at 01:59 AM.

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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    Zaine looks like such a sweetie! And Kikiwiki, your Kiki is adorable.

    I don't understand why dogs don't live longer and people don't die earlier. I mean dogs love you no matter what. They are the perfect creatures. I've never had a dog treat me like shit but people do it all the time.

    Kikikiwi, have you tried Remadyl for you baby's arthritis? I just got it for my Sophie's back. I'm not sure how much it's helping. She keeps trying to climb on my shoulder and it's driving me nuts. I feel so bad because I know she's in pain and that must feel better to climb up there but I have work to do and I cannot work on the computer with her sitting on my shoulder. Then I feel like crying for getting upset with her.

    jaizaine, I hope you get a second opinion with some good news. If cardiomyopathy is an enlarged heart, I seem to recall a vet saying my dog had some heart enlargement a few years ago when they took an X-ray but no other vet ever mentioned it and she's been fine, at least in that regard. How did they diagnose him? Maybe dogs can just have an enlarged heart without it though. I really don't know much about it.

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    Featured Member kikiwiki's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    Zaine is adorable! God Bless!
    "Where there is love there is life"-Mahatma Gandhi

    "Be The Best, F!ck The Rest"- P.P.


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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I missed this post! Zaine is a beautiful dog, and I'm sorry you're having to go through this.



    I've gone through similar issues with my cats and dogs before- it's a hard, difficult place to be- but please try to spend quality time with your dog over being despairing. It's one thing I always regret doing- not spending enough time.

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    Veteran Member Tyffani D.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    I'm so sorry to hear this. I know exactly how you feel, and what you are dealing with. Just love him and take care of him as long as you can. He is beautiful by the way ( or shoud I say handsome?) Thoughts are with you. Take care.
    ~Tyffani

  22. #22
    Pamela
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    Quote Originally Posted by jaizaine View Post
    well im doing my own research to see if there is any other options out there.
    apparently humans with this condition get heart transplants.
    it is called canine dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM for short. if anyone has had a dog with this and know of any treatments please let me know.
    as far as my vet is concerned, it can only be managed with medication but not cured.
    i also have the option of speaking to a veternary cardiologist for a second opinion.
    Very true. I as well have a heart condition. Not what your pet has. It's tough taking meds, and living with wonder. I imagine my beloved pets, and their misfortune as they don't understand what's happening.

    Just a bit of advice, he is on meds. and comfortable. Danes don't have a long life span, so cherish the 6 years and hope for a couple more. The average span is 8 yrs. and most die.

    Great dogs, and i do wish they found cures for many of the large breed dogs that have many more health issues that are deadly than smaller breeds.

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    God/dess jaizaine's Avatar
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    oh pamela i love snakes too i used to have a diamond python.
    yes the larger breeds do have a shorter life span but my female zoe did get to almost 10 years so they can get older but no where near what some small breeds can get to.
    they diagnosed the condition with an x-ray and also an electrocardiogram.

    the good news is he has started eating again today and his appetite is back with a vengence. he is also taking advantage of the fact that because he is sick he is getting treated with any food he desires. i am just going to spoil him rotten - well more than i usually do anyway.

    xoxoxoxoxoxo

  24. #24
    Pamela
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    Default Re: my dog has cardiomyopathy

    Quote Originally Posted by jaizaine View Post
    oh pamela i love snakes too i used to have a diamond python.
    yes the larger breeds do have a shorter life span but my female zoe did get to almost 10 years so they can get older but no where near what some small breeds can get to.
    they diagnosed the condition with an x-ray and also an electrocardiogram.

    the good news is he has started eating again today and his appetite is back with a vengence. he is also taking advantage of the fact that because he is sick he is getting treated with any food he desires. i am just going to spoil him rotten - well more than i usually do anyway.

    xoxoxoxoxoxo
    Awwww. I looked at his pictures. What a doll!

    Diamond Python...Holy shit they have two very long front teeth just like fangs without venom to catch birds from the branches they live in...WOW...i almost got one until i found out about the teeth. A Reticulated python bite is bad enough. Diamonds are beautiful, Angelina Jolie just had a shot done with one...more power to her as well. I held one years ago, very docile. But having my share of bites from my own snakes, i don't want a Diamond bite..i am chicken shit.

    Glad you are spoiling your baby! He is a true doll.

    Pamela

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