[Corky/Max]

I just posted this under a dif. thread and feel it should also be a thread of it's own . It is info I wish I had before it was too late and maybe I could have prevented this heart disease! Here is a copy of it:

Here is an article that I wish/hope everyone will read. As some of you know, My Corky has just been diagnosed with Dialated Cardiomyopathy. I have been researching and researching to try and find all the info I can on how to extend his life as long as I can. Before anyone says anything about the web and it's info being 'off'---My vet has also been hearing about Taurine and L-Carnitine through his 'practice.' The Taurine (an amino acid) has been found to be too low in some specific breeds--including cocker spaniels, golden retrievers (both of which Corky is). Boxers and others I can't remember right now are also having this problem. Before this disease happens to these breeds (and others) I hope you will know some on how to prevent it---I wish I had known!!! My pure cocker-Max is getting an x-ray this month and I am afraid he prob. has it too as he does have a mur-mur already. If I had known of this problem I would have given both of them Taurine supplements. I just ordered some (and the L-Carnitine) yesterday to try and delay the inevitable. Words of Wisdom--Check your brand of dog food to see if it has Taurine added---Some (Prob. very few yet) do and many don't and is it enough anyway??! Here is the article:What is Taurine in Dog Food?


Taurine is a water-soluble amino acid. It has recently become a hot topic when referring to the nutritional composition that makes up the human and animal physical structure. Taurine has been found to be very beneficial to various components of the mammal skeletal system such as heart, kidneys and blood.

Taurine – “A colorless crystalline substance, C2H7NO3S, formed by the hydrolysis of taurocholic acid and found in the fluids of the muscles and lungs of many animals.” (dictionary.com)

Taurine’s main purpose is to act as a catalyst facilitating the flow of vital elements to and from cells. Elements such as Sodium, (Na) Potassium, (k) and Calcium (ca) depend on Taurine in order for them to move from one cell to another.

Taurine has been a present element in cat food due to its vital properties and just recently pet food manufacturers have been implementing Taurine into dog foods also realizing that this A.A. can be very beneficial to dogs as well as cats. Taurine is most abundantly found in the retina and cases of blindness have been linked to Taurine deficiency in kittens, however in most cases, the same studies showed a reversal of the blindness when Taurine supplements were administered.

Taurine is also very beneficial for the heart, and cases of dilated cardiomyopathy have been linked to low Taurine levels in kittens. (A disease or disorder of the heart muscle, especially of unknown or obscure cause.)

Not all dog food manufacturers add Taurine to your dog food so you need to read labels at all times to make sure that Taurine is included. Most manufacturers are out there to make a buck and are not at all concerned with your dog’s health. For this reason, we tell you to do your homework. You need to know as much as you can about what you are feeding your dog.

Dogs don’t know any better, of course, and will eat anything at all that is placed before them. Your dog depends on your to feed him the best.

With so much competition, research is not high on a dog food manufacturer’s list so that is why you must be so vigilant. Research takes time and money so you will pay for the better more nutritious foods. Take the time and do your own research to ensure that you have touched all of your nutritional bases.

There are many links to this info and about which breeds on the net. I suggest you put Taurine/dogs in your browser and dilated cardiomyopathy/dogs also in your browser. Another: heart disease/dogs

Mr. Vega: You can prob. find in your vet info--some info on taurine/l-carnitine that would be helpful too!

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/...ct/136/10/2525

[Corky/Max]

Supplements recommended for dogs with heart disease include:
Taurine is an amino acid that is good for the heart. Taurine deficiency may be linked to feeding certain lamb and rice diets, and to feeding very low-protein diets. Studies suggest that taurine supplementation may be helpful for dogs with heart failure even when no deficiency exists. Certain breeds of dogs have been found to develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that is linked to taurine deficiency. Affected breeds include the American Cocker Spaniel, Porguguese Water Dog, Newfoundland and Golden Retriever. Other breeds that may be affected include the Scottish Terrier, Border Collie, Doberman Pinscher, and potentially other large and giant breeds as well. It is less likely that DCM in the Doberman Pinscher and Boxer is related to taurine deficiency, though supplementation will not hurt. Give as much as 250 mg to a small dog, 500 mg to a medium dog and 750 mg to a large dog, twice a day. Taurine is best given on an empty stomach. Note that taurine is abundant in raw meat, particularly heart, but much is lost when the meat is cooked. You may want to add some meat and canned fish with bones (sardines, jack mackerel, pink salmon) to the diet if your dog suffers from heart disease. Cooking reduces taurine, so feed raw or cook lightly. Canned fish is high in sodium, so rinse before feeding. Vitamin B6 is needed for the conversion of taurine, so adding a B-complex vitamin supplement (better than supplementing B6 alone) is also a good idea. Lamb and rice diets may contribute to taurine deficiency, either due to the effect of rice or a lower availability of taurine in lamb.
Carnitine is another amino acid that helps to keep the heart strong. Certain breeds, particularly Boxers, as well as Cocker Spaniels, Springer Spaniels, and Doberman Pinschers, may be affected by dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that is linked to carnitine deficiency, and improves when supplements are given. Even when there is sufficient carnitine in the diet and blood levels are normal, providing additional carnitine may improve cardiac function. For Boxers and Cocker Spaniels who have DCM, you can give as much as 20 to 45 mg per pound of body weight daily. For other breeds, or dogs who do not have DCM, you can give as much as 500 mg to a small dog, 1,000 mg to a medium dog and 2,000 mg to a large dog, twice a day, though less is OK (this supplement is expensive). The free form type is best; never use synthetic forms (D-Carnitine or DL-Carnitine). Note that carnitine is also abundant in red meat (especially beef) and dairy. For senior dogs, a combination of L-Carnitine and Acetyl-L-Carnitine may work best; use together at the rate of 2-3 mg each per pound of body weight. All amino acid supplements are best given on an empty stomach.
Arginine is another amino acid that may provide beneficial effects for dogs with CHF (congestive heart failure) by improving endothelial function and cardiac output, and may result in improved exercise tolerance and decreased dyspnea (shortness of breath).
Fish oil such as salmon oil or EPA oil (not cod liver oil) provides the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA that can be beneficial for heart disease. These omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and improve cardiac cachexia (lean muscle loss/muscle wasting), and may help with anorexia (loss of appetite) and arrythmias. Dogs with heart failure have lower concentrations of EPA and DHA in their blood. Give one 1,000 mg fish oil that contains 300 mg combined DHA and EPA per 10 pounds of body weight daily, preferably split into two doses, for dogs that are symptomatic (you can give half that amount to dogs before they show any symptoms, i.e. one gelcap per 20 lbs of body weight). If you are using more concentrated supplements that contain 500 mg combined EPA and DHA per gelcap, then give one gelcap per 16 pounds of body weight daily. Flax seed oil is not recommended, as the omega-3 fatty acid ALA it contains must be converted to EPA, which happens at a very low rate in dogs, if at all. Be sure to also give vitamin E whenever you supplement with oils: 100-400 mg per day, depending on the size of the dog. Vitamin E it is also good for the heart.
CoQ10 (Coenzyme Q10) is an antioxidant that may be beneficial for dogs with heart disease, particularly DCM. Give up to 1 mg per pound of body weight daily, divided into two doses. Q-Gel or a comparable oil form should be used, it is much more bioavailable than the dry form.
Other supplements that may be helpful include B-Complex vitamins (B-50 or B-100, depending on size of the dog), Selenium (about 1/2 mcg per pound of body weight daily), Vitamin C (250 to 500 mg twice a day), Vitamin E (100 to 400 IU daily), and Garlic (one minced clove for a large dog, half for a medium dog and 1/4 for a small dog). Other antioxidants may also be helpful. Lasix can cause deficiencies of magnesium (which has also been linked to mitral valve disease) and potassium. Two supplements that provide good amounts of magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin B6 are Allergy Research Multi-Vi-Min without Copper and Iron (give no more than 1 capsules to small dogs, up to 3 capsules for very large dogs daily) and Doc's Best Multivitamin (give 1 capsule to small dogs, up to 6 capsules for very large dogs daily).

Diet
Diets for dogs with heart disease should be high in protein, particularly meat, which supplies amino acids that are good for the heart and helps to preserve lean body mass. Beef heart and other heart meats may be particularly beneficial. The amount of fat in the diet may need to be increased for dogs with cardiac cachexia (muscle wasting), or decreased for dogs that are overweight, but should remain moderate rather than low. Carbohydrates should also be reduced for dogs that need to lose weight. See the section on Senior and Overweight Dogs for more information on how best to achieve weight loss.

Sodium should be moderately restricted in early stages of heart disease, and more severely restricted in late stages (severe restriction may actually be harmful in early stages). The use of ACE inhibitors such as Enalapril or Benazepril reduce the need for severe sodium restriction. With early stage heart disease, avoid feeding diets that have over 100 mg of sodium per100 kcals. With mild to moderate heart disease, sodium should be restricted to 50-80 mg/100 kcals in the main diet, and with advanced heart disease, sodium should be less than 50 mg/100 kcals. At all stages, avoid treats and table scraps that are high in sodium, such as baby food, pickled foods, bread, pizza, condiments (e.g., ketchup, soy sauce), lunch meats and cold cuts (e.g., ham, corned beef, salami, sausages, bacon, hot dogs), most cheeses, processed foods (e.g., potato mixes, rice mixes, macaroni and cheese), canned vegetables (unless "no salt added"), and snack foods (e.g., potato chips, packaged popcorn, crackers).

Pills can be given in pieces of fresh fruit, "no salt added" peanut butter, raw or cooked meat (without salt), or low-sodium canned food. You could also use Pill Pockets -- the smell is very enticing, and you can pinch off just enough to cover the pill, making each one last a long time (I used to think they were too expensive because I thought you had to use a whole pill pocket each time you gave pills). I'm not sure how much sodium they contain, but you can use very small pieces to lessen that concern.

Potassium needs may be increased, if you are giving digoxin or diuretics, or decreased, if you are treating with ACE inhibitors such as Enalapril, or with spironolactone. Monitor blood potassium levels and make adjustments as needed.

Note that many prescription cardiac diets are high in potassium, which may be inappropriate depending on the medications being used. Some prescription diets are also low in protein, which is always inappropriate for dogs with heart disease. If you are feeding a prescription diet for heart disease, you can improve the quality of the diet by adding high-protein animal-source foods such as meat, eggs and dairy, but be careful not to add foods that are high in sodium, such as cottage cheese and canned fish. Note that prescription diets are not usually necessary unless needed to reduce sodium in later stages of heart disease. This can also be done by feeding a homemade diet. See Balancing a Homemade Diet for more information. You can look up the amount of sodium in various foods on the USDA Nutrient Database.

If your dog does not want to eat, try feeding multiple small meals, and offer different foods. It's more important that your dog eat something than that he eat the best foods for his condition. Foods that are higher in protein and fat are likely to be the most palatable.

See the following for more info on diet and supplements for dogs with heart disease:
Nutritional Therapy in the Treatment of Heart Disease in Dogs
Nutritional Management of Early Cardiac Disease: ACT with SPEED
Cardiovascular Diseases: Nutritional Modulation
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) Treatment for Rapid Heart Beat
CHF Supplements
Natural Support for Heart Problems in Dogs & Cats
New treatments for congestive heart failure
Nutritional Therapy of Heart Disease
What Supplements Should I Give My Dog with Heart Disease
Cardiovascular Disorders and Heart Healthy Diet
Dietary Taurine Deficiency and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (pages 6-7)


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[Corky/Max]

Foods that are natural diuretics include celery, parsley, watermelon and dandelion leaf. You can also get dandelion leaf tinctures (using the leaf, rather than the root). Dandelion helps replace the potassium that is lost with diuretics. You can feed bananas and apples to help with potassium loss if you are giving diuretics, such as lasix, or you can get potassium pills if your dog develops hypokalemia (low potassium). Side effects of lack of potassium are nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, listlessness and rapid heart beat.

Hawthorne berry is also sometimes recommended, but it may potentiate (increase the effects of) digitalis and other positive inotropic drugs and cardiotonic glycosides, so be sure to ask your vet before using it. When supplementing with herbs, I prefer to use tinctures that are made specifically for dogs, so that the dosage will be correct. Brands that I trust include Animal Apawthecary (see Hawthorn Plus and Senior Blend), Azmira Holistic Animal Care, and Tasha's Herbs for Dogs and Cats.

Another supplement I've seen recommended for heart problems in humans, including cardiac failure, hypertension, angina, endocarditis, pericarditis and edema, is the Aryuvedic herb Terminalia Arjuna. Arjuna seems to work by improving cardiac muscle function and the pumping activity of the heart. Arjuna also benefits cardiomyopathy, or weakening of the lower muscles of the heart. The commonly recommended human dosage is 500mg three times a day, adjust accordingly for the size of your dog (large dog would get adult human dosage, medium dog half the adult dosage, small dog 1/4 the dosage). This herb is one of the ingredients in Bio-Cardio from Thorne Research, which contains all of the above recommended herbal supplements along with a few others. Thorne Research products are often recommended by veterinarians.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) can occur in both dogs and cats if the diet is deficient in taurine . This problem has been discovered in a number of dogs being fed commercial dog foods. See Nutrition and Congestive Heart Failure for more information. Adding fresh, raw meat to the diet would help counteract the potential for deficiency. See Commercial Dog Foods and Foods Used to Supplement a Commercial Diet.for more information on a good diet for your dog. Also see Taurine for a chart of the taurine content in different foods (note how much it decreases when the foods are cooked). Cocker Spaniels, Golden Retrievers and Newfoundlands are some of the breeds that are prone to Dilated Cardiomyopathy that may be related to taurine deficiency. See the following sites for more specific information:
Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (see page 2)
Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Dobermanns
Dilated Cardiomyopathy: a daunting disease of the heart
General Information About Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers
Dietary Taurine Deficiency and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (see page 6)
Taurine status in normal dogs fed a commercial diet associated with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy

Note that Digoxin is among the drugs that Collies and related breeds (Australian Shepherds (including miniatures), English Shepherds, German Shepherds, McNabs, Old English Sheepdogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, Longhaired Whippets and Silken Windhounds) may react to. Also see MDR1 Problem Drugs List with North American Brand & Trade Names for a more extensive list of drugs and their brand names that should be avoided if your dog carries this gene.

Here is the link to this entire information--which you will want to click on to get to some of the headings (pages) that are referred to in this post: Canine Health Problems

There is a lot of other good info there too on many important things!

[Todd]

Hey, take a look at this. Not sure if you've already seen it. It is from the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association relating to low taurine levels resulting in Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the case of Golden Retrievers in specific;

Taurine-Deficient Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Family of Golden Retrievers
Marie C. Bélanger, DVM, MS, Diplomate ACVIM, Mathieu Ouellet, DVM, Guillaume Queney, PhD and Maxim Moreau, M.Sc.
From the Companion Animal Research Group (Bélanger, Ouellet, Moreau), Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, J2S 7C6 and Antagene (Queney), Immeuble Le Meltem, 2 allée des Séquoias, 69760 Limonest, France.


A reversible taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy occurred in five related golden retrievers. An apical systolic heart murmur was the most common physical abnormality. According to fractional shortening and end-systolic diameter on echocardiography, significant improvements (P<0.005) were recorded within 3 to 6 months of starting taurine supplementation. The dogs regained substantial systolic function, and four were weaned off all cardiac medications except taurine. This response to therapy was unusual, because canine dilated cardiomyopathy is generally progressive and fatal.

*Your dog also has a heart murmur right?

I would def. seriously consider supplementing with taurine.

[Corky/Max]

Originally Posted by Todd

Hey, take a look at this. Not sure if you've already seen it. It is from the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association relating to low taurine levels resulting in Dilated Cardiomyopathy in the case of Golden Retrievers in specific;
A reversible taurine-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy occurred in five related golden retrievers. An apical systolic heart murmur was the most common physical abnormality. According to fractional shortening and end-systolic diameter on echocardiography, significant improvements (P<0.005) were recorded within 3 to 6 months of starting taurine supplementation. The dogs regained substantial systolic function, and four were weaned off all cardiac medications except taurine. This response to therapy was unusual, because canine dilated cardiomyopathy is generally progressive and fatal.

*Your dog also has a heart murmur right?YES.

I would def. seriously consider supplementing with taurine.

I am going to give it to both of them--Corky and Max!
QUote from my post--->My pure cocker-Max is getting an x-ray this month and I am afraid he prob. has it too as he does have a mur-mur already. If I had known of this problem I would have given both of them Taurine supplements. I just ordered some (and the L-Carnitine) yesterday to try and delay the inevitable. I just hope enough members and visitors to this forum that have breeds that are more susceptable to this problem will heed the warning and keep their pets (cats too!) supplied with taurine. Once diagnosed with this disease--the outcome is usually tragic--most die in 4-6 months and at the longest-a couple years--BUt that is if they are treated with meds and the taurine may be dramatic in helping if the breed is low in taurine! Some dogs could drop over dead at any time. They definitely have to have meds to try and extend their life and I am hoping with adding the taurine it will do a lot for them as my breeds are the ones who should benefit the most from this supplement! I hope Corky will see the results but it takes 4-6 wks to show results. Right now he is on just the meds: Furosemide and Enalapril. I should have the Taurine and L-Carnitine in about 5 days.

[Corky/Max]

Protein is found in most foods, including carbohydrates. But dogs are carnivores and the best source of protein for them is found in animal products. This would include meat (pork, beef, poultry, lamb, rabbit, fish, dairy and eggs, just to mention a few). Animal based proteins contain a complete amino acid profile needed by carnivores. Plant based proteins are missing important amino acids, including taurine and carnitine. Both of these are important for heart and organ health. Heat also affects the integrity of these amino acids, so they can also be lacking in a processed diet (commercial dog food) or heavily cooked home diets. Do remember to not overcook the meats in homemade diets and do try to add fresh animal protein to dry dog food diets.

[Corky/Max]

Here is a link that I think may tell about another problem that could be the cause of rear leg weakness!

Cat Healthcare: Cats and Blood Clots

[Lara's mom]

Is this condition something that would be picked up during a regular check-up? Now that Bailey is a senior, she gets two check-ups a year instead of the usual one. I haven't seen any of the symptoms that you've described with Corky but, in the very beginning stages, is it possible that there are no noticeable symptoms at all?

[Mr. Vega]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Is this condition something that would be picked up during a regular check-up? Now that Bailey is a senior, she gets two check-ups a year instead of the usual one. I haven't seen any of the symptoms that you've described with Corky but, in the very beginning stages, is it possible that there are no noticeable symptoms at all?

Extremely possible. Much like endocardiosis (MMVD) in small, toy breed dogs, DCM tends to remain somewhat of a mystery. Most signs point toward genetics as this particular disease tends to be overly represented in certain large breed dogs that are "purebred." Taurine deficiency has been described in cats very well and in a few dogs, but, with most commercial dog foods having adequate Taurine levels, this is considered by most cardiologists to be only a small piece of the puzzle.

Early signs you ask? Unfortunately, our little guys are really good at compensating for this disease. Keep in mind this is a disease of the heart muscle cells. When a disease process like this begins, there are compensatory mechanisms in place to make up for the decreased function of the heart muscle cells. This compensation saves them early on, but, USUALLY prevents us from detecting it until the heart is considered "decompensated." Unlike hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (which is commonly described in cats) that is usually characterized by thickening of heart walls, DCM hearts usually have heart muscle fibers that are stretched and the heart wall often becomes thinner and thus loses its strength when it goes to contract. The end result is an overall larger heart, but, with thin, weak walls. The body will respond to this weak pumping by increasing systemic blood pressure and increasing heart rate to make up for the lake of cardiac output.

So, back to the early signs... when these mechanisms fail, you will begin to see loss of appetite, pale gums, increased heart rate, coughing, difficulty breathing, overall weakness, and fainting as well. I'd venture to say that at least 80% (probably more) of the large breed dogs that we catch with this disease are initially presented to their vet with exercise intolerance. "Ol' (fill in whatever dog name) just can't run like he used to. He likes to lay around a lot and he don't play as hard anymore. Kinda lost his spunk." --> All too common.

The exercise intolerance is usually the result of a regurgitation back through the mitral valve (left side) of the heart and it's subsequent pulmonary edema in the lungs. I suppose one could pick it up even early if that individual had a stethoscope and was listening for the murmur. Since I have both a boxer and a doberman (the poster children for DCM), I am always listening to their hearts with great paranoia. Why? I dunno. B/c there's no reversing it...

[Corky/Max]

Originally Posted by Lara's mom

Is this condition something that would be picked up during a regular check-up? Now that Bailey is a senior, she gets two check-ups a year instead of the usual one. I haven't seen any of the symptoms that you've described with Corky but, in the very beginning stages, is it possible that there are no noticeable symptoms at all?

Your vet should know--should check for a heart mur-mur by listening to the heart and other subtle things like 'stroking' the throat to see what kind of cough the dog may have. Max is just at the start but the vet knew he had the mur-mur--a lot of dogs do and not all develop into this condition. Everytime the vet sees my dogs --he listens to the heart and can tell if the heart is getting worse--graded and if keeps getting graded higher---usually would want to do an x-ray to see if heart is enlarging. Actually the vet likes to have the 1st x-ray when there is a suspicion of the heart enlarging so can keep track of how much and how fast the enlargement is progressing. (Costly.)And the constant cough is another bad sign but I am thinking it is a little late by this time as heart enlargement is causing the coughing and gagging.

Not sure if I am answering your questions very well and it is a 'sneaky thing' and can all of a sudden happen and you wouldn't have much to go on before hand in some cases. Am leaving you with this link--May tell in more detail and better than I can.---> Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.