Greetings from Canada

KLS · 01-02-2011

Hello everyone!

I am the proud owner of two naughty English Springer Spaniels Millie 11 & Milo 10. In recent weeks our Milo has been diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. He was in Intensive Care for a few days and is now home. Hoping to learn about how best to manage this disease process, as well as meeting other dog owners.

Thanks:smile:

CorkyMax · 01-02-2011

I lost my Corky 6 mons. ago because of this disease--It was too late by the time symptoms appeared (coughing)--His heart was a time and a half as large as it should of been and very flabby. He was gone in about 6 months from time of diagnosis. I gave him 3 dif. meds (One of which I think did him in sooner--kidneys failed for one thing.) and supplemented with taurine and a B50 vitamin among other things. Max--my cocker spaniel has it also but hopefully his was caught in time to do better by him--I supplement him with taurine. I get another x-ray this spring to see if his heart is still enlarging--It was barely noticeable when I had him checked with the 1st x-ray last Fall. I will not go into more detail in this post as I am going to give you links on heart disease and dilated cardiomyopathy and also 'the story' on my Corky. I will say here though that Corky being a cocker/golden retriever mix and Max being a cocker--were/are the 2 most prominent breeds to not be able to make enough (if any) taurine --which causes this disease. If I had only known this earlier, I would of been supplementing with taurine right from the start! I don't know what meds your dog is on but if I had it to do over again---I don't think I would of given the diltiazem--maybe have tried the digoxin. All these drugs are dangerous but what can you do!? I think I would monitor the blood work oftener than the month the vet did.--esp. after giving diltiazem--It was only 3 weeks and the blood work was way off.---Make sure electrolytes are checked in this blood work too!!

Here is a link (ironically before I knew About Corky) that tells about heart disease: Heart Disease I am going now to retrieve other links about this disease and about my Corky--so check back in this post as I will be adding these links here!

Here is the link About My Corky: Update on my Corky
Sorry to take so long--I had to read the whole thread and of course I started bawling. You can see pics of my Corky and Max in my album on my profile page. I just adopted Sami--golden retriever/cocker mix about a month ago---Still have pics to take left on the camera and then get developed before I put pics of her in here She is about 10 yrs. old---Think Corky led me to her.
Will go see if I can find the other link I am thinking of--Be back here!

KLS · 01-02-2011

Thank you so much for your reply, your post was very informative! On 13th December Milo just had a cough. We went to our vet who completed an examination and thought it was just kennel cough and was treated with Antibiotics. Milo exhibited no other symptoms. On Christmas day he went into respiratory distress and we took him to the ER, they admitted him and treated him for Pneumonia. Three days later he was home, and went into cardiac failure within 12 hours. He was admitted to ICU, had an EKG, echocardiogram etc and was officially diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). He is currently home and being treated with Benazepril 5mg twice daily; Pimobendan 5mg twice daily and Furosemide 40mg three times a day. I have some concerns about his Potassium levels on this high dose of diuretic.

My other springer has had a Grade 2 Heart mumur confirmed by an echocardiogram. I think it is time for her to have a recheck!

CorkyMax · 01-02-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLS

Thank you so much for your reply, your post was very informative! On 13th December Milo just had a cough. We went to our vet who completed an examination and thought it was just kennel cough and was treated with Antibiotics. Milo exhibited no other symptoms. On Christmas day he went into respiratory distress and we took him to the ER, they admitted him and treated him for Pneumonia. Three days later he was home, and went into cardiac failure within 12 hours. He was admitted to ICU, had an EKG, echocardiogram etc and was officially diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). He is currently home and being treated with Benazepril 5mg twice daily; Pimobendan 5mg twice daily and Furosemide 40mg three times a day. I have some concerns about his Potassium levels on this high dose of diuretic.

My other springer has had a Grade 2 Heart mumur confirmed by an echocardiogram. I think it is time for her to have a recheck!

Here is the other thread I wanted to show you! Make note that Mr. Vega at this time is a 'going to school to be a vet' and so his answers are right on!--> Dilated Cardiomyopathy (Heart Disease)
Hope you noticed that there are 8 pages to the thread on my Corky that I just did in my 1st post. And there are 2 pages of posts in this last thread.

Keep us posted on how your Milo is doing and all the particulars that seem to help, etc. It is good to have as much info (and hands on experience)on this so we can help others who may have this problem in the future--I wish I had known about the lack of taurine in these breeds--And Mr. Vega had said that the dog foods now a days have added taurine--BUT a lot of them still haven't as I checked it out. I would sure make sure I was feeding a dog food that had it in!!! And wondering if there is enough added to the ones that have started putting it in their brands. You have one of the breeds that like mine are needing this addition!!----Mainly spaniels and golden retrievers---And some of the larger breeds also--Think Boxer is another noted one!

Want to add--Make sure to check out all the links that are in the posts that are in these threads for more info.