Cardiomyopathy

[Darren King]

Our 5 yr old cocker bitch was diagnosed as having cardiomyopthy yesterday and I would like to hear from anyone else who has had to go through this with their pet. We would really just like to know what to expect and any advice that you may be able to offer.

Thank You

Darren King                    

[Jane S]

Sorry to hear about your girl Darren  My Mum's Spinone had dilated cardiomyopathy which was managed with drugs, diet & limited exercise for a number of years (he eventually died of cancer, not his heart trouble). I also used to trim a Cocker with DCM & she too managed with the condition for a good many years but I think it depends on how severe the condition is as to what the prognosis is. There is an enormous amount of information on the disease on the internet so if you type "Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy" into a search engine like Google, you will find plenty of sites come up.                    

[Cathy]

I do know  not an awlful lot, but would like to try give you some positive words. One of my mums old dogs had it, and she lived for 6 years after being diagnosed at 6 years old.

She was on a diet, and had special drugs througout these years. The excrsize had to be reduced to a certian amount. But Sophie enoyed a happy and lengthy life.

As Jane says look at some of the websites. It must be very worrying for you.


Cathy                    

[LindaW]

It must have been devastating news Darren but maybe it not as serious as you might think because with the correct treatment she could live a happy normal life for a good many more years.  I hope so.                    

[Darren King]

Thank you for responding so quickly to my message and for your encouraging words. The vet who carried out the initial scans had only recently qualified and her prognosis of 2 weeks to 2 months (but no more!) has been questioned by our regular vet who says he would be suprised if Libby wasn't with us for at least another year. Still not good news, but as we are just about to move to the countryside, it would be nice to think that she will live out the rest of her days with the scent of rabbits, pheasants, ducks and deer strong in her nostrils, though I bet she never catches one.
The cocker my family had when I was a kid used to chase Tornado jets along the beach in northern Scotland when they were doing low level flight practice, barking and jumping up into the air. They REALLY made her cross. She never caught one of those either!!

Thanks again

Darren                    

[PennyB]

Just a thought, but if you've got insurance can't you get another opinion from a specialist in this area.                    

[Jane S]

That sounds more hopeful Darren & Penny's suggestion of a second opinion from a cardiologist is a good one. Both my Mum's Spinone & the little Cocker I used to trim were only given months to live but both went on for years, not months & were still able to enjoy life, albeit a little less energetically than before                    

[Tori]

My oldie Lace has Dilated cardiomyopathy and she has just turned 12yrs and was diaganosised 3 yrs ago.  I also trim another cocker that  has it a was told that he wouldn't make it past 18mths and he's now 4 1/2 :shock: and still going strong. And my friend also had a Pointer which again was told wouldn't make it past a year and she sadly lost him last year at 7yrs.  So there is always hope and as long has you are careful and don't let them over excert themselves or let them gain any weight, esp  round chesat area you will give them a good chance

HTH

Torie and co X                    

[annemie]

Hi Darren,

You can call me a specialist about owning a cocker who is suffering from Cardiomyopathy.

We have 2 cockers who have it both. The oldest one, Joep, gets every day 1 pill. And he is doing fine. He is almost 6 now. We know it from him since July last year.

The youngest one, Joris, is very Ill. He's now 2 years and 4 month old. We know it from him since March last year. He has all the medicaments what is useally for dogs with DCM. He also gets human medicins.

Last Summer he was very worse. In November the cardiologist told us that he only have to live for a few weeks. He is still with us and had a 3 good months. The last 4 weeks he's getting worse.

I can give you the advice to give your dog also taurine and carnithine. The dose is: taurine 1 gram each day and carnithine 3 gram each day.

Mostly cockers with DCM have a taurine defect. That's causes the DCM.

I have a website about our dogs and DCM but it is still in Dutch, I hope that I have it in a few weeks in English also.

If you have any questions don't hesitate and asked them, I hope that I could help you a little bit.                    

[bluegirl]

Hi,
Sorry to hear the news, I have never had a dog with this condition, but I did have one that was really poorly with kidney disease and in desperation whilst also following conventional medecine I followed some herbal treatments from an a dog book someone had given me with amazing results. The vet couldn't believe the improvement to her blood results the had halved themselves in a month.
The book is called The complete herbal handbook for dog and cat by Juliette de Bairacli Levy and can be bought from Amazon.co.uk
This is what she recommends for heart weakness and disease
Rosemary and honey.   An infusion of Rosemary , one level teaspoon of pure honey being added to every tablespoon of the Rosemary infusion. Rosemary herb has all of the three medicinal properties necessary in heart treatment;it is tonic, cleansing and a nervine. Honey is the only known heart stimulant and restorant which is not a drug and which is not habit forming Danelion leaves and watercress should be given daily in the fed. Laxatives are also important.

Hope this is of use. It can be used as well as usual medcation and there are no side effects from herbs.
From Karen                    

[Allison]

What is Cardiomyopy ?                    

[annemie]

What is Cardiomyopy ?

Cardiomyopathy is as the heart is enlarched and the pumpfunction is to low. The organs don't get enough blood. Most dogs will not live long after the diagnose. It's a awfull disease.

The dogs cann't play as a healthy dog, they are short of breath, they can't walk long, and if they held fluid they are awfull short of breath.

They loose appetite. I hope in a few weeks that my website is in English there I write about our boys and their disease                    

[annemie]

Hi,
Sorry to hear the news, I have never had a dog with this condition, but I did have one that was really poorly with kidney disease and in desperation whilst also following conventional medecine I followed some herbal treatments from an a dog book someone had given me with amazing results. The vet couldn't believe the improvement to her blood results the had halved themselves in a month.
The book is called The complete herbal handbook for dog and cat by Juliette de Bairacli Levy and can be bought from Amazon.co.uk
This is what she recommends for heart weakness and disease
Rosemary and honey.   An infusion of Rosemary , one level teaspoon of pure honey being added to every tablespoon of the Rosemary infusion. Rosemary herb has all of the three medicinal properties necessary in heart treatment;it is tonic, cleansing and a nervine. Honey is the only known heart stimulant and restorant which is not a drug and which is not habit forming Danelion leaves and watercress should be given daily in the fed. Laxatives are also important.

Hope this is of use. It can be used as well as usual medcation and there are no side effects from herbs.
From Karen

Hi Karen,

Thank you for your reaction. I will use the honey, the Rosemary I don't dare because you didn't wrote if it's save. Once somebody told us that we must give Hawthorn. When I contacted the supplier, they told me that you mayn't give it if you give the dog already, digoxin. He could die, because Hawthorn brings down the heartbeat.                    

[bluegirl]

Hi,
All the herbs recommended by Juliette are safe to use . You can get all the herbs from your local high street herbalist shop for less than 50p (in Wigan). To make an infusion you will need one large handful of the fresh herb (or two heaped tablespoons dry herb ), put the herbs in a pint of cold water, cover well, then simmer until near boiling point, do not boil. Then stand, off heat, to brew for 4 hrs. Do not strain. Pour into a clean jar , covering this with paper ( not waxed ) or cotton cloth against dust, etc. Make a fresh infusion every 3 days, 2 or less days in hot weather.

The dosage is usually 2 level tablespoons of the infusion morning and night, and always at least 30 mins before a meal.

As quoted in Juliettes book  "Unlike chemical canine remedies, all herbal medicines are harmless and therefore there is no fear of an overdose."

I hope this helps.

From Karen                    

[annemie]

Hi,
All the herbs recommended by Juliette are safe to use . You can get all the herbs from your local high street herbalist shop for less than 50p (in Wigan). To make an infusion you will need one large handful of the fresh herb (or two heaped tablespoons dry herb ), put the herbs in a pint of cold water, cover well, then simmer until near boiling point, do not boil. Then stand, off heat, to brew for 4 hrs. Do not strain. Pour into a clean jar , covering this with paper ( not waxed ) or cotton cloth against dust, etc. Make a fresh infusion every 3 days, 2 or less days in hot weather.

The dosage is usually 2 level tablespoons of the infusion morning and night, and always at least 30 mins before a meal.

As quoted in Juliettes book  "Unlike chemical canine remedies, all herbal medicines are harmless and therefore there is no fear of an overdose."

I hope this helps.

From Karen

Thank you, so I can go out a look where I can buy it and make it for my boys. I hope that they have profit from it.