Dilated Cardiomyopathy & Atrial Fibrillation

[Clare124]

I’m the proud mummy of 2 Danes, Holly who is a black 6 year old Dane X – she is a rescue dog saved from a shocking home & Stella my beautiful 3 year old Harlequin girl. Stella is a pup from Danedreamer highly blessed (Gollie) & Arndane Awesum Artworks (Elmo) & born on the 06/06/06 (Devils puppy! Lol)

My baby Stella was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy & Atrial fibrillation last year after a trip to the vet for another issue. We have been controlling it over the past 12 months with medication & she has been pretty asymptomatic. In the last month she has started to go a little downhill though. 3 weeks ago her breathing increased from about 29-34 breaths per minute to over 45 breathes per minute (basically panting in her sleep), she also developed a cough which meant fluid had started leaking into her lungs. This all happened on a Friday night & by the morning she wasn’t looking very well at all. I called her wonderful cardiologist Richard Woolley from SARC who came in on his day off to look at her & after hours of x-rays & blood tests we were sent home with a record 10 tablets to give her twice a day!! I’m happy to report she is now looking much brighter & her breathing is back down to about 32 BPM but now her heart has started to fail the realisation that DCM & AF are terminal conditions is really sinking in which is totally devastating.

I was just wondering if anyone else has had experience with these conditions? Apparently Great Danes have the 2nd highest rate of DCM.

I'm just trying to get as much info as I can to prepare myself

Clare

[stormie]

Hi Clare,

Welcome to DOL. I'm so sorry to hear about your beautiful Stella. I have seen a couple of cases of DCM through my work so I know how much of a terrible illness it is.

Why not come into the Dane Thread in the breed subforums - there are lots of knowledgeable dane owners and breeders in there who can offer you support.

[ninahartland]

Hi Clare and welcome

My last Wolfhound had cardiomyopathy and was on medication for about the last year of his life.He was only 6 when he went to the bridge

That's the sad thing about the big guys isn't it, they just don't have a long lifespan.I did have a Dane once though that made it to 13.

Nina