NalaCleo Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 My beloved Boxer Nala turned 5 on the 6th December. 2 weeks later she went off her food and started being very lethargic, was always short of breath and struggled on our nightly walks. One night she only made it a few houses up and just stopped and would go no further, my Husband had to carry her home. I made a vet appointment for the morning and was greeted by her that morning with a stomach about to pop it was so bloatd looking. Well after blood tests and a sample from her stomach which was deemed to be fuill of a liquid substance it was thought there was something wrong with her heart. We did an x-ray the next day and it showed her heart to be nearly double the size it was meant to be. We have since taken her to a specialist where she had an ultra-sound done and an ECG. It was then confirmed she had dilated cardiomyopathy and the vet gave her approx 6 months ;) The ultra-sound also showed a stomach ulcer which is why she was not eating properly. In one month she had lost 6 kilos ;) The good thing is since starting her on the medication for the ulcer she has nearly regained her full eating habits so should hopefully start putting on some much needed weight. She is now on 7 tablets a day 2 x Vetmedin for her heart 2 x Frudix and 1 x Fortekor for her fluid in the stomach 1 x Losec for her stomach ulcer 1 x vitamin B The specialist also suggested I go to the health store and get Taurine 500mg and L-carnitine 1000mg Food wise I have been recomended Science Diet H/D but am yet to buy it and as she already has food allergies it has been hard trying to find a good diet for her to stick to. We have been told we have to reduce her salt intake to less than 0.3% which also restricts the foods we can give her. It is such devastibng news as she is our baby and I cry just thinking about losing her too soon. She is the reason I started Boxer rescue and because of her I have rescued and rehomed neary 30 Boxers in the last 2 years. We are not allowed to exercise her at all and must try to keep her quiet as much as possible. This is so heart breaking as she was such a playful bouncy lively girl... I so miss her cheekyness If anyone else has or is dealing with a dog with cardiomyopathy I would appreciate any other advice or recomendations on anything else to help my now named "million dollar baby" Nala: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KOE Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 Whatever you do dont let them put her under anesthetic. Riley died at 13 months under anethetic and unbeknowns to us he had it and never woke up. Harsh as this may sound love her while you can, by heart crys for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NalaCleo Posted February 10, 2007 Author Share Posted February 10, 2007 Whatever you do dont let them put her under anesthetic.Riley died at 13 months under anethetic and unbeknowns to us he had it and never woke up. Harsh as this may sound love her while you can, by heart crys for you Yes thank you, I am treating her every day as if its her last I dont even want to think about that day, the vet said with heart conditions we will just probabbly find her one morning or afternoon already gone Yes I thought that about the anesthetic, I wouldnt even let them sedate her for the ultra-sound ! hehehe Although she was so drained at the time she didnt need it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bommy Posted February 10, 2007 Share Posted February 10, 2007 (edited) Daniella from Apex Boxers (NZ) is moving to NSW this year she has just bought at great expense to herself a holter monitor & has been shown how to use it, she then forwards the tests to the CM specialists for results (probably a bit late for you now, but if you want to keep monitoring her levels it is handy to know) I would email her if you are interested, also if you know the breeder of your girl you should also contact them & let them know that she has been diagnosed . Chief was a grade 1 or 2 with CM & we treated it with meds & regulated his diet & exercise & he lived until 9 & died of unrelated issues, yet others I know have had their Boxers die unexpectedly from it (ie by not knowing they had it & go for a large walk & the animal has died after the exercise). At least by knowing she has it you can plan her quality of life around it, may you have many happy months ahead with her. Edited: wrong emoticon Edited February 10, 2007 by bommy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NalaCleo Posted February 11, 2007 Author Share Posted February 11, 2007 Daniella from Apex Boxers (NZ) is moving to NSW this year she has just bought at great expense to herself a holter monitor & has been shown how to use it, she then forwards the tests to the CM specialists for results (probably a bit late for you now, but if you want to keep monitoring her levels it is handy to know) I would email her if you are interested, also if you know the breeder of your girl you should also contact them & let them know that she has been diagnosed . Chief was a grade 1 or 2 with CM & we treated it with meds & regulated his diet & exercise & he lived until 9 & died of unrelated issues, yet others I know have had their Boxers die unexpectedly from it (ie by not knowing they had it & go for a large walk & the animal has died after the exercise). At least by knowing she has it you can plan her quality of life around it, may you have many happy months ahead with her. Edited: wrong emoticon Thanks for the info regarding Daniella. I will contact you if needed. She did not come from a Breeder (which we regret immensley as she has had health problems her whole life (not that we would change her for the world) and I guess some of them come from not being from health tested parents) but yes I would have contatced them if she had. Yes we are praying we get as long a time as possible with her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxagirl Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 I'm really sorry to hear this What are the signs of cardiomyopathy? Bondi hasn't been as hyper and energetic as she used to (although it is since barkly died, so thats what I have attributed it to) and on her walk the other day (although it became unexpectly boiling hot while we were walking) she didn't want to walk anymore, and kept stopping in the shade (might have just been because it was hot..) Is there any difference in the sound of their breathing etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 NalaCleo, I am so sad for you and your girl. I understand how terrible this must be. Shall keep my fingers crossed. I'm sorry, I don't have any personal experience with cardiomyopathy - thank God - after about 35 years of owning and loving boxers, I've never had one with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jemappelle Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) I have nothing to add constructive but want to say how sorry I am for you, your husband and Nala. Sending big hugs Edited February 11, 2007 by jemappelle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RottnBullies Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 My heart goes out to you both I've had 2 Dobes go with It, both very sudden and one died in my arms after collapsing at home :D Give her lots of love, spoil her rotten, and I wish you get the longest possible time with her Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NalaCleo Posted February 11, 2007 Author Share Posted February 11, 2007 I'm really sorry to hear this :D What are the signs of cardiomyopathy? Bondi hasn't been as hyper and energetic as she used to (although it is since barkly died, so thats what I have attributed it to) and on her walk the other day (although it became unexpectly boiling hot while we were walking) she didn't want to walk anymore, and kept stopping in the shade (might have just been because it was hot..) Is there any difference in the sound of their breathing etc? The 1st signs were really her just becoming less and less energetic. Then she started to cough up flem now and then (which was the fluid from her liver getting in her lungs due to the heart not pumping the blood properly), and then to her not being able to run at all. Her heart was beating out of her chest and she was strugling to breathe. Then her stomach swelled up due to the excess fluid. What the vets found most disturbing was how sudden it came on. She was given a thorough health chack last year at her vaccination and heartworm injection and her heart was beating just fine then. When I took her to them when all this happened her heart was beating over time and the 1st xray showed it to be nearly double the size. The muscle that out lines the heart has become so thin and loose that it causes the heart then to expand and become floppy. This then creates the valves to stretch and they are not able to close so only half the blood gets pumped out forward and the rest washes back into the liver and stomach. This excess blood on her stomach lining is what then caused the stomach ulcer. I would just suggest to always get the vet to check her heart beat whenever possible. On a funny note, now that she has started eating properly again the dreaded flatulence has come back again gotta love those silent but deadlies !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NalaCleo Posted February 11, 2007 Author Share Posted February 11, 2007 Thank you to all for your sincere well wishes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doghouse Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 I have only seen it first hand in humans and that was when they were waiting for transplant. Very sad Love your doggie everyday, cant imagine how hard it must be for you.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TangerineDream Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 My heart goes out to you both I've had 2 Dobes go with It, both very sudden and one died in my arms after collapsing at home Give her lots of love, spoil her rotten, and I wish you get the longest possible time with her I agree wholeheartedly..treat every day as special - love and spoil her.. I lost a Dobe also to this and it is devastating...but quality of life is the most important thing.. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 My pitbull Jake was dxd with dilated cardiomyopathy. It was a short heartbreaking loosing battle for him. BUt I would recommend that you consult with a reputable holistic vet as well ( I use All Natural vet care at Russell lea) Complementary therapies are usefull ( note emphasis on complementary here). Read up as much as you can about it ask heaps of questions and above all love your girl. HUgs Helen Note: it is a very common genetic disease of dobermans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted February 11, 2007 Share Posted February 11, 2007 (edited) A Dane Breeder in Sydney has just lost one of her young adult Danes to this, he also had all his health tests done including a heart test and had recieved his ET title the year before. If you like I can pass you on her details, the passing of her dog was only recent so I don't know if she'd be up to talking about it yet. Edited February 11, 2007 by sas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NalaCleo Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 I have only seen it first hand in humans and that was when they were waiting for transplant. Very sad Love your doggie everyday, cant imagine how hard it must be for you.. When the specialist came to speak to us after the tests he said basically if she were human she would be in surgery right now having a heart transplant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NalaCleo Posted February 12, 2007 Author Share Posted February 12, 2007 A Dane Breeder in Sydney has just lost one of her young adult Danes to this, he also had all his health tests done including a heart test and had recieved his ET title the year before.If you like I can pass you on her details, the passing of her dog was only recent so I don't know if she'd be up to talking about it yet. Yes thanks even just an email address and maybe I can just email her and ask her for any tips and advice also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bommy Posted February 12, 2007 Share Posted February 12, 2007 (edited) What the vets found most disturbing was how sudden it came on. She was given a thorough health chack last year at her vaccination and heartworm injection and her heart was beating just fine then.When I took her to them when all this happened her heart was beating over time and the 1st xray showed it to be nearly double the size. The muscle that out lines the heart has become so thin and loose that it causes the heart then to expand and become floppy. This then creates the valves to stretch and they are not able to close so only half the blood gets pumped out forward and the rest washes back into the liver and stomach. This excess blood on her stomach lining is what then caused the stomach ulcer. I would just suggest to always get the vet to check her heart beat whenever possible. Checking a heart beat will only ever pick up a defined murmur, the only true way to test for CM is to holter / doppler the dog. This site: http://americanboxerclub.org/boxer_cardiomyopathy.html discusses the issues of CM in boxers The best way to evaluate a boxer for arrhythmia is to use a 24 hour ECG called a Holter monitor. While an ECG can pick up arrhythmias if they are very frequent, the Holter is much better at doing so. It will tell you if your dog has VPCs, whether they are frequent or infrequent, single or multiple, from a single focus in the heart or from several sites. It also discusses the fact that other illnesses can also give off false readings of CM. Such as infections, cancer etc. Have a read & speak to your vet about it as well. Edited February 12, 2007 by bommy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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