Ginny
New member
Here's an article that every breeder and OWNER should be aware of. Also, a description of what I saw with my 7 year young, Duncan, prior to his demise yesterday. Hopefully, this will raise awareness of this awful disease. When we echo/doppler prior to breeding, they need to look for DCM also. The testing should be repeated every few years to make sure the breeding stock hasn't begun to show signs of it.
Prior to this, he was absolutely fine. His symptoms 4-5 wks. ago were totally innocuous. After his post meal rests in the kennel, he would stand by the door, look at me, and have no desire to come into the house - strange. After being called, he'd run to me and take a treat. I thought he was arranging for more attention and food. He increased his drinking, woke me up for about 3 nights to go outside, and had loose stools. Off to the vet we went. His blood panel came back normal. We did a giardia test, urine sample, and sent blood to Michigan State for a thyroid panel - nothing. Vet found nothing when she listened to his heart. The middle of the night awakenings stopped, as did the loose stools. I mentioned to the vet that he'd gained weight, but it didn't seem important. On a couple of walks, he was dragging with his head down. I thought he'd injured his neck and put him on Metacam. He seemed better after a few days on the NSAID so I stopped it. My husband said he was fine while I was at the National. I now know that the weight gain was from the fluid building up, as was his lethargy. My poor boy couldn't get enough oxygen. Yesterday, he vomited once (clear with a little foam) and started panting. I checked his temp. 102.2, checked his stomach which was massively distended, did the acupressure point massage for bloat, and then rushed him to the vet. The vet also thought it was bloat until the x-ray showed otherwise.
http://www.ufaw.org.uk/DILATEDCARDIOMYOPATHYNEWFOUNDLAND.php
Prior to this, he was absolutely fine. His symptoms 4-5 wks. ago were totally innocuous. After his post meal rests in the kennel, he would stand by the door, look at me, and have no desire to come into the house - strange. After being called, he'd run to me and take a treat. I thought he was arranging for more attention and food. He increased his drinking, woke me up for about 3 nights to go outside, and had loose stools. Off to the vet we went. His blood panel came back normal. We did a giardia test, urine sample, and sent blood to Michigan State for a thyroid panel - nothing. Vet found nothing when she listened to his heart. The middle of the night awakenings stopped, as did the loose stools. I mentioned to the vet that he'd gained weight, but it didn't seem important. On a couple of walks, he was dragging with his head down. I thought he'd injured his neck and put him on Metacam. He seemed better after a few days on the NSAID so I stopped it. My husband said he was fine while I was at the National. I now know that the weight gain was from the fluid building up, as was his lethargy. My poor boy couldn't get enough oxygen. Yesterday, he vomited once (clear with a little foam) and started panting. I checked his temp. 102.2, checked his stomach which was massively distended, did the acupressure point massage for bloat, and then rushed him to the vet. The vet also thought it was bloat until the x-ray showed otherwise.
http://www.ufaw.org.uk/DILATEDCARDIOMYOPATHYNEWFOUNDLAND.php