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Enlarged heart

Sent to Pet Experts July 18, 2006 3:38 p.m.

My dog a great dane has been diagnoised with a enlarged heart? They have put him on medications but they don't seem to be helping. My vet was an EKG to tell her if that meds are working, isn't there another solution. I really don't want to put him through all that stress. He is between 7-9 years old, we don't know b/c he was a Great Dane rescue. What are are alternatives and does it make sense at his age to continue to test?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on July 18 2006 at 3:40pm

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $8

Answer
July 18, 2006 4:03 p.m. (25 minutes and 0 seconds later)

REPLIED

An EKG isn't really stressful just so you know that. At worse its just attaching some electrodes and turning on a machine to track how the heart is running. But there are new instruments available, which the vet can just hold at the animal's side to get an EKG reading - with no wires from machine to dog.
Things I would ask before agreeing to the test would include what will be done to the dog during the test (ie find out if its the new equipment your vet uses), and if you do the test will that change the treatment the dog is given.
This site has info on dane heart disease including the inherited disease of cardiomyopathy and links to more sites on the topic
http://www.gdca.org/health/cardio.htm
Hope this helps you!

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Reply to Nancy Holmes
Sent July 18, 2006 4:08 p.m. (5 minutes and 46 seconds later)

but does it make sense to continue treatment for a 9 yer old great dane. He is currently on lasix, enalapril, sprionolactone, and he is not doing any better. What will the test be able to tell us. It is not that I don't want to spend the $, but it is expensive and I haven't gotten a clear answer on what the test will determine, other than if the meds aren't working---couldn't we adjust them without the ekg and won't we need to do another one in a few months to see if it is working.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
July 18, 2006 4:15 p.m. (6 minutes and 47 seconds later)

REPLIED

I agree with you about the true value of the test. As the owner you should be able to request clear answers from your vet about what would be changed in the dog's treatment if you do it. Plus if they feel a med adjustment will help why they don't just want to do that to see if it works? those are reasonable questions to ask them and if they will not answer you I'd find another vet to work with.
If you are not working with a cardiologist that might be another choice and this site may help you find one
http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx
My feeling is that if the test will not change treatment protocol based on results or that the same information could be gained by adjusting meds then there is no need to do the test.
I would press your current vet for clear answers on these two questions - what will this do to make treatment better, and can we just adjust drugs and see if that works!

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30+yrs pet vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior & training, responsible breeding, small animal care

Reply to Nancy Holmes
Sent July 18, 2006 4:21 p.m. (5 minutes and 46 seconds later)

I don't know that the med adjustment would work--I guess that is my question to you. If this is the only way to cure or even help my dog so be it--however, the links you gave me seem to indicate that is a fatal disease.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
July 18, 2006 4:25 p.m. (4 minutes and 30 seconds later)

ACCEPTED

It is a fatal disease. But the question is how soon will it be fatal. The meds extend your time with the pet but with enlarged hearts in dogs there really isn't a 'cure' as such.
I've had many danes over the years and 9 is a good age in a breed where many have passed by age 6. I've had some go over 11 though.
Its a great breed with this huge flaw that they just never live long enough.

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30+yrs pet vet care & nursing, rescue, behavior & training, responsible breeding, small animal care

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