Elderly labrador with possible DCM

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

Richard Carter — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 13:34:56 GMT

our not to reason why.....

in the end only so many options available

Currently have a 10y pancreatitis labrador with VPCs and tachycardia. trying to control the pancreatitis but is also on pimobendan to hopefully keep the myocites going through the next crisis

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

Anthony Dennison — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 11:46:06 GMT

Dog is much improved on pimo. So we'll just keep doing it.

Next Cardiology cert module starts in January and is diagnostics, so I'll probably learn what I'm looking at then.

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

Julian Earl — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 19:08:51 GMT

I've posted about this before but found Pimendoban almost miracle drug for several advanced cardiac failure. dogs first presented as unsteady, marked pallor, some even suggestive of atrial fibrillation that n have shown dramatic clinical improvement with 7-14 days. The AF was not confirmed by ECG but they certainly sounded like it on auscultation and had pulse deficit, plus the above signs. In any event they had severe cardiac disease so I became a big fan of the stuff. HTH?

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

David Mills — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 22:15:44 GMT

DCM can be very difficult to diagnose, even for advanced cardiologists so doubt is natural in these cases. The ESVC have a list of criteria for calling DCM which may be worth looking up. One of the most sensitive measures I find is the sphericity index of the LV.

What was the LA/Ao ratio? Have you done an ECG?

Pimobendan trial would be sensible given your signs. I wouldn't chase the pulmonary hypertension tbh. Pimobebdan can improve that, as others have said.

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

Beats — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 22:07:20 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]possibly worsening a pulmonary hypertension[/quote]

Is pimobendan not in theory of potential benefit to pulmonary hypertension?

I know its a PDE3-inhibitor rather than PDE5-inhibtor such as sildenafil commonly recommended for pulmonary hypertension, but I still think it would be more likely to be of theoretical benefit than theoretical worsening (and of course probably in life neither helps not hinders PH?)

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

Anthony Dennison — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:49:03 GMT

I was a bit concerned about possibly worsening a pulmonary hypertension, but I guess you're right. We'll do a trial treatment and see how we go.

RE: Elderly labrador with possible DCM

Richard Carter — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 08:54:23 GMT

what you hoping for by delaying starting treatment? Think tachycardia significant but with sl anaemia is there a possibility of a low grade bleed somewhere?

Pimobendan still my wonder drug of the decade - so many brought back from the brink - you will know within 4-5 days if improved