Soli had her latest cardiology appointment yesterday.

In case I haven't mentioned it before some history - and with a long absence from CD I may well not have...

Soli was diagnosed with DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in July '10.  A number of breeds are prone to it - dobes, deerhounds, great danes I think) to name but a few - but dobes get the worst rap from it.  Average lifespan once heart failure occurs in other breeds is another 6-12 months, with some dogs going on for years - I've heard of 6 or 7 years in some case.  The average lifespan post-heart failure in dobes is just 6 weeks :-( No idea why, but they are affected the worst.

Some dogs never get diagnosed - like Soli's litter brother, Gunnar, they suffer "sudden death" syndrome, which is just how it sounds.  Gunnar was playing fetch one day, got halfway back with the ball and just collapsed.  He never made it home.  Since then I've been aware that Soli might develop it, and in Jan 2008 she had a precautionary scan which indicated a high possibility (her heart was slightly rounded, this can be normal but can be an early sign).  In July last year she went for another precautionary scan and got a preliminary diagnosis of DCM; this was then confirmed one month later with another scan and a holter test (a 24 hour test with sensors strapped to the body to get a full picture of the various beats and rhythyms going on).

Since then we had a random trip back in October because of me panicking (she'd been breathing a bit heavier) but still no heart failure; however one of her results (BNP, a hormone that indicates damage to the heart muscle tissue) was way over normal (normal is up to 900; Soli's was 2100) so as far as we were all concerned, heart failure was imminent - it could happen any day.

I - and the staff at Liverpool uni - are thrilled to report that as at yesterday afternoon, not only is Soli not yet in heart failure, but there has been no change in her condition at all since October - and she may even be slightly better (waiting on precise measurements from the ultrasound to be sure)!  It's utterly amazed us all to be quite honest - DCM is vicious is dobes, so for her to be 4 months since her last checkup and have no deterioration is just fantastic :-) :-) :-)

We are back in a week and a bit for another holter test - the only concerning thing were Soli's VCPs (abnormal beats, part of the disease), she has the odd one but when she gets stressed she gets them literally every other beat.  The most we saw wer two at a time, but the holter will tell us if she's having runs of them - if she is, she'll go on to anti arrhythymia drugs to prevent possible fainting episodes or dizzyness.  It is a worry - she's such a stressy dog, so is likely having a lot of these alternate-beat episodes and potentially, runs of abnormal beats.

So that side, may I just say WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Fantastic news, way to go Soli.

That's great news! :-)

I had a dog years ago that had CM. when diagnosed the vet said he was surprised that he hadnt arrested before.  Vet also said he didnt expect him to last more than 6 wks.  Although my dog was on tabs, he lived a fun life for another two years. when he had to be pts his heart sounded gd, he had just had enough of life.

Brilliant news :-)

Thats great news :-)

everyone is rooting for you, Soli--go on, stun the experts :)

DCM really is a nightmare with Dobes. I know exactly how you feel. I heard last week that one of Lottie's litter brothers had died (8 1/2). He had shown no signs of illness, and went for his normal walks the day before. When his owners came down the next morning they thought he was asleep in the armchair. On closer inspection they realised he had died. Of course I'm now paranoid about Lottie and always get my Vets to double check her heart when we go for check-ups.

I've known far too many die at a young age, 6-8 years seems the most common age range for it to rear it's ugly head - it's such an awful condition.

I hope Soli continues with her progress.

It is horrible.  Gunnar was the same, no warning whatsoever - but it did at least give me a heads-up to keep a closer eye (although I knew it was a concern for dobes already).  That was about 6 months before her first screening that hinted she might have trouble brewing.  The screening she had/has was part of the Protect study but once that's finished later this year I'll still be getting all my dobes checked as close to annually as I can.

That goes double for Paige - although Remy's heart was absolutely perfect, Paige's heart showed the same possible early changes back in July as Soli's did back in '08 so I'll be really keeping an eye on her.

Great news for Soli! :-)

Our first Dobermann was best friends with a lovely big male Dobe who lived just round the corner from us. He was always seemingly healthy but went sprinting after a squirrel round the field one day, fell to the ground, and was gone. His poor owner was quite elderly and had to scream for someone in one of the nearby houses to come out and help her get him home :-( I don't know how old he was (I wasn't very old myself and have only heard the story from my mum), but certainly not old bones. I've always assumed that must have been DCM (a PM wasn't done as far as I know).

Certainly the most likely cause sadly, it's awful when it gets them that way :-( I wonder sometimes if that's how Soli would have gone if I hadn't had her precautionary screening done - especially given her results so far, 8 months post-diagnosis and not even a hint of heart failure, even with her BNP level screaming at it being imminent for the last 3 months!

But for now I am basking in the sunlight of really great news and planning the big 1-0 birthday in July - and hopefully, her 10th christmas after that, having been convinced that 2010 was her last I am now (happily) not so sure!

She's not so thrilled - her arthritis has really gone up a gear in the last week or so, and after being held in place for an hour for her echo on thursday, she is incredibly sore today despite already having 100mg of tramadol.  She asked for a walk earlier and we didn't even get 10 yards from the front door before she wanted to go home again (despite having one of her new booties on to keep the worst foot warm).  That's not like her at all so she really is hurting - and grumpy too because she can't charge around badgering the twins (River and Raine) :-P

Luckily she can start the next course of trocoxil in a week so that'll sort that out, thank dog.  Till then she's joining me in floating through the world on tramadol :-P

just to change the subject slightly I hope everyone will wear red on Feb 25th to support the British Heart Foundation day.  :-)

Ooh, thanks for reminding me :-)

Great news Nikita, very pleased to read this! :)

Great news for Soli!

Fingers crossed she'll be back to badgering the twins in no time!

Daisy Dobe feels her frustration, she's just had her cruciate op and is cross that she cant wrestle about with our other 2 24/7 otherwise she gets put in prison (behind the baby gate).

I hope to hear another woohoo! update in 3 months time! and to hear all about preperations for the big birthday celebrations!