i have a male dogue de bordeaux who was diagnosed a year last august.the vet only gave him months to live so he has exceeded all expectations.the problem is our insurance was cancelled after 12 months so now we have to pay.but we cant afford the £200 a month so we have halved the medication.my boy looks to be swelling a lot under his belly.what happens next?

Hi, I'm a Registered Nurse, and so what I'm going to describe is my knowledge of what happens to people with Cardio- Myopathy. I have no experience of animals with this condition.

As you no doubt already know, cardio-myopathy is a disease of the heart muscle. It renders the heart incapable of pumping adequately. The muscle enlarges and becomes floppy, and does not move enough blood to keep the body adequately supplied. The backlog of fluid ends up lying in the peripheral tissues, and is seen as swelling of the limbs, pitting odaema. Fluid also collects in the lungs, and gradually the sufferer is unable to breathe properly, the fluid gets in the way of the oxygenated blood, which would normally be carried around the body by the pulmonary vein.

As you know, there are treatments available, but without that, there will quite quickly come a time when the sufferer will become breathless, with only minimal exertion and then unable to mobilise.

My only sorry suggestion is that you release your boy from this existence when he begins sliding down the slippery slope. Better a day too early than a day too late. Please don't let him suffer. Bless you all.
Dawn R.
Edited to add, even with treatment, ultimately, a heart transplant is required in humans, a choice not available to animals.

thank you for your reply,i understand what is happening but what i worry about is my vet says(and he is a heart specialist)that he will just drop dead without suffering.butwhat if he is suffering now,i would never forgive myself.on the other hand i dont want to put him down if he is happy enough

Sounds like he could be retaining water now. He does need the correct treatment, I would suggest you look at getting treatment from a PDSA or something similar that may help with the cost.
Dawn.

so if he had the fluid drained he would be ok again

Sadly it's not as simple as that, it never is is it. I think you must face the facts. Of course you are going to be distraught, you are in an unenviable position.Even if you spent a £1000 a day on your dog, this condition is terminal.
Even full drug therapy has it's limitations, you would reach the end of the road at some point.

Sorry. XXXXX
Dawn R.

thanks for your full support,kind words and compassion at this stressfull time.i wont let him suffer i'll make sure of that if it is the last thing i do.i will let you know how he goes on.