Has anyone any experience of a dog with atrial fibrilation.
Zan, GSD 10 yrs 8 mths has been off colour for few weeks, saw vet - cooking up minor infection -antibiotic shot, picked up a bit then 3/4 weeks later really off food and bit lethargic, up vets last mon- probably teeth in on wed for dental and home wed evening. really being poorly puppy by fri evening, still not eating and very lethargic - couldn't raise a bark at the doorbell. Vet sat morning - different one to befor- took ages going over him and decided his heart and pulse were out of sync so kept him there for ecg. finally went to get him at 8.45pm and saw trace, he is now on digoxine(?) and is little bit brighter but still not interested in food. I was told he could last 2 months or 2 years.
ANY info comments etc please.
Chris

have just had a look on google and come up with this not sure if it is any help?

Don't know of dogs with it, but have know a few people with it. In their cases it was controlled well with warfarin.

HTH
Kat

My husband ended up with atrial fibrillation after his radio therapy and he takes digoxin for it. Not sure if it the same process for dogs but, in order to get the dosage correct, he had to have a blood test to check the level of digoxin in his blood. The test is done before he takes his tablet so they can measure the amount that is still in his bloodstream 24 hours after taking his tablets and then the dosage is adjusted accordingly.

The process is repeated until the optimum dosage is achieved.

As ChinaBlue says some people take warfarin to control it but in OH's case warfarin wasn't an option.

I hope your dog's condition is now under control :)

Just an update on Zan and a 'ta' for the answers.
Vet gave him some additional tabs on Mon (30 Jul) for 3 days then saw him again on Thurs, Zans heart still hadn't slowed.
Vet went away and spoke to Prof in Cardiology at his old vet-school then met me at surgery (which had closed till evening) after lunch to sort out fresh meds. Prof has advised treating him for congestive heart failure even tho he has no cough or noises. He is still not into eating and has a tab twice a day 'an hour befor food!!!' Resorted to buying BIG piece of beef yesterday and cutting it up to hand feed him, he ate 3/4 lb last night but not much else. will have to take out a second morgage or come out of retirement to pay as meds cost about £3 a day -internet prices!! and the beef works out at £2 a lump but will try him on AMP mince if he keeps eating meat. He isn't insured!!!
The vet is being brilliant as Thurs was his day off so came out just to see Zan and only billed me for the meds not a consult.

What dose is he on?  There are lots of sites selling Vetmedin 1.25mgs for about £30 per 1000, 5mgs about £40 per 100.  You do have to be careful buying on the net though, there are plenty of counterfeit drugs around one of the reasons I buy mine from the vet.

Whoops, that should have said £30 for 100 now that would have been a bargain! :)

I think.... if it was me, I'd want an ultrasound on the heart to check for dilated cardiomyopathy with atrial fibrillation.  I'd be suspicious as to whether atrial fibrillation on its own would give the symptoms you describe without a primary condition.  The reason I say that is to be sure it the heart causing the symptoms and not something else.  Notwithstanding, he'll need treatment for the heart anyhow.  DCM is common in the Shep unfortunately. 

I would like to have the full heart tests done BUT as I said he is not insured and the referral & test will be about £700 before any treatment and I just ain't got it. :-(

Isabel, He is on:- Digoxin-0.125mg twice daily, Vetmedin-5mg twice daily, Furosemide-40mg twice daily and Fortekar-10mg once daily.
The prices I have found are similar to what you said, I've been looking on Vetmedic and Hyperdrug(canine chemist) both have stands at Crufts etc and should be fairly reputable. I am holding off getting any yet until the vet settles on what and the long term dosage for him.

With the not eating I am not sure if he genuinely dont want food or if he is trying it on a bit. I do try every feed to sneak in a bit of 'proper' dog food but he just walks off.
Chris (& Zan)