Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs || Here's What Happened to Don the Labrador

Don is a sweet, 9-year-old Labrador who was rushed to us in a near-critical state last month. He was gasping for breath and had been showing signs of lethargy, exercise intolerance and weakness prior to this acute collapse. These symptoms (among others) can be associated with dilated cardiomyopathy or DCM, which is a cardiac disease in which the heart becomes enlarged, resulting in a decreased ability to generate enough pressure to pump blood effectively.
After putting him on oxygen therapy to help stabilise him while we investigated the root cause, Dr. Leila and team conducted a series of diagnostic tests including x-rays, an ECG and an echocardiogram to understand how Don’s cardiac chambers and valves were pumping blood through his heart, and confirmed a DCM diagnosis. This poor boy had been gasping uncontrollably for 5-7 hours continuously. We administered sedatives to help calm him down along with medication to treat his congestive heart failure. In general, healthy dogs and cats have a breathing rate of 10-35 breaths per minute when resting, and anything above 40 bpm is considered abnormal and worth investigating. When he came in, Don’s respiratory rate was 120 breaths per minute. Fortunately, we were able to bring this down to 60-70 breaths by 4:30 am, and by 8:00 am, Don’s respiratory rate had decreased to a calm 50 bpm… best of all, he was able to sit up and eat his breakfast on his own that morning! By Day 2 (after 40+ hours of continuous treatment), he was back to being himself - walking, wagging his tail, and following us everywhere like a curious, happy boy :) His condition is now being managed with heart medication at home, and he visits us frequently for follow-ups.
As emergency vets, we have seen a great number of cardiac disease cases in both dogs and cats, but the importance of #HeartHealth is often overlooked. The heart is the centre of your pet’s cardiovascular system: It is vital in circulating oxygenated blood to every single cell, from wet nose to wagging tail-tip. If disease interrupts your pet’s normal heart function, their entire body can be compromised, which is why it’s so important to ensure you schedule thorough cardiac checkups at least once a year ❤️‍🩹
If you’d like to schedule a cardiac health checkup or discuss your pet’s history with a Raintree vet, please don’t hesitate to call or WhatsApp us on [phone] / 8830207984.
.
🎵 Music by DLanger