Only 8 Yrs Old No Heart Left To Beat, dcm Options

[donoharm]

had 2 neopolitan mastiffs,male and female mates,lost male in jan. to dcm.8 yr. female shortly after same thing.had done everything to save male and had left over experimental heart med from state vet schoolr.female went into chf and vet did not think she would survive that day.started her on his old med and she responded.that was 6 months ago.(have to get it from canada)anyway,shes not suffererd just cant do a lot of walking or playing without restingbut still sleeps with me every night(i made littlle steps so can get on the bed)tonight just walking out to go pee at end of driveway and back she started staggering to left and collapsed to floor,you could see her trying to stay alert but her head fellto the left also and she passed out ,convulsed a couple times and lost bladder control.i coud feel her heartbeat and it was probably about 300 like when i first took her in.i kept talking to her and rubbing her and thinking this is it.a minute later she lifted her head and then rolled up on her chest.i sat there with her about 20 min. and color came back to her g%%s her heart had slowed to her norm and she made it into house.shes been back to her norm ever since but im scared her heart is reaching the end ofbeing able to beat
just took her out only a few steps happened again real time now1116
what do i do cant face losing her tooim all alone i wish it was me not her.

[Furry's mum]

I lost my best beloved cat, Furry, to heart disease on 23rd July 2006. Is dcm cardiomyopathy, as that's what Furry had. But we had managed to keep her alive & enjoying life for 21 months after her initial collapse. She was in an oxygen tent & on a diuretic drip at the vets for 24 hours then.
I would ask your vet if there are any other medications she could have. Furry was on diuretics, Beta-blockers, & 2 other heart tablets, plus aspirin. I also found that if she was having a bad day we had to keep her in one cool room so that she didn't over-tax her heart, & no climbing stairs.
But in the end all of this couldn't save her, as the disease was progressive & her heart gave out. I held on for too long before calling the vet out to have her pts.
So hope she pulls through, & you have lots more time together.
Judith

[LittleGirl's...]

I just read your note. How are you doing? Is she making it through? Do you think there are any other medications to try?

Let us know how things are! Sending prayers,
Kathy

[Daisy's Mommy]

If you have access to a large animal medical center or a University animal center, there might be an animal cardiologist who could offer some help. One of the dogs of my childhood died of misdiagnosed, badly treated heart disease at the age of 9. Her mother, with the same heart problem, but with a cardiologist lived to 16.

If it is too late, I am sorry for your loss. If not, don't give up hope. In any event, you have clearly given your pets wonderful lives, full of love and happiness. That is what matters most. All lives end, not all lives have joy.


Daisy's Mommy

When they leave us, our pets are safe in God's care. His love is by far better than any that we can give or even imagine.