Hiya im new to this forum so hello to evryone,
i have just had my dog to the vets as he had a swollen stomach and was coughing, i was shocked to find that they suspect he has cardiomyopathy, he has fluid on his stomach but not round his heart. thay have sent a sample off and he has to have a heartscan on tuesday, he also has diuretics for the fluid,and vetmedin for his heart, i am devasteated at the prospect of loosing him as he is only a 3 year old springer. on the web most sites say he will only live for about a year, im so upset. . has anyone got any advice for me please.

There is a member on here who had a springer with cardiomyopathy - heaveymolly. Hopefully you'll get some very useful responses soon. I am unbelievably sorry to hear about your situation.

Hi ime so sorry to hear this, it really is an awful disease, that is very young monty my springer was 6 when he was diagnosed with it. Unfortunetly montys wasnt diagnosed till he went to collapse so was very advanced, he was given 4 days to live.

He was on frusemide and vetmedin both very good drugs and excellent when working together.

How severe is it how many tablets does he take per day, how is his tolerence to exercise?
Try not to read on the web, i did and so wished i hadnt.

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hiya,
it has only just started but its not confirmed yet until he has the heartscan, he is on 4 5mg vetmedin tablets per day and 4 diuretic tablets for the fluid, he has been fine up until the start of this week, he doesnt run about as much as my other springer did, but we always thought he was just lazy, he doesnt look that ill, it was just the coughing and the fact that his belly was swollen which is why i took him to the vet, i would never have thought it wud of been this at such a young age, im wondrin now if its come from his blood line.

Yes it is genetic, we was very worried that harvey our eldest now montys brother 18months younger could have got it although no signs and he was tested and he hasnt thankfully. Keep a check on the colour of his gums thats a good indication of how well he is doing at that moment, especially look when he is exercising.
I did say try not to trawl the web too much, he sounds in early stages like i said montys was very advanced and with the correct meds he lived for 11 months, the web sites do frighten you so just be led by your vet.
Ime suspecting the vet is thinking this as he will have listened to his heart it normally the left side that is effected, the left ventricles all 4 pumping chambers was effected with monty and his heart was very enlarged on the scan, ime saying this as a comparison to yours as i think you want to try and forget the time limit you have read.
The cruel thing is is when they get it young and especially a springer they cant bound about like springers do and their mind is still young and active, but please even on a good day dont let him bound around, he needs his walks but not the chasing around,monty couldnt go for walks at first after collapse but when the meds stabalised him his walks had to be built up very slowly,it is just as dangerous for their hearts to just tick over as well, but you will get used to what he can do on some days and what he cant do other days, the breathing pattern and the gum colour is a good indication also if you press the gum and count how long it takes for the colour to come back that will show you how efficient the blood is pumping (the capillary refill). Do watch him carefully in this hot weather.
Do keep me informed of how he is doing and results from the heart scan and if you need any more information or my experience of a particular stage do either come on here or pm me. good luck.xxx

Sorry would just like to add, have you spoke to the breeder if thats possible because it is genetic and if the breeder can get in touch with the owners of his litter mates, to let them know this has come up and not to mate from either dog or bitch. The chances are at 3 years they might not have either mated a bitch or studded a male.
Do look at his diet as well.

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hiya again and thanks for the advice,
i have just been to see the vet as she wanted to check how he was overnite, she was very pleased with him as his heart was racing yesterday and today it has slowed down a lot, his fluid is also coming away as well, he seems a lot brighter today she told me to keep him out of the sun, he had his vaccination 4 weeks ago and his heart was fine so she sez it is only early stages, i am going to contact the breeder wen i get it confirmed, they breed show dogs that compete in crufts so they need to know, when i bought him i did see his parents and his granmother and all were well at that time. I will l et you know what happens on tuesday with the scan, its good to talk to sumone who has experienced it so thanx again xx

It sounds like the drugs have kicked in, ime so pleased. This disease in a breed that its not typical with like the springer can just throw up randomly. Keep his diet low sodium and yes please do keep me in touch. Good luck for tuesday. xx

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