Dilated cardiomyopathy is a serious progressive heart disease in dogs causing congestive heart failure and requiring long-term management to maintain quality of life.
Advanced DCM causes welfare impacts from exercise intolerance, respiratory distress from pulmonary oedema, weakness and syncope. Sudden cardiac death occurs in some breeds particularly Dobermanns before overt signs develop. Welfare priorities include screening high-risk breeds with echocardiography and Holter monitoring, starting pimobendan in the preclinical phase for Dobermanns, and managing congestive heart failure with diuretics and ACE inhibitors.