Companion Animals

Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs: Welfare and Monitoring

Managing DCM in dogs through early detection and welfare-focused cardiac care.

Key Facts

DCM is the second most common cardiac disease in dogs
Dobermanns, Irish Wolfhounds, and Boxers have highest breed risk
Occult DCM (no symptoms) can be detected by Holter and echocardiography
Pimobendan extends survival and improves quality of life in pre-clinical and clinical DCM

Welfare Considerations

Dilated cardiomyopathy causes progressive cardiac failure with welfare impacts including exercise intolerance, respiratory distress, and sudden death. Early detection through breed-specific screening enables medical intervention before clinical signs develop. Welfare-focused monitoring includes annual echocardiograms in at-risk breeds and prompt treatment when arrhythmias or reduced function are detected.

What You Can Do

Screen at-risk breeds annually with Holter monitoring and echocardiography
Start pimobendan as recommended when pre-clinical DCM is detected
Monitor at-risk breeds for changes in exercise tolerance, coughing, or breathing rate