Dilated cardiomyopathy is a serious heart muscle disease affecting large breeds, causing heart failure and significant welfare suffering without appropriate management.
Dogs with DCM experience exercise intolerance, respiratory distress, and collapse from heart failure. The preclinical phase (before heart failure) may be prolonged, and Holter monitoring enables detection before clinical signs appear in predisposed breeds. Early treatment with pimobendan during the preclinical phase significantly delays onset of heart failure and improves welfare outcomes. Dogs in congestive heart failure experience severe respiratory distress that requires urgent veterinary intervention. Welfare-focused management prioritises early detection and prompt treatment to maximise quality of life.