Presentation

Signalment:

• Mainly occurs in giant and large breeds
  • In the enalapril trials in the 90’s that recruited dogs with DCM throughout North America, 54% of all dogs with DCM were Doberman Pinschers. Thus, DCM, at present, is more common in the Doberman than in all breeds of dogs combined.
• Also seen in Cocker Spaniels
• Ultimately may occur in almost any breed
• Tend to be middle-aged to older individuals. The exception is a juvenile form of DCM in Portuguese water dogs
• More frequent in males in some studies

History:

• Frequently present for sudden development of dyspnea, wheeze or cough
  • Cough was noted in 72% of dogs at time of presentation for CHF (Bronsoiler J Thesis 2005)
• Also may find:
  • Weight loss
  • Anorexia
  • Cool extremities
  • Exercise intolerance/weakness
  • Syncope – noted in 16% of dogs at presentation for CHF
  • Restlessness at night/orthopnea
  • Abdominal distention
    • Ascites was noted in 14% of dogs at time of presentation for CHF (Bronsoiler J Thesis 2005)
  • Some individuals expectorate a serosanguinous fluid (indicative of severe pulmonary edema and potentially signaling that death may be imminent)
  • Sudden death is common (in the Doberman this may account for up to 30% of cases).
• All the possible findings of congestive heart failure as per the physical examination findings in heart failure
• Arrhythmias, primarily ventricular, are common; also atrial fibrillation.
• Pulse deficits, if an arrhythmia is present
• Systolic heart murmur of mitral regurgitation (due to dilation of the mitral annulus) (PMI at left heart apex).
  • A heart murmur was noted in 82% of dogs at the time of presentation for CHF
  • The median grade of the heart murmur was 3/6
• S₃ and or S₄ gallop sounds are very common in these cases.
  • A gallop was noted in 60% of dogs at the time of presentation for CHF
• Increased lung sounds, tachypnea
• Inspiratory crackles were noted in 33% of dogs at the time of presentation for CHF (Bronsoiler J Thesis 2005)