Lad is a beautiful Labrador and a much-loved patient here at the Veterinary Centre. He first came in for being off colour with a swollen tummy. He had a full investigation in which he was found to have a heart that was too large. While it would be nice to think that he had a large heart because of all the love he had to give, unfortunately Lad had a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the second most common heart condition in dogs and the most common in large breed dogs.

Cardiomyopathy is defined as degeneration of the heart muscle. As a result of this degeneration, the muscle becomes thinner, particularly the muscles of the left ventricle which do the hard work of pumping blood around the body. The pressure of the blood inside the heart causes these thin walls to stretch like a balloon resulting in a much larger heart.

In most cases the cause of DCM is unknown. Giant and large breed dogs of middle to older age are predisposed to developing DCM. Some breeds, such as Dobermans and Boxers are predisposed to inheriting a genetic form of DCM. There can be nutritional causes of DCM in diets deficient in taurine and there has been an increase in cases in dogs on gluten-free diets.

Because his heart was not doing the job it was supposed to, Lad’s energy levels had reduced, and he had built up some fluid in his abdomen. These as well as some other signs such as falling over, and coughing can be common signs of heart disease in dogs.

There is no cure for DCM. Lad will need to take it easy and be on heart medication for the rest of his life. Since being on his medication, Lad is doing very well. The fluid in his abdomen has resolved and he is loving his farming life. We can also attest that he knows how to do some energetic tricks when a treat is on offer.