Very helpful trainings for any dog:
For training on puppy/dog biting [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068K5Zlph9U)
For training on early socialization [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7cPE-2wNw)
For training on becoming a good leader [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntS570VFZ0)
For all newly adopted dogs, check out the [3-3-3 rule](https://pethelpful.com/dogs/The-3-3-3-Rule-Setting-Your-Rescue-Dog-Up-For-Success).
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pitbulls) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Oh, wow. I just read up on the condition. No wonder you're having a hard time coming to terms.
My profound sympathies.
My only advice is to spend as much time as you can with him. When I had a dog diagnosed with bladder cancer (really poor prognosis for most dogs, usually less than a year), I just told people that if he wasn't welcome, I wasn't going.
Pats to your pretty boy!
I’m so sorry. Did they prescribe medicine? Did they refer you to a cardiologist? My dog was diagnosed in January, so I’ve done lots of research and she’s even had some improvement
They kept him overnight (and maybe one more night) because he needed to be on oxygen, get an ECG and hopefully some of the fluid off his lungs. They are starting mexiletine for an arrhythmia but not sure yet what other meds will be on board.
Ask them about putting him on a taurine supplement. In case you want to look up vetmedin and ENALAPRIL and speak to the dr about those medicines. Good luck and sending positive thoughts
Thank you, he has a follow up in 7 days and I was going to ask about taurine and L-carnitine. In the meantime will give him salmon oil on his food, he’s on vetmedin, lasix and mexiletine.
Thanks! Brought him home this morning 🥹
https://preview.redd.it/gj9q1eq15dad1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=355e19b9f9a14e77698120d1440ccc9543cbadc4
https://preview.redd.it/079ex8p2ktbd1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df939de230d1b29469a0463e8032cf181b3f027b
doing great on his meds, 1 week in :)
I went through this with my boy and once he was on medication, he did really well. He was in heart failure by the time we discovered his DCM. He had rapid breathing, lethargy/exercise intolerance, swollen abdomen, basically all the symptoms. Once we got him on medication and switched his diet, he stabilized and you actually would never have been able to tell that he had it. We had a really great year with him and saw real improvements in his DCM! Unfortunately cancer took him in the end, but not DCM! I think if it weren’t for cancer he would still be here.
I treated every day that I had with him as a gift and really savoured our time together. I am so sorry you are going through this and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to who has been through it.
Thank you so so much. I’ve been researching (and intermittently crying) today. Learning more and hearing from all of y’all is grounding. Do you have a specific kibble rec? I was looking at Purina Pro Plan Cardio Care but plan to ask the Vet.
I am in Canada so our options were limited. We used Royal Canin Cardiac. My boy got super picky about food and I’d often end up topping it with fish oil and sometimes ground moose meat to encourage him to eat it but he did really well on it. I’ve heard good things about purina pro plan cardiac care! We unfortunately did have him on a grain free diet prior to finding out about the DCM and when we saw the vet cardiologist, he thought it might have been diet related but he couldn’t say for sure.
If you can get in to see a vet cardiologist, I highly recommend it! Your boy is beautiful by the way! What is his name?
I would ditch Purina completely & permanently. Try orijen or if it too much maybe acana.
Purina is not here to help dogs. They're here to help vets (make money). Take it or leave it just a tip. Good luck w him & thanks for helping him
All the sympathy to you, and to anyone reading with a dog on grain-free food, now is the time to switch off it. No real benefits, and a pretty clear link to DCM.
yeah grain-free has been hard to avoid for a while now, so no shame to anyone feeding it to their dog. It's almost hard to believe it's bad when half the food is grain-free.
I’m kind of ignorant to this, but what’s a great food that’s not grain free? My wife and I are looking for something very good. Our pittie has sensitive skin so we been doing some ‘food just for dogs’ and hills.
Personally, our pittie has a very sensitive stomach. Grain allergy (seems to be mostly corn) but also can't have too high a protein percentage or he gets loose bowels. We have to balance out stuff that's low corn and high protein to find something that works - for him, we've found Kibbles and Bits works well. I think it really depends on each individual dog's sensitivities and gut health as to what will be best for them
I'm glad to hear it's not prescription kibble that causes it. I am guessing the link you mention is why when I asked my vet a couple years ago (before the need for prescription kibble!) for advice on what to feed, she said, "Anything that is not grain free."
Yeah in the past couple years, they’ve zeroed in on the cause being a diet high in peas/beans/potatoes, eg all the stuff they use to replace grains, so the prescription food is most likely fine (and definitely better thought out than most other foods). Are they on the prescription kibble for skin issues?
There is not a clear link with DCM and a grain free diet. What seems to be a better indicator is peas, lentils, legumes, chickpeas and sweet potato. And even this is not clear.
My dog was diagnosed in January and I still continue to feed her grain free minus the foods I just listed and she has improved each of her past two visits. I’ve done a lot of research not this, not just reading what large companies put out there
Read further down and we’re saying the same thing. Grain-free foods tend to be full of the things you mention to sub out the carbs. And while the link isn’t 100%, it’s strong enough to make the switch.
Yes, somewhat the same thing. But dogs can eat grain free, there is not enough evidence to support that eating grain free is the reason. There was actually a lawsuit filed to the company that put this claim out there. Not the best with linking on here, but you can google it.
It’s the amount as they are
Replacing the grains with the above foods. They aren’t bad, but there is more of a link to DCM because they are grain replacement. Dogs don’t need grains. They need Whole Foods that have taurine.
Its the *high amount* of legumes, peas, etc in the food that is the problem. Not the actual foods themselves. I don't think sweet potatos are much of a problem themselves.
Ooh okay I see, it’s when these foods are basically the main ingredients in the food being feed and then they are getting to much of it! Thank you for clarifying
I think so! It’s got some peas/potatoes pretty far down the ingredient list but the main carbs are oatmeal, rice and barley so it’s probably fine. Never hurts to ask a vet though, they’ll know best.
Here's a spot of good news: I took my mastiff into the vet after she lost a noticeable amount of weight in the course of a month despite still eating typically and not getting any more exercise than normal. My vet and the specialists I saw both concluded that she had DCM, and that it had advanced very quickly, since she had seemed perfectly healthy the last time she had been in (I take my dogs to the vet somewhat regularly for allergy issues, staying on top of vaccinations, ear infections, nail trims etc). And while they prescribed 2 medications to hopefully help mitigate it to some extent, it was unlikely she'd live longer than another 4-6 months. I was understandably heartbroken. I put her on those meds, and she lived another year and a half before it progressed to advanced heart failure. If you can afford to, get your dog on the medications your vet recommends, and it may work much better than expected and slow the progression, keeping your furry friend around for longer and much more comfortable.
I'm sorry to hear about your dog's diagnosis. I went through the same thing with my guy around Christmas. We switched to Purina Pro Plan—despite the recent controversy, it's a reliable choice. There are some excellent Facebook groups with tons of information on DCM that you might find helpful.
If your dog isn't already on medication, it's crucial to get him started as soon as possible. We were told we might have only 6 months with our dog, but we got 7 and change. He suddenly went into arrhythmia and passed away last Sunday, even though he was at the vet and considered stable and doing great just a week prior.
There are many success stories, even for dogs in later stages of heart failure. I truly believed my dog would make it another year or so, but it was his time. My best advice is to cherish every moment, hope for the best, and stay vigilant despite what the tests may show.
Dude, my sincerest sympathies. My heart goes out to you and your pup. If your vet didn’t give you a script for vetmendin, ask them about it. It really makes a difference.
I lost my boy in May to DCM. He made it a year and a half from his initial diagnosis (he was in heart failure before we even knew). The most important thing I could tell you would be to cherish every moment with them that you get. Even the most mundane. I canceled social visits to be with him simply because I didn't want him to be alone. In the end I knew it was coming but I saw it as my best friend was no longer suffering. My heart absolutely breaks at the thought of you having to deal with this.
Our bb was diagnosed with DCM about 6 months ago. He was referred to a canine cardiologist and prescribed meds that helped improve his condition. Your boy is beautiful and now that you have the diagnosis you can do everything in your power to help him 🙏
I'm really sorry to hear about your dog's diagnosis. It's tough when something like this comes up unexpectedly, especially when you're already feeling guilty about checkups. I hope you can cherish the time you have left with him and make the most of every moment. Hang in there, and remember you gave him a loving home and a great life these past 15 months.
Very helpful trainings for any dog: For training on puppy/dog biting [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=068K5Zlph9U) For training on early socialization [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J7cPE-2wNw) For training on becoming a good leader [click here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QntS570VFZ0) For all newly adopted dogs, check out the [3-3-3 rule](https://pethelpful.com/dogs/The-3-3-3-Rule-Setting-Your-Rescue-Dog-Up-For-Success). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pitbulls) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Oh, wow. I just read up on the condition. No wonder you're having a hard time coming to terms. My profound sympathies. My only advice is to spend as much time as you can with him. When I had a dog diagnosed with bladder cancer (really poor prognosis for most dogs, usually less than a year), I just told people that if he wasn't welcome, I wasn't going. Pats to your pretty boy!
Thank you, yes he started having symptoms about 48 hours ago, went to the ER last night and I’m barely holding it together.
Please post whenever you need a shoulder. I will look out for your posts.
I’m so sorry, please keep us updated
I’m so sorry. Did they prescribe medicine? Did they refer you to a cardiologist? My dog was diagnosed in January, so I’ve done lots of research and she’s even had some improvement
They kept him overnight (and maybe one more night) because he needed to be on oxygen, get an ECG and hopefully some of the fluid off his lungs. They are starting mexiletine for an arrhythmia but not sure yet what other meds will be on board.
Ask them about putting him on a taurine supplement. In case you want to look up vetmedin and ENALAPRIL and speak to the dr about those medicines. Good luck and sending positive thoughts
Thank you, he has a follow up in 7 days and I was going to ask about taurine and L-carnitine. In the meantime will give him salmon oil on his food, he’s on vetmedin, lasix and mexiletine.
Sending healing vibes both of your way
Thanks! Brought him home this morning 🥹 https://preview.redd.it/gj9q1eq15dad1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=355e19b9f9a14e77698120d1440ccc9543cbadc4
❤️❤️
https://preview.redd.it/079ex8p2ktbd1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=df939de230d1b29469a0463e8032cf181b3f027b doing great on his meds, 1 week in :)
Great to hear! BOOP!
I went through this with my boy and once he was on medication, he did really well. He was in heart failure by the time we discovered his DCM. He had rapid breathing, lethargy/exercise intolerance, swollen abdomen, basically all the symptoms. Once we got him on medication and switched his diet, he stabilized and you actually would never have been able to tell that he had it. We had a really great year with him and saw real improvements in his DCM! Unfortunately cancer took him in the end, but not DCM! I think if it weren’t for cancer he would still be here. I treated every day that I had with him as a gift and really savoured our time together. I am so sorry you are going through this and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or just need someone to talk to who has been through it.
Thank you so so much. I’ve been researching (and intermittently crying) today. Learning more and hearing from all of y’all is grounding. Do you have a specific kibble rec? I was looking at Purina Pro Plan Cardio Care but plan to ask the Vet.
I am in Canada so our options were limited. We used Royal Canin Cardiac. My boy got super picky about food and I’d often end up topping it with fish oil and sometimes ground moose meat to encourage him to eat it but he did really well on it. I’ve heard good things about purina pro plan cardiac care! We unfortunately did have him on a grain free diet prior to finding out about the DCM and when we saw the vet cardiologist, he thought it might have been diet related but he couldn’t say for sure. If you can get in to see a vet cardiologist, I highly recommend it! Your boy is beautiful by the way! What is his name?
Thank you for the insight! His name is Beans :)
I love that! Sending love and strength to you and Beans!
I would ditch Purina completely & permanently. Try orijen or if it too much maybe acana. Purina is not here to help dogs. They're here to help vets (make money). Take it or leave it just a tip. Good luck w him & thanks for helping him
Spoil him rotten, and give him the absolute best life.
All the sympathy to you, and to anyone reading with a dog on grain-free food, now is the time to switch off it. No real benefits, and a pretty clear link to DCM.
Yeah I never fed him grain free but his previous owners (he was found as a stray) potentially could have. Still a good PSA for everyone to know.
yeah grain-free has been hard to avoid for a while now, so no shame to anyone feeding it to their dog. It's almost hard to believe it's bad when half the food is grain-free.
I’m kind of ignorant to this, but what’s a great food that’s not grain free? My wife and I are looking for something very good. Our pittie has sensitive skin so we been doing some ‘food just for dogs’ and hills.
We stick with Purina ONE True Instinct, our dogs seem to love it and it's *not* grain free.
Personally, our pittie has a very sensitive stomach. Grain allergy (seems to be mostly corn) but also can't have too high a protein percentage or he gets loose bowels. We have to balance out stuff that's low corn and high protein to find something that works - for him, we've found Kibbles and Bits works well. I think it really depends on each individual dog's sensitivities and gut health as to what will be best for them
I'm glad to hear it's not prescription kibble that causes it. I am guessing the link you mention is why when I asked my vet a couple years ago (before the need for prescription kibble!) for advice on what to feed, she said, "Anything that is not grain free."
Yeah in the past couple years, they’ve zeroed in on the cause being a diet high in peas/beans/potatoes, eg all the stuff they use to replace grains, so the prescription food is most likely fine (and definitely better thought out than most other foods). Are they on the prescription kibble for skin issues?
For dental issues. Teeth gel, prescription kibble, and a Whimzee a day. We seem to finally be winning!
Nice! Glad that’s working
There is not a clear link with DCM and a grain free diet. What seems to be a better indicator is peas, lentils, legumes, chickpeas and sweet potato. And even this is not clear. My dog was diagnosed in January and I still continue to feed her grain free minus the foods I just listed and she has improved each of her past two visits. I’ve done a lot of research not this, not just reading what large companies put out there
Read further down and we’re saying the same thing. Grain-free foods tend to be full of the things you mention to sub out the carbs. And while the link isn’t 100%, it’s strong enough to make the switch.
Yes, somewhat the same thing. But dogs can eat grain free, there is not enough evidence to support that eating grain free is the reason. There was actually a lawsuit filed to the company that put this claim out there. Not the best with linking on here, but you can google it.
Can you elaborate?? Are you saying that legumes, lentils, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes are a cause of DCM potentially?
It’s the amount as they are Replacing the grains with the above foods. They aren’t bad, but there is more of a link to DCM because they are grain replacement. Dogs don’t need grains. They need Whole Foods that have taurine.
Its the *high amount* of legumes, peas, etc in the food that is the problem. Not the actual foods themselves. I don't think sweet potatos are much of a problem themselves.
Ooh okay I see, it’s when these foods are basically the main ingredients in the food being feed and then they are getting to much of it! Thank you for clarifying
My dog is on blue buffalo true solutions skin and coat care. Is that a good food for pitties?
I think so! It’s got some peas/potatoes pretty far down the ingredient list but the main carbs are oatmeal, rice and barley so it’s probably fine. Never hurts to ask a vet though, they’ll know best.
Ty, I will do some more research, he deserves the best
Here's a spot of good news: I took my mastiff into the vet after she lost a noticeable amount of weight in the course of a month despite still eating typically and not getting any more exercise than normal. My vet and the specialists I saw both concluded that she had DCM, and that it had advanced very quickly, since she had seemed perfectly healthy the last time she had been in (I take my dogs to the vet somewhat regularly for allergy issues, staying on top of vaccinations, ear infections, nail trims etc). And while they prescribed 2 medications to hopefully help mitigate it to some extent, it was unlikely she'd live longer than another 4-6 months. I was understandably heartbroken. I put her on those meds, and she lived another year and a half before it progressed to advanced heart failure. If you can afford to, get your dog on the medications your vet recommends, and it may work much better than expected and slow the progression, keeping your furry friend around for longer and much more comfortable.
Thank you for sharing, glad to hear a positive outcome.
I'm sorry to hear about your dog's diagnosis. I went through the same thing with my guy around Christmas. We switched to Purina Pro Plan—despite the recent controversy, it's a reliable choice. There are some excellent Facebook groups with tons of information on DCM that you might find helpful. If your dog isn't already on medication, it's crucial to get him started as soon as possible. We were told we might have only 6 months with our dog, but we got 7 and change. He suddenly went into arrhythmia and passed away last Sunday, even though he was at the vet and considered stable and doing great just a week prior. There are many success stories, even for dogs in later stages of heart failure. I truly believed my dog would make it another year or so, but it was his time. My best advice is to cherish every moment, hope for the best, and stay vigilant despite what the tests may show.
Thank you for sharing, and sorry for your loss. Would you advise monitoring anything in particular at home such as resting respiratory rate?
Dude, my sincerest sympathies. My heart goes out to you and your pup. If your vet didn’t give you a script for vetmendin, ask them about it. It really makes a difference.
I lost my boy in May to DCM. He made it a year and a half from his initial diagnosis (he was in heart failure before we even knew). The most important thing I could tell you would be to cherish every moment with them that you get. Even the most mundane. I canceled social visits to be with him simply because I didn't want him to be alone. In the end I knew it was coming but I saw it as my best friend was no longer suffering. My heart absolutely breaks at the thought of you having to deal with this.
Our bb was diagnosed with DCM about 6 months ago. He was referred to a canine cardiologist and prescribed meds that helped improve his condition. Your boy is beautiful and now that you have the diagnosis you can do everything in your power to help him 🙏
I’m sorry that you and your baby are going through this, hugs to you both ❤️
I'm really sorry to hear about your dog's diagnosis. It's tough when something like this comes up unexpectedly, especially when you're already feeling guilty about checkups. I hope you can cherish the time you have left with him and make the most of every moment. Hang in there, and remember you gave him a loving home and a great life these past 15 months.
Thank you for your kind words, it means a lot.