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DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY In A Dog

by jschell - November 16, 2019 View Case Report

Hello!
This is My own French Bulldog, 2 year old male neutered. I adopted him from my contractor who's kids were asthmatic/allergic. He is the most active, fiesty, athletic powerhouse. I was shocked to see his echocardiogram showing such a weakness in his systolic function on M Mode and his right atrium And ventricle dilated, left ventricle dilated. Left atrium normal. He has no pleural effusions, no cough, and has normal respirAtion rate. At 9 months of age he had the stenotic nares/redundant palate and laryngeal folds resection surgery so he is breathing great. No snoring. No coughing, no congestive heart failure.

He has DCM! I'm getting it confirmed/checked/second opinion by our local cardiologist in 2 weeks.

I started him on Rx Vitamins for Pets CV Support (it has Hawthorn Berry (standardized to 3.2% vitexin), L-Carnitine (pharmaceutical grade amino acid), L-Taurine (pharmaceutical grade amino acid), Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol succinate), Dimethylglycine (DMG), Magnesium (citrate), Potassium (citrate), Coleus Forskolii, Selenium (selenomethionine)

I also started him on added Omega fatty acids (Eicosaderm)

What herb formula would be good for him, and Dilated Cardiomyopathy?
His tongue color is normal pink, pulses normal.

Thank you!!
Julie

by jschell

November 16, 2019

I was also wondering about adding in Coenzyme Q10 as I heard it is good for cardiac function?

I am excited to start him on TCVM herb formula as well.
Thank you!
Julie

by naturevet

November 16, 2019

Hi Julie,

Hawthorne is a good pick. Dose heavily with that - maybe even give some separately to the supplement you're using. It has reversed cardiomyopathy in a couple of our cases.

Coenzyme Q10 is fine, too. There is no real maximum dose. I would say give at least 60mg, but you can safely double or triple that

With no pulse abnormalities or active points, I would still feel comfortable recommending Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang with added Dan Shen (Salvia). I use about 18 g per 100g of XFZYT. You can add the Hawthorne in there, too, as Shan Zha. Use the same amount.

Lastly, try sedating his GB 34. Even if his pulse is normal, if it feels 'even more normal' after that, then consider concomitant use of Xiao Chai Hu Tang. The formula has several ingredients that interfere with cardiac remodeling (meaning dilation)

Hopefully that helps you out!!

Steve

by jschell

November 16, 2019

Cool! Great ideas. Thank you Steve. I will order these herbs and also report his response to GB34.

It amazes me that he has absolutely no clinical signs related to DCM Not even a murmur!
His resting heart rate is 80 beats/min.

Thank you so much!
Julie

by naturevet

November 16, 2019

Just curious what made you check his heart then?

S

by jschell

November 16, 2019

We routinely do pre-anesthesia ECG- I wanted to do a dental cleaning on him. His ECG had Right Axis Deviation indicative of right heart enlargement Thus, we did chest radiographs next and saw right heart enlargement.

Then, I did an echocardiology in clinic and freaked out at how poor his heart contraction looked and how big both ventricles/right atrium looked. It looked like a big, lazy heart. 80 beats per minute.

I don't know how this dude is so active. He literally runs uphill so fast that I can never catch him and explodes into the air during his mammoth jumping and he chases/barks at any 'bad guy' he sees at the window.

I am excited to see what the cardiologist at Western sees. I'll definitely post everything.

thank you so much!
Julie

by jschell

November 18, 2019

I tried sedating GB34. There was no change in his pulse. This dude is a stable as a rock.

I will order in Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang with added Dan Shen and Shan Zha and start him on that.
I will monitor his pulses and if one day sedating GB34 eventually creates improvement in his pulse, I will add in XCHT.

Thank you!!
Julie

by jschell

November 27, 2019

Holy Moly! Thank you God!!
Kingston was examined by a cardiologist today-- his heart is not enlarged afterall. The interpretation of the original cardiology telemed review was misinterpreted. He has a healthy heart! No DCM seen. Woohoooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its just a big heart but it is normal in relation to his big, muscular body.
This shows that it is always good to get more tests done if physical exam/TCVM exam does not seem to align with the Western interpretation of rads/ultrasound.

His pulses and tongue were normal because his heart is normal.

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!! I am happy I got these tests and happy to have gone through this. Its a good proof that a normal TCVM exam means the patient is normal in Western medicine too!

Thank you so much!!!!
Julie

by naturevet

November 27, 2019

Yay!! Yes, a normal pulse usually does mean there is not as much to worry about as you might otherwise think!

Have a great night!!

Steve

by jschell

November 27, 2019

Awesome!!! Thank you sooooooooo much for your excellent help and support!!
Julie

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