Dilated Cardiomyopathy

What is dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)?

Dilated cardiomyopathy is an acquired disease that is characterized by a markedly enlarged and weakened heart muscle. In the Doberman it affects mainly the left ventricle and left atrium. It results in electrical abnormalities (irregular or abnormal or premature beats). These electrical abnormalities may result in sudden death (described below) as the very first clue of a problem in your dog. Most dogs experience symptoms of pulmonary edema with respiratory distress. DCM is observed in dogs, cats and humans, as well as a number of other species.

Dilated cardiomyopathy is always rapidly fatal in Dobermans.

What breeds of dogs are affected with DCM?

DCM is more common in large breed dogs than in small breed dogs. However we have observed DCM in a large variety of small breed dogs. In a study that attempted to enroll any dog with DCM throughout North America, more Dobermans were enrolled than all other breeds combined.

The following chart provides a listing of the breeds enrolled with DCM at that time:

Cocker Spaniels 4.1%

Doberman Pinschers 55.7%

German Shepherds 5.7%

Great Danes 7.1%

Irish Wolfhounds 4.3%

Labrador Retrievers 5.7%

Old English Sheepdogs 4.3%

Terriers 1.4%

Others 11.4%

As one can see more Dobermans were enrolled than all other breeds of dogs combined. I take this to suggest that there is more DCM in this breed than in all other breeds combined and to also mean that there must be a genetic predisposition for DCM in the Doberman.

What is the cause of DCM?

Most cases of DCM are called idiopathic. This means we do not know the cause of the DCM. Some cases of DCM are due to heart rate abnormalities such as when the heart rate is too high. Other cases are due to a nutritional disorder such as a deficiency of taurine. This does not appear to be the case in the Doberman.

In people,...