Cao de Agua Portugues
Mandated by PWDCA
Juvenile DCM · Jugendliche dilatative Kardiomyopathie · JDCM in Portuguese Water Dogs
This is a severe, inherited heart disease where the heart muscle becomes abnormally enlarged and weakened, preventing it from pumping blood effectively. It is an autosomal-recessive condition that primarily affects young Portuguese Water Dogs and Toy Manchester Terriers. In Toy Manchester Terriers, the disease is linked to a mutation in a cardiac potassium channel, which is a protein essential for maintaining a normal heart rhythm.
Symptoms typically appear very early in life, usually within the first few weeks to months. Owners may notice rapid breathing, severe lethargy, and a sudden loss of appetite, which can unfortunately progress quickly to sudden cardiac arrest.
There is no cure for this condition, and treatment is limited to supportive care to manage symptoms. Supportive therapy and diagnostic testing typically cost between 500 and 2500 EUR, but the disease is unfortunately fatal within a short period.
Estimated range of typical treatment cost. Actual cost depends on severity, clinic and region.
More conditions affecting the General / metabolic.
