Project DCM
Ajax Falmarka
At the age of 12 years he involved in the Munich project - Dobermann kardiomyopathie. Throughout his life (just celebrated his 12th birthday) he has never been sick, except of gastric torsion in 10 years. To 6 years he was a top sportsman, before proving him Wobbler syndrom . In October 1st., 2009 at the Munich clinic he underwent examination of the heart (24 hod.EKG Holter, sono, color Dopller, blood tests). During the initial examination he was found to be completely healthy dog. After 2 weeks the results of the Holter test came.
And they sayy: at 24 hod.EKG was measured 24 verticulars extrasystoles (VES). Ultrasound examination was insignificant, but on the basis of one elevated value of heart biomark (kardiales Troponin I) there is a suspicion of occult stage of DCM. We recommend to make a control examination after 3 months.
The results I immediately consulted with a specialist in the CR - MvDr. Roman Kvapil, with whom I agreed on how to continue. For completeness I add that Demon immediately after returning from Germany stopped going on the leg (suspected fractured finger) and suffered from a great pain. Nowadays he is in his original condition and he walks expectally to his appropriate age. As I learned this can also affects the result of his testing. Confirmation or exclusion of DCM Iwill know with complete certainty after control examinations (24 hod.EKG - Holter, blood tests) in 3 months. I firmly believe that this "case" will encourage other Doberman owners to participate in the project DCM - more here.
I certainly hope that the measured vallues will be completely normal in 3 months. But if not, it is important to think mainly about the paradox that he was to the moment a"healthy" dog "and his possible death would be attributed to his high age 12 and more. Demon - Ajax Falmarka was never a dog used in the breed. His father lived 12 years, his mother lived 11th.