Quote: Kim Winsor

Am beginning to think that, as someone had mentioned, this could be congestive heart failure,
which, although it is essentially a terminal condition, can be slowed down. I've got him eating a
slurry of canned turkey every couple of hours. Still on the antibiotics and anti-inflammtories,
still drinking well. The fever may have been a red herring although I have to wonder what was
behind it.

Armed with this theory, I think it is worth going back to the vet again to try for a diagnosis. Am
willing to spend the money to get him help, but worry about the open endedness of a search for a
cause, financially speaking, in this poor old boy.

I really FEEL for you & your sweet ol' Boy on ALL counts, Kim -- Just keep us Posted if you will, and Please do NOT think that anyone here would Judge you in this Sad situation...

 Quote: Kim Winsor

Am beginning to think that, as someone had mentioned, this could be congestive heart failure,
which, although it is essentially a terminal condition, can be slowed down. I've got him eating a
slurry of canned turkey every couple of hours. Still on the antibiotics and anti-inflammtories,
still drinking well. The fever may have been a red herring although I have to wonder what was
behind it.

Armed with this theory, I think it is worth going back to the vet again to try for a diagnosis. Am
willing to spend the money to get him help, but worry about the open endedness of a search for a
cause, financially speaking, in this poor old boy.

Great Danes are one of the breeds most susceptible to dilated cardiomyopathy, which can be a silent disease until it reaches the stage of causing congestive heart failure. I own Dobermans, and unfortunately, that means I have seen it way too much myself in the last thirty years. That's why many of the symptoms you described concerned me so much for CHF. The fever, of course, would not be a symptom, and that makes me wonder if there is more than one thing going on. It sounds like the fever has pretty much resolved?

I understand what you are saying about the financial implications of trying to obtain a diagnosis. Even a simple chest x-ray, though, can tell you the size and shape of the heart and whether there is fluid in the lungs. (From my experience, just listening with a stethoscope is not necessarily diagnostic for CHF.)

Again, I'm not an expert in any way, just relating my personal experiences. If it does turn out to be CHF or some other heart condition, you're right, there are drugs that may give him some relief and a little extra time. Best of luck to you. Let us know how it goes.

Kim,

I think anyone who would or might question your tending to your dog, and the decisions you make, has little dog experience.

I wish you the best.

Mike