In a partnership with Doberman owners that may soon span the globe, Prof. Michael O'Grady, Clinical Studies, and research assistant Rhonie Horne are using ultrasound and heart monitors to trace the history and progression of a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

  By mapping the DCM disease process from its early stages to its final fatal ending, the researchers are hoping to find methods to detect it earlier, treat it more effectively and buy valuable time for the dogs and their owners.

  "Finding and treating this condition early can significantly extend the life of the dog," says O'Grady. "That will hopefully allow the owners to adjust and accept the eventual loss of their pet."

  DCM is a genetic disease that causes dilation in the heart's chambers, leading to cardiac dysfunction and death. For roughly one-third of affected dogs, the first and only sign of the condition is when the animal suddenly dies. Even when DCM is diagnosed prior to death, the remaining time is measured in days, weeks or months, but never years.

  Although DCM is found in many breeds, Dobermans are the hardest hit. O'Grady estimates that roughly 50 per cent of the Dobermans in many regions of Canada and the United States are affected.

  His research with Horne began 11 years ago, when they started studying the hearts of Dobermans with ultrasound and electrocardiograms, trying to find crucial heart differences. After thousands of examinations involving hundreds of dogs, the researchers have been able to find subtle clues that allow them to diagnose the condition earlier on in its progression. Early diagnosis leads to early drug treatment, which often results in longer lives.

  DCM isn't restricted just to dogs - it's also the second most common cause of heart disease among humans. Medical researchers and pharmaceutical companies are continually testing new drugs that may aid in its treatment in people, a process O'Grady hopes will also help dogs.

  Unfortunately, his list of promising treatments seems longer than his list of canine volunteers, a problem he hopes to remedy later this year. O'Grady is organizing a program that would involve sending portable ECG recorders to participating Doberman owners and breeders around the world. Once a year, subject dogs would wear an ECG for a 24-hour period while it records about 130,000 heartbeats on tape. The tapes would then be sent back to OVC, where they could be analysed for abnormal beats and compared year after year to trace the progression of DCM cases.

  O'Grady hopes that as the scope of his research increases, so will his chances of finding the best possible treatments.

  "There are lots of drug treatments out there just waiting to be explored, but I need all the 'Dobies' I can get in order to test a drug's potential value," he says. "The better the participation by owners and breeders, the closer we'll get to finding the answers we need."

  This research is supported by OVC's Pet Trust. For information on how to participate in the study, call Horne at Ext. 4047.