Cardiomyopathy in dogs: Is exercise safe or should it be limited?

Question

I have a doberman with cardiomyopathy and the vet is telling me to restrict activity. This dog is very calm but active and likes to run or walk briskly with people never off leash. I am trying to decide if the quality of his life with exercise is a decent trade of to shortening his life with the heart damage. i know this is a moral question but hope someone who knows dogs can give me some input on a no win situation. Pet's info: Dog | Doberman Pinscher | Male | neutered | 9 years and 10 months old | 80 lbs

Daniel Fonza, DVM · Accepted Answer

Hi there and thank you for using Pet Coach to address your concern. Restricting activity completely is something I only recommend if the dog is severely affected by the heart disease. Regular mild to moderate exercise it actually thought to be beneficial for dogs that have only mild signs or symptoms of heart disease. I think it is ok for you to take Odin on walks and let him run for short periods of time. If you notice he is tired or breathing heavier, stop exercising him and allow him to rest. If he develops signs of severe heart failure, then exercise could potentially push his heart into cardiac arrest and he could pass away from over exercising. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further!

Cardiomyopathy in dogs: Is exercise safe or should it be limited?

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