I had dreamed of owning a Great Dane since I was a kid, and bringing home Zander was my dream come true! I never could have imagined that at just three years old he would be diagnosed with DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy. DCM is heart disease, where essentially the heart gets too big, and ultimately fails.

There is no cure, so early action and medication is key to providing them the best life possible! There are breeds predisposed to the condition including:

Great Danes, Dobermans, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds, and St. Bernards

Echocardiogram, a heart ultrasound, is the best way to diagnose this disease . Typically dogs are screened at the age of 2 but it can be later in life as well!

We are now celebrating 3 years post diagnosis! Zander goes in for routine echocardiograms and holters every 6-9 months, and is on daily medication. Identifying the disease early, and intervening with medications has made all the difference for us. When he was initially diagnosed we were given 18-24 months, and every month past it is celebrated ?

Help us spread awareness about DCM, so that our big dogs can continue to love us with healthy big hearts ??

If you have any questions about our journey or need support, feel free to contact us on our instagram page @zander.thegreat