Cardio Myopothy (sp?)

[Ozzie]

As I recall, my local veterinarian did prescribe sota for my dog prior to seeing the cardiologist. It's been a while, but I remember our visit to the cardiologist resulting in a revision to the dosage of the medication.....I think we minimally increased the dosage.

The cardiologist did recommend a Holter monitor, but we never did that as expenses were a concern for me at the time. In hindsight, I'm not sure that was a good or bad idea.

Still, I have to reiterate that the medicine did work and allowed my dog to live at least 3-4 years longer than if I'd done nothing.

JavaCrazy: How is Doc doing?

Bob.

 

[mobrian]

Monday, my approx. 8 year old boxer Buster was diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy also. We are treating him with Sota. Tuesday and Wednesday morning the medicine seemed to be really hard on him. He was very lethargic and having more frequent episodes but they were far less severe. The episodes seemed more like severe dizziness that would make him collapse rather than struggling to breath and actually stop breathing. When I got home from work yesterday he seemed to be back to his normal cheerful self.

I did not take Buster to the cardiologist either but my vet did perform an EKG and will be doing another in a couple of weeks, he is also suppose to be consulting with a cardiologist regarding Buster's case to get some more input. So you can know a little bit about the expense I paid $44 for the 2 lead EKG and the Sota will cost $51 and some change per month. My vet told me to shop around for the Sota because it was expensive but I did not I just purchased it at CVS so it may be cheaper elsewhere. Of course it will also depend on the dosage.

 

[Ozzie]

Mobrian:

I recall a couple of other med.'s that may (or may not) be possibilities for you that were posed as options for my dog:

The first was ateno, which was cheaper than sota. Over time, I ended up purchasing a generic from the world-beater department store known as W-Mart. That drug was called Betapace (a generic) that was, I believe, some sort of a generic equivalent of sota.

Maybe you can ask your vet. about the possibility of a generic med like Betapace. Whatever the case, I wish you the best with Buster.

Bob.

 

[mobrian]

Thanks for the info Bob. I will see how Buster continues to do on the Sota first. I am a worry wart when it comes to changing prescriptions when you have something that works.

Your posts have been very encouraging for me. I hope they have done the same for Theresa (JavaCrazy).

Michelle

 

[Austin's Mom]

If you have a Costco near you the prescriptions are much cheaper than CVS. My Mom got Biaxin there yesterday for about half of what she pays in CVS. You can go to their website and click on pharmacy and get a price list for the drugs you need. Good luck.

Chris & Austin