My old Boxer was put down in the middle of February, following a long life and what we believed to be Degenerative Myelopathy. We were also aware of the possibility of cancer, following history in her lineage, and a geriatric panel done on her in October.
The vet that put her down took her heart as a specimen for a study, and while the dog’s chest was open, confirmed widespread tumors in just about everything.
All that is background for my question.
The progression of the DM went from occasional dragging paws to near total impairment in about 8-9 months, where we understand the normal progression to be about 2 years. Is it possible that a tumor was the cause of the neuro impairment? Or is it possible she had DM, but the cancer accelerated the deterioration?
I’d suspect that demyelinating diseases in animals is similar to the human equivalent, in adult humans.
The time line cited in multiple sclerosis is an average, but each case progresses at its own rate. I’ve cared for people who expected to have a year or two walking who were unable to feed themselves in less than 9 months.
You didn’t say if he had tumors in his brain or spinal column. If not, then it was probably the demyelination progressing faster than expected.
This mirrors my experience with Degenerative Myelopathy in canines.
We don’t know for sure. When the vet took the heart, we asked them to do a quick and dirty look for signs that the cancer had spread from the pancreas, but that we did not want a full necropsy. The answer we got was that it was everywhere, including the lungs, and if we were not putting her down at that time for the neurological problems, in another month we would be because she’s have impaired breathing.
This is a matter of idle curiosity, nothing more. As bad as the old girl was, I miss her, but I won’t grieve for her. It was time.