We just got home from the vet and my 11 year old German Shepherd, Unique, has been diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy. It is a nervous system disease that is was described to me a a “sort of Canine MS”.
There isn’t really anything that can be done.
It started a couple of months ago when we noticed that her hips seemed to be “giving out” a little every once in awhile. We went for xrays and determined that her hips are in good shape and no spinal issues.
About three weeks later we noticed she was sometimes standing with her back right foot “tucked under” (standing on the top of the foot). Back to the vet. Blood tests, steroids and none of it helped. The only thing that has helped even a little is a glucosamine/dsm supplement.
Now she is getting her back legs tangled up sometimes and having trouble squatting to defecate.
So now we face a dilemma. This could go quickly and progress to her front end. At that point, we will have to put her down. It could also drag out for a year or two and involve building a carpeted ramp for the porch and a cart or back-end harness to help her keep moving awhile longer.
The only upside…she isn’t in any pain and will bug the hell out of you for a treat, so appetite isn’t a problem.
She came to us from a very abusive puppy mill type home when she was 7. It took awhile for her to figure out that this was doggie heaven, but she has had a great last few years of life. She is a pretty girl and the most loyal of any dog I’ve ever had.
Anyway. I’m sad.
…and here is Unique (she came with the name) a registered tri-color German Shepherd…pretty rare.
Anyone have any experience with a DM dog? If you have tips, I would love to hear them.
My dog, Murphy, also had Degenerative Myelopathy, and lived happily for nearly two years after diagnosis. He did fairly well once we confined him to the main floor of our house and he no longer had to navigate stairs, although we did have to help him on and off the steps on the back deck.
The one thing we found extremely helpful was to put down lots of rubber backed mats. We have wood flooring, and it was very slippery for him, but once the mats were down, he had a lot more grip. I suspect the mats might even be helpful on carpet, too - anything to aid with traction. The other thing we tried, which was less successful but still helpful, was putting those dog booties on his hind feet, but we put them on upside down, so that when his feet turned under, the grippy part of the booties were touching the ground.
In Murphy’s case, the DM never progressed to his front, but continued to worsen in his hind end. As I said, he was able to live happily for almost two years after the diagnosis, with just a little help from us.
We had a german shepherd with the same condition, same age. it got really bad and she couldn’t walk- she would drag herself around pitifully with her front legs. She was otherwise very healthy, but because of her legs she just didn’t have any quality of life that way. we were about to put her down, and someone suggested trying out a doggie wheel chair. it was a ridiculous contraption and cumbersome, not something she would wear around the house. But, we’d put it on her and take her for walks, and her depression instantly disappeared and she was like a puppy again. It even improved her condition a little to where she could get around a little better at home on her own. She lived another worthwhile year and a half.
A friend of mine had a wonderful white boxer with the same disease. He lived for a couple of years after diagnosis. As far as assistance, for him it started with just a sling she used around his rear, that went around his thighs and left room for potty-going when outside. This progressed to a wheely during his last 8 months or so. He was pretty happy with that thing, and they used the sling in the house. He was happy right until his last day, and I think having the wheels outside made all the difference.
Hello, I have just read your comments about your dog, she is lovely. I have just had the exact experience with my german shepherd, Tegan, she is 11 years old too.
Please do not even think of putting her down, there is help, at least to stop the degeneration process.
I have bee researching everything I can about this disease for the last few weeks after the vet had mad a diagnosis, like you i was traumatised, but I refuse to give in if there is any treatment for her.
First, look on thinternet to find the research done by Dr Clemmons, he has been trying to find a cure for this disease for many years, there is a diet to follow which I have already started with Tegan.
There are two compounds which look to be very beneficial, it says on the website that it has worked in 80% of dogs to stop the progression.
amniocaproic acid and N-acetylcysteine.
i have also ordered a super multivitamin supplement from Dr Andrew Jones, which comes in powder form, look for his website it has all you need to know.
We had a Boxer that we thought had DM, but it turned out to be Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and a tumor was imoinging her spine. We decided that when she could no longer walk, even with assistance, it was The Time.
We made her last night a doggy heaven, said our goodbyes, and in the morning we went to the vet for the last time. She now resides in a sealed cookie jar on a shelf overlooking the living room.
I have a DM dog, and have to say, I am offended by this post:
“Please do not even think of putting her down, there is help, at least to stop the degeneration process.”
Putting a dog down is a very personal decision, and not helped by this statement. The vitamins referenced MAY slow down the disease, but they do not stop it. I have had my dog on them for 8 months and she continues to decline. Now is incontinent and uses a cart. She has no use of her back end. I would NEVER fault anyone for putting a dog with DC down, as the amount of nursing care one can give completely depends on their own circumstances.
Several years ago we lost our dog to DM. We adopted her as an adult (probably a puppy mill discard) and she was diagnosed some months after that. Her progress was similar to Unique’s - dragging feet, difficulty squatting, no apparent pain. Her quality of life was actually quite good for a year or so. She enjoyed walks (moving slowly, with boots on her back feet to improve traction and prevent injury), loved attention, and her appetite was good. We accommodated her condition by providing beds where she liked to hang out (since she couldn’t jump on the couch or the bed any more) and by carrying her up and down stairs as needed.
As long as Unique isn’t in pain or distress, there’s no reason not to do what you can to preserve her quality of life. You’ll know when the disease is preventing her from being comfortable and at ease. In my dog’s case, she abruptly went from being wobbly but continent and comfortable to being incontinent, totally unable to bear weight on her hind legs, and confused.
