My wife and I are in the middle of a difficult decision regarding our 6-year-old GSD.
On Friday morning, I took him out for our usual morning run and he acted normal. Later that morning my wife called me at work to tell me that he (Hoss) was dragging his right rear leg on the knuckles. By Saturday afternoon Hoss appeared to be losing function in his right front leg as well.
We took him to the emergency vet clinic where they immediately ran blood work, X-Rays, and many other tests. The diagnosis has not been confirmed yet but at this time the symptoms match more closely to DM than anything else we could find information on.
I picked Hoss up from the emergency vet clinic today and he is worse. In spite of going through an intense steroid treatment, he cannot stand up or walk at all so we are having to carry him where ever he needs to go. Needless to say we are heart-broken right now.
If anyone has any input or experience with this disease please feel free to post.
Thanks,
Mike
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
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Loc: North-Central coast of California
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I am so sorry, Mike.
I understand that Dr. Roger Clemmon is the knowledge guy for GSD DM. He has researched it for years. He has a web site that I will find and link you to. But I believe that it addresses management of far slower-progressing cases......
I have read that once hind-limb paralysis has presented, that the progression to fore-limb paralysis and then brainstem damage is swift.
However, I have not read up on it recently, so let me find that site for you, in case this isn't as rapid-onset as it sounds.
Connie Sutherland Moderator Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
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I'm afraid that each source has a paragraph similar to this one from BarkBytes.com:
"The long-term prognosis for dogs with degenerative myelopathy is not a good one. Over a period of several months, most dogs will lose all control of their hind limbs and become incontinent. Treatment by exercise, therapy, vitamins and various drugs may delay the progression, but thus far nothing has been able to prevent the inevitable."
Hi Mike-
I had been thru dm with one of my shepherds. I had to let him go at 13 1/2, it will be 3 yrs ago in dec. My dog had it for years. It was a slow progression, it didn't come on rapidly like you are describing. I would be more prone to think yours is a different type of spinal cord injury. It started with an occasional drag of one of the rear leg knuckles, and it slowly got worse, and affected both rear legs. My dog had dragged his back knuckles for several years, and it never progressed to his front limbs. It slowly took away more and more use of his hindquarters to where he could barely go a couple steps. He was so tired. I soaked his back feet daily, they would get bloody raw. He lost control of his bowels in the end. I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was a slow, debilitating disease. Really sorry for what you are going thru.
Sue
Thank you all for your kind words and for taking the time to post the information. We have been reading up on it and are planning to try to get a definitive diagnosis of DM tomorrow. It has progressed extremely fast and unless a miracle occurs, it does not look hopeful.
Mike
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
PeggyBayer Webboard User Reg: 08-14-2006
Posts: 308
Loc: CA
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Mike, I am so sorry about your dog and I hope you are able to get a definitive dianosis tomorrow.
I know how heartbreaking it is to see your dog just laying there and not able to get up. We went through a simular situation with one of our rotts a little over a year ago - I feel for your pain.
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