GDS collapsing and losing feeling and control of hind legs - Page 2

With the age of the dog and the symptoms I would definitely say it would likely be DM ...... it will never improve and only slowly get worse ..... I put a police dog of mine down in June of 2008. It all started out with seeing marks in the snow from her rear toe nails dragging in the snow, when it first started. It gradually worsened over 6 months and had to put her down. My vet indicated that there is no pain associated with it but the poor dog "wondered" why she could not get around. The dog was 10 years old when this began. A picture of health till this hit. I hope the best for you.  Regards ..... Greg

There was a post on here sveeral months ago. My eight yr. old female has the same symptoms. The thread said to take 400-500mg of tumeric extract and 400-500mg of bromelain twice a day. It has definitely improved my girls condition. The thread said there was an 80 per cent cure rate. Good luck!

Our old chap passed away at 13 with symptoms such as you describe (including the thinning tail.) He was never diagnosed with DM, but we knew he had severe spinal arthritis in his lower back - and the inflammation and swelling associated with this can also impact the nerves. Unlike DM this is very painful - he had kidney disease also, which limited  our choice of painkillers. We settled on Tramadol, which is safe for dogs with kidney problems. When he could no longer walk, or even get up, without great difficulty we let him go. It was hard to do - it always is - but it was harder to watch a formerly vigorous and happy dog in such discomfort and with no quality of life. My heart goes out to you - my Blue let me know when it was time, and your dog will too.

richram that's interesting! I take both those things for the arthritis in my hands, and can say categorically that it works (brings down the pain level by reducing the inflammation.) I'm filing it away for possible future use for my dogs.....

You don't say how old your dog is--sounds like she's at least 10?

Also, you took her to the vet, but what testing was done? Did you do any xrays and did the vet rule out hip problems?

From your description it could be Degenerative Myolepathy or it might be an injury to the spine and possibly it could even be hip dysplasia or an injured knee. It might be worth it to do the test for DM and then look around and see if you can do some of the treatments that are being recommended. If it's a back injury, surgery is usually required; but if it is DM, no surgery will help.

look up wobbler syndrome in dogs had same issue dog dragging hind toes and weak back end in dane that came for daycare

Danielle,
It sounds like you do not want to spend the money on surgery, can't say that I blame you.
And it does come with risks.
Have you seen more than one Vet?
You did not say how old either.
In all my years I've only had two go down in the back end, one had other problems as well (cataracts).
They were both over ten years of age.
I grew up with Dutchess, she spent her last summer dragging herself around the house and yard.    We carried her everywhere in and out until that fall.   I didn't see her in pain but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt.
We just made her as comfortable as we could and used the time to say goodby.
Use your time wisely and think of her first.
Get more than one opinion.
Good luck with it,
Moons.

I'm sorry to hear you are going through this.  We just put our 12 year old GSD to sleep just yesterday morning.   One of the hardest things I've ever experienced.  He too was showing symptoms of MD about 1 1/2 ago.  We thought he had a sprained hind leg...but one trip to a specialist and he showed us how our dog was losing his ability to control his hind legs.  Fortunately, he lasted longer than what the specialist thought.  Top half of our Buster was just as normal as could be...but he just couldn't stand or walk without dragging his hind legs and was tearing them up pretty bad.  As much as it broke our heart, we couldn't let such a noble dog like him keep going like he was - and God knows he would've kept trying to go.  I feel for you and sorry for what you are going through......God bless you and your GSD.

Unfortunately your precious GSD probably has DM.    We recently lost our precious GSD, Becky, to this  hideous disease. She passed away Mon Dec 14 of this year. Suffice it to say this will be a miserable Christmas for us. She showed some of the same symptoms of your dog. Her bark became hoarse and she would "cry" when she wanted to get up. She would only stay standing when she was held up.  When we let her go, she would try to balance, but fall as soon as she would try to walk.  I personally did  not want to accept that her time was short, and prayed for her to be around longer, happy and healthy, but I knew her time was short, when she stopped eating (not unlike her at all) and at the end could not lift her head from lying down to take a drink of water.  As her final goodbye to us, she held out for us to be home before she took her final breath, and passed away quietly.  I miss her so much, but know that I have to go on. I'm not sure if I'll ever get another GSD   or pet again (the pain when they pass away is to great).  )Hug and kiss your pets this Holiday season and let them knlow how much you love them.  I'll never forget you Becky and love you forever.