CDRM or Degenerative Myelopathy in Working Line GSD? - Page 1

Tomorrow I will take my 8 year old working line male GSD for some tests but before then - can anybody tell me if I am correct in thinking that the working lines in GSDs do not carry Degenerative Myelopathy or CDRM as it used to be called. Twenty odd years ago I had 2 dogs with CDRM (they were mixed show/work), now my eight year old is showing a rapid onset of the same symptoms. It would be nice to get a head start with a diagnosis - help please!

That is incorrect thinking, IMHO

Your vet will eliminate other causes of the paralysis because a DM diagnoses can only be confirmed 100%  by a necropsy. I hope it all goes well for you and your dog.

Thank you beetree, I am beginning to realize that working line GSDs can indeed get DM. I have seen DM before but this is coming on very quickly. We will take each day at a time and see what the future brings.

Yes, there are supposedly, two types. I could not find but one other who had a very young dog showing the exact symptoms of the elderly dog type. 

My dog's progression was accelerated, but exact in type. He was about 15 months when we said good-bye.

 

Working lines can indeed get DM too. Good luck at the vet, fingers crossed for him!

You can also do the DNA test to see if he carries two copies of the mutated gene, this may help in your diagnosis. He is at the right age for sure, the most common I hear is 8-10 years old. www.vetdnacenter.com you can order a kit and send it in for $58. This is of course not in lieu of a vet visit.

Working lines DO, indeed, get DM! There is only ONE form of DM in GSDS! That is why it is called GSDM (German Shepherd Dog Myelopathy). It can be developed at any age, over 3 yrs of age, although most usual onset is after 5 yrs of age. There is a conditon similar to spinal muscle atrophy in spaniels but it is not the same diseases as GSDM. All breeds can get a myelopathy oif the spine which is both chronic and progressive but GSDM is an immune related disease.

Missie T was dx with when she was 4 1/2 yrs old. Having had a DM dog before, I recognized the all to familiar subtleties before it got a hold of her. most probably wouldnt have picked it up until at least a year later, and that is if they were familiar with the disease. I was just totally neurotic, having lived through DM before, so I always had an eagle eye on Missie T. She did live until 11 on Dr C's program, and she did go into remission until she was 9 yrs old.  DM has shown  up as early as 3 yrs old, but that is VERY rare. It most always go back into remission until an older age.

strewth,

Just curious- think back several years- did you ever notice any gait abnormailities? My guess, however, with the rapid onset, is that the  problem is NOT DM! DM is not a rapid onset disease- it subtely takes hold very slowly, in an insideous manner. There are many condiitons which can mimic the symtoms of DM. There are perpheral neuropathies, disk disease, aspergilliosis, tick diseases,tumors of the spine, and even tumors of the adrenal gland can affect gait and movment!  The list goes on and on, but again, DM is not a rapid onset disease, unless it is late stage DM. If the problem is late stage DM, you would have noticed it long before now! Your dog would be toppling over, stumbling, dragging feet severely, when walking, so I would bet the ranch it is not DM, but some other condition.

 

There certainly is disagreement. It would be wise to keep an open mind, since undeniable proof is so lacking in     D M. 

Imho I hope the OP gives an update.

I agree with Marjorie. A slipped disk, Cauda Equina (far more common than DM and grossly underdiagnosed/misdiagnosed!!!), spinal issues, tumors, even ticke-borne disease can cause paralysis. 

Please, for your dog's sake, do not let the vet ASSume it's DM because it's a GSD and DM is the flavor of the week as far as diagnosis. Used to be HD, now it's DM. DM is only confirmed by necropsy, so 90% of people who think their dog had DM really don't know what their dog had, unfortunately. 

If it were my dog, I'd do an MRI. I had one misdiagnosed w/similar issues and it was 2 slipped disks. Nothing degenerative about it! 

Best of luck!