A Few Thoughts on Degenerative Myelopathy - Page 1

There is currently A LOT of debate (and apparent closed-mindedness) on the subject of Degenerative Myelopathy, I just wanted to offer some of my thoughts/observations for consideration and see if anybody else has seen or thought any the same things.  I know there is another DM thread, which the last post I read there made me decide to post this, I didn't want to hijack the thread.

It is said at the University of Missouri that the genetic mutation that the OFA DM DNA test looks for causes a disease that is commonly known as Degenerative Myelopathy.  This disease can be found in other breeds too such as Corgis, Boxers, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, etc.  This is a REAL disease and saying that German Shepherds can't get it seems like an ignorant statement.

Now Dr. Clemmons in Florida found a different genetic mutation, and necropsy studies showed spinal differences from the other dogs being tested.  This led to some people labeling this German Shepherd Degenerative Myelopathy.  This is also a REAL disease, even though genetically it is different from the "other" Degenerative Myelopathy.

It is unfortunate that Florida no longer has funding and has stopped research.  There are a handful of breeders and owners that were able to test their dogs with both tests and some got a negative result on one and a positive on the other.  One of the major problems surrounding Degenerative Myelopathy is that so many other diseases and disorders of the spine can have very similar symptoms, progressions, and outcomes.  Very few people submit their deceased dog to the university for research since it is such an emotional time for them, so research is slow and the ACTUAL cause of the dog's demise was never determined.

It seems like our breed is dealing with 2 separate, yet similar diseases, which may or may not be genetically related to one another.  For breeders to say that they're not going to test their dogs is doing a disservice to the breed.  Sure it may not be the German Shepherd "specific" Degenerative Myelopathy, but it's still a REAL disease that breeders can now make a concious effort to breed out of their lines.  Since about 50% of the dogs tested are carriers or at-risk, that itself proves that this is truly an issue in our beloved breed.  And to condemn dogs that test carrier or even at-risk would severely damage genetic diversity, cutting out approximately 50% of the gene pool.  If responsible Corgi breeders were to cut out carriers and at-risk dogs, the breed would cease to exist.  The DM test needs to be used as a tool while looking at the entire picture (temperament, health, working ability, pedigree, conformation, etc).

I keep hearing/seeing people state that their "DM" dog also had other problems by the time their life ended.  These usually include Pannus, Perianal Fistulas, and even allergies.  These diseases are commonly associated with auto-immune related disorders.  While the common Degenerative Myelopathy may be a simple recessive genetic disorder, perhaps the "German Shepherd Degenerative Myelopathy" could be a more complex auto-immune related disease.  I thought that I had read something on Dr.Clemmons' site about the possibility of an auto-immune based disease, but I could be mistaken, and much of the information that was on the site can no longer be accessed.

Thoughts?  Opinions?  How many here had a dog diagnosed with DM and how was it diagnosed? (genetic test, MRI, necropsy?)  How many had a dog that also had things like Pannus or Perianal Fistulas?  Discussions like this are important because they reach a large group of people who may have shared similar experiences.  Researchers are typically &

Granville, you're correct in recollecting that Dr. Clemmons came to believe the degenerative myelopathy seen in GSDs is an autoimmune disorder; it is part of the reason the UofFL treatment protocol expanded from it's early form, when it was limited to giving aminocaproic acid, Vitamins E, C and B complex, a regular schedule of exercise, and replacing systemic or long-acting treatment agents such as monthly heartworm and flea/tick preventatives with those that required daily administration or application.  As time and research went on, the regimen grew to include additional supplements, dietary changes, and other supportive measures the UofFL team felt provided was providing the best results in slowing the progression of the disease. The page you were thinking that looks at the automimmune theory can still be found here:
http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/dm_web/DMofGS.htm

I had a GSD that was diagnosed with DM at the age of 13.5 years of age; x-rays had ruled out degenerative disk disease.  A videotape of the dog in motion was made, sent to Dr. Clemmons for review, along with a detailed medical history on the dog; based on the history and the visual evidence, a diagnosis of DM was made, and the dog was started on the original treatment protocol.  A portion of that video was used as an example what the clinical signs look like for a dog that is in the early to mid-stages of the disorder in the video presentation Dr. Clemmons later put together. The full presentation appears to still be available for viewing here, if you have the RealPlayer plug-in on your system:
http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/dm_web/DM_signs_ss.html

The dog I refer to was euthanized a week to the day after her 14th birthday, but it wasn't due to DM or any related complications--I lost her to the effects of a splenic hemangiosarcoma.  During her lifetime, this dog had no allergic responses to anything, and there was no reason to consider her immune system to be flawed or compromised.

Until more data has been collected from use of the DM test presently available, I think it's irresponsible to discard all carriers from the gene pool; the information the test provides must be weighed carefully against other factors, both favorable and non-favorable, for each individual dog being considered for breeding use.  Time will tell if the test is truly identifying the causative genetics for the disorder in the GSD or not; if it turns out that the test is valid for our breed, that will be the time to start considering what effect the elimination of carriers will have on the breed as a whole.  For the present time, however, I think discarding carriers is extremely premature.

Excellent posts, Grandville and Hexe.

My DM girl is a rescue, so exact age is unknown, but we think she is around 6-7 years old. She has no other health issues, although she had severe allergies when I got her. Raw diet, herbs and supplements solved that for the most part.  She started showing wear on the nails of her left hind foot in October 2010. The beginning of 2011 X-rays were done and extensive phyisical exam performed and no abnormalities were evident. She was tested for DM with a blood test (for some reason my vet prefers this- she was one of Dr. Clemmons' students) and her results were "affected/at risk". She was put on Dr. Clemmons' protocol, along with physical therapy, massage therapy, acupuncture and laser treatments. She declined very slowly until September at which time she started to decline more rapidly.  She is unstable, weak and lacks coordination in the rear, she drags her left hind foot a lot and her feet slide out to the side on a slippery floor. When she gets up momentum she still has a beautiful flowing trot and she can still jump on the bed. She can still hold her own and get around without support. Today she goes for her first stem cell treatment. After that we wait and pray...  

Just a comment here: I did try to submit my dog's remain to a university/vet research and no one was interested. It is hard to recall how many places I called in the week before we had to put her to sleep, it is all fuzzy between the crying and all, but I did want other shepherds to benefit in some small way from our experience. She had osteoarthritis for about 5 years, obviously getting progressively worse. At age 11 she developed perianal fistula and about the same time we started seeing the signs of DM. Since the DM was secondary to her condition, I was more focused on helping her with the pain from osteoarthritis and the fistula - I do remember I searched extensively on treatment protocols for DM and did find one that we were following, a lot of slow walks, fermented CLO and a bunch of other things...I even looked into Nivalin injections http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galantamine , which I knew from being OR nurse eons ago, and it might have worked if she didn't have the OA.

I am in NoVA and I can't say how many vets we saw, somewhere in the range of 20+, including "specialists", who knew less than I did about her condition. I received zero useful advice. At the end I had to PTS this March, because the pain from the osteoarthritis was getting unmanageable. I treated her fistula myself, mostly because the only treatment offer I got was some sort of surgery and I have seen enough human surgeries to know when the surgeon has no idea what he is talking about. Maybe hers was just a lighter form or what I was doing helped, it never fully closed, but it became smaller and didn't seem to bother her. She would have been 13 yo on Oct. 30 :(

HTH in some way,
Ioana

 starrchar 
She was beautiful, and you saved her from being unwanted, you were both Blessed. I'm so sorry to hear of her condition and my prayers are with you and your efforts. I so hope that the Dr's can help her and you too. Helping her obviously helps you. I love my Bear too and can try to imagine the pain you feel.

Botanical37,
I'm also so sorry for your loss. But I commend you on your strength to put your dog's feelings upfront from your own. I can understand your frustrations with Dr's. I've been dealing with Dr's because of my owm illnesses and some are truly a waste of time. Just paid out money for nothing. You wish you could tell them since they didn't help you maybe didn't even attempt to help in some ways, you won't pay them. But wrong as it may be they collect whether they help or not. I wish you well and again I am sorry about your friend.

Hi to all:  Well I have also been interested in finding out if DM could possibly be auto immune related.  As you have all read in the DM post my boy did have pannus which is auto immune deficiency related; but for the time being all we have to go on to keep this horrible disease under some sort of control is the DM testing done with OFA and the other organization;  I really am not sure about breeding carriers of the gene.  If that is done by breeders then it is absolutely necessary to test your litters which now can be done as early as 4 weeks.  That to me is an incredible tool that has been offered to breeders which I hope people can take advantage of.

Remember this is not a WL/SL/DDR/Czh east,west,problem, it is a German Shepherd dog problem, worldwide, international.  That is hugh.  I hope not to hear the comment again that our lineage does not have the DM problem.  That is like burying your head in the sand.

On the other DM thread one of the posters had 4 dogs with DM; whom now tests ANY puppy/adult that is available to them first for DM;  I will be following in those paw prints. 

Great days everyone,  Nan

Nan, It is my understanding that it is indeed an auto-immune disease. THe body attacks and destroys the nervous system.
Char

The first time I ever heard the words Degenerative Myelopathy were in 2003 when my male Sable German Shepherd named Tyr was 5 years old. I had no idea what DM was but before he passed away from the disease almost 5 years later on August 16, 2008, I knew more about it than I ever wanted to. Most Vets just didn't want to deal with it and we were told to put him down. That was never an option for us and we finally found a Vet who would make the journey with us. We did a lot of research, whatever we could and whatever resource we could find to help him. When his back legs eventually gave out we bought him a wheel chair. He finally died one Saturday morning while lying in our family room. I was with him at the end and he died in my arms. It was just 2 months short of his 10th birthday on Halloween.
I find the comments interesting that DM dogs have an auto-immune disease, because our Vet told us our dog also had an auto-immune disease and he also had bad allergies.
I applaud all breeders who are doing what they can to test for this disease and try and eliminate it because no one should have to go through this kind of pain.
Having said that, I never got angry with the breeder who sold us our dog, because at the end of the day, DM and all, my life was better for having had Tyr in it.

Arizona,

I am so sorry you had to deal with this horrible disease. Back in 1998 when your boy, Tyr was born there was no well-known test for DM. You were blessed to have Tyr for 10 years and it sounds like he was an awesome dog. I applaud you for never giving up on your very special boy. He was obviously very loved and in spite of his DM he likely had a better life than many dogs.

Yes, based on the current research DM is an auto-immune disease. In time we will know more, but for now we can only hope and pray that breeders will test their dogs so that people like you and me won't have to experience the heartbreak of this horrible disease.

The very best,
Char