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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > DM DNA test (53 replies)
DM DNA test by Blitzen on 05 January 2012 - 17:56 |
| Consider this your monthly reminder to test your dogs for DM prior to breeding them. You could save a buyer a lot of heartache. Buyers should ask for a copy of the DNA results before buying a new dog or puppy. It's such a simple way to avoid a such a terrible disease. |
Blitzen by RoZoAn on 05 January 2012 - 18:29 |
 Great reminder Blitzen!! Janet and Anja, who is now in the end stages of DM..............  |
RoZoAn by Blitzen on 05 January 2012 - 18:33 |
| Awww. I'm so sorry. |
by trixx on 05 January 2012 - 18:41 |
oh so sorry....
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trixx by Blitzen on 05 January 2012 - 18:49 |
| I think the results are the same; it's the same test. The big difference is the OFA results are reported on their website while the other labs doing the test do not use an interent database as far as I know. Either way, it's great that you are doing that! Thank you. Please help spread the word - if you're going to breed GSD's, know their DM status. It's the right thing to do. |
by trixx on 05 January 2012 - 19:27 |
yes , that would be nice if they had a data base, but i do have all the paper work so all is good.
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by leoetta on 06 January 2012 - 02:09 |
| Great reminder Blitzen :) Yesterday I went with my best friend to put down her nine year old female who had DM, very very sad, as this dog was still so vibrant in her mind, yet so very frustrated with her body :( She tested a/a through the vetdnacenter.com labratory. RIP Lexzie Barbie |
leoetta by Nans gsd on 06 January 2012 - 02:11 |
| RoZoAn: I am so sorry; I too have been through it; hell to watch and wait. All the more reason to pass on the word. I feel for anyone that has been thru it; and for the dogs sake, pass the word on. Thx Nan |
by Nans gsd on 06 January 2012 - 02:16 |
| OH Barbie: that is so sad and it seems 9 is sooooo young, but DM does not know age. Some will wait until 12, seems the more recent DM dogs are going much younger; their bodies just won't let them hang on any longer. It's devastating. My boy would have been 10 this year and I was hoping to be able to keep him with his job until now or 10 then retire him and let him HELP me teach a new dog. Miss him every day. Nan |
by workingdogz on 06 January 2012 - 02:25 |
| DM doesn't discriminate in bloodlines either. No line or "type" is immune from it. It's a deadly equalizer. It will take out a seemingly healthy working, show or BYB bred dog. I feel sorry for anyone going through it with their dog. No worse feeling in the world than that of being helpless. |
by Blitzen on 06 January 2012 - 03:21 |
| I am so sorry for those who have lost their beloved companions to this horrible disease; another just yesterday. It's so sad and so very unnecessary. |
by Blitzen on 06 January 2012 - 13:42 |
| bump |
by Nans gsd on 06 January 2012 - 22:47 |
| Yes and I just inquired about a new pup out of Anribei (Czech lineage) that was here in the US; asked about DM testing and was told that the father should be OK; and if that is so then the puppy should be OK. Pup is 5 months old. Really scared me off. People are STILL not getting it. And also that he was too young to do a prelim x-ray on. Shit. |
by Blitzen on 06 January 2012 - 22:52 |
| "should be OK"? Wonder what that means? They'll GET IT if their purses take enough hits which I predict isn't going to happen anytime soon. There are still plenty of buyers who will not care either; those who consider dogs livestock or who have never owned a dog with DM or had a friend with one. I get the impresson that many with Czech dogs think their dogs are not implicated in DM in which case they should be anxious to test their dogs to offer proof of that notion. |
by Mindhunt on 06 January 2012 - 22:56 |
I am glad you all test, also thanks for the reminder Blitzen. Here is my reminder to all those who still don't test, a before DM and during DM pictures of my Loki - from trying to get up the tree after the decoy to barely able to support his back end only a year later.JPG) .JPG) |
Mindhunt by Blitzen on 06 January 2012 - 23:01 |
| All I can think to say is the same old - so sorry about Loki too. |
by Abby Normal on 06 January 2012 - 23:27 |
| Good reminder Blitzen So sorry to hear of those who have lost and are losing friends to this insidious disease. I too lost a dog many, many years ago to it, and absolutely dread it happening again. The scrape of a nail sends a shiver down my spine. A friend of mine lost a dog to it last year, and another I think is beginning to show signs of it this year, though she is 13 1/2. She has said she will not have another GSD, can't take the heartache. Mindhunt, your photo is a stark illustration of how this disease robs a strong proud dog of their body so quickly. Very very sad. Just not enough breeders testing yet. |
Abby Normal by Betta Wolf on 06 January 2012 - 23:28 |
| Found this article yesterday, Interesting Read: Degenerative Myelopathy in German Shepherd Dogs University of Florida Written by: R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD Associate Professor of Neurology & Nerosurgery Small Animal Clinical Sciences http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=1000%20mg%20per%2010%23%20fish%20oil%20german%20shepherd%20dog&source=web&cd=30&ved=0CFoQFjAJOBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwholisticpawsvet.com%2Farticles%2FDegenerative_Myelopathy_German_Shepherd_Dogs.pdf&ei=YZ4GT-6sCsmcgQfcvImVCw&usg=AFQjCNEQTwySpgWbyDvzFP3dhBSK45yq4g |
Betta Wolf by CMills on 07 January 2012 - 02:47 |
| Oh gosh Mindhunt, that's sooo terrible to see such a fine dog in the before/after photos! I test all my dogs before breeding them, and am happy to report all mine came back DM clear! Whoohooo! I can say I use Animal Genetics, much cheaper than OFA and you get the results in 5 business days instead of weeks by OFA. As long as one has the documentation to prove the results, it shouldn't matter if they're on OFA's database or not. |
CMills by Mindhunt on 07 January 2012 - 06:39 |
| Thanks everyone, it was rough and the only time I saw my husband cry in over 21 years was during the euthanizing, but Loki started to use accessory muscles to breathe one night while he was sleeping and I remembered my friend's horrible ordeal so we drove him in the next day. My heart felt sympathies go out to all who have dealt with this terrible disease in their dogs...... My friend's retired K9 had DM and he was holding his own, only a few times in the night did he end up using his accessory muscles to breathe because his diaphragm became paralyzed (which occurs in later stages). One night she woke up to her dog thrashing around with his head and front legs, he was slowly suffocating. She called me in a panic and we drove him in to the vets, one of the longest drives ever due to his struggles to breathe. He was given a sedative to help calm him so the catheter for the medication could be inserted, my friend brought his favorite toy and would you believe he tried to play with it during the euthanizing procedure? Another heartbreaking reminder to test dogs, I really want this disease bred out the the GSDs!!! I was ready to switch to Ovcharkas but dang it, I love the GSD breed. So we are soon to get another puppy and hoping no repeats of DM |
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