(Sigh) I suspect DM...how to know for sure, and then what? - Page 2

Just to answer Bubba's additional questions: my dog is not neutered; he weighs 78 pounds, and has not lost or gained weight; except for rabies every three years, no more vaccines since age 1. The multi-vitamin is Nutri-Vet, made in the USA, he gets 2 tablets every morning.
Thanks Bubba for the caution information about Sentinel with Atopica. I will investigate this and ask my vet about better heartworm and flea preventative considering the Atopica.
Everyone else, thank you for your responses too! I appreciate them! I will follow up with x-rays to rule out any other spinal conditions.

Gypsys Mom, I am so sorry that your dog did develop this condition. It's so hard to lose these dogs to just old age (my previous shepherds died at 12 1/2 and 14 years), but to lose them when they are young is an impossible heartbreak. My condolences.

I would get a second opinion away from your current vet .. the Sentinel likely gave your dog a skin condition and then your vet instead of stopping Sentinel prescribed a cyclosporine (Atopica) to cure the problem caused by Sentinel. Classic case of causing a problem and then prescribing another problem. Cyclosporines are not good for your dog's health nor is Sentinel.  Sentinel should have been stopped when your dog started having skin problems ( as stated in the precautions on the label in a bunch of weasel words ) but instead your vet added another drug to suppress your dog's immune system that is also stated as being a possible problem.  Sentinel and it's active ingredients are very likely at the core of your dog's skin problems and the immunosuppresent cyclosporine is only covering up the skin problems while the toxicity of the products is hammering your dog's health. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20553921

Atopica is a cyclosporin and these drugs suppress the immune system and have been shown to alter the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.  Research suggest that weakening of the blood brain barrier can contribute to MS and ALS which are closely related diseases in humans similar to degenerative myleopathy in dogs.  Also the combination of Atopica with Sentinel over a long period of time may have weakened the blood brain barrier such that milbemycin oxime is now present in the dogs brain at higher levels regardless of whether your dog has the MDR-1 gene mutation or not.  The symptoms of poisoning from milbemycin oxime, macrocyclic lactones and isoxazolines are very similar to degenerative myleopathy.

The isoxazolines approved for veterinary use so far are the following:

• Afoxolaner: used on dogs against fleas, and some ticks species (NEXGARD from MERIAL).
• Fluralaner: used on dogs against fleas, and some ticks species (BRAVECTO from MERCK ANIMAL HEALTH).
• Sarolaner: approved in the EU as an oral tablet for dogs against fleas, & ticks,and certain mites. (from ZOETIS).

Links to Washington State U that does the MDR-1 gene testing and has a video about a dog that was a Golden/Shepherd mix that had a very difficult time .. the symptoms were much much worse than your dog but mimiced DM in the foot movements early on and then it got much worse.  The dog was given a higher than normal dose of ivermectin after the vet gave the dog selamectin (Revolution) spot on which is also a macrocyclic lactone so the dog got hammered and almost did not make it.
http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/case-examples/ginger

http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/case-examples/cash

http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/problem-drugs

They say cyclosporin alone is OK for MDR-1 dogs but not in combination with other drugs and antibiotics .. overload the system.

http://vcpl.vetmed.wsu.edu/

I don't know why the person above it talking about the MDR1 gene which means Mutiple Drug Reaction gene. That is common in Australian Shepherd and many Collie breeds. That has nothing to do with DM which is Degenerative Myelopathy. DM can be tested for by a simple cheek swab sent to a laboratory. I have my dogs tested at www.gensoldx.com You can order the test, do the swab and send it back to them. The total cost is $40, and you get results in less than a week. If the dog does not have 2 genes (1 from each parent) for DM then it can NOT have DM. Do the DNA test, and if that shows it is not DM you will know to look into the cause possibly being a herniated disk or arthritis pressing on a nerve in the back. Disks can usually be fixed, so it is good to know for sure if it is DM or not. Good luck with your dog.

Jah ... You are partially correct in that you don't know what I am talking about but left out that neither do you.

" However, the frequency of the mutation varies between breeds and certainly the risk of developing the clinical disease seems quite distinct and breed-specific. For example, the frequency of carriers and homozygous mutation (affected) dogs in the Kerry blue terrier is about 52%(1), while carriers and affected dogs make up 91% of Pembroke Welsh corgis in Japan (2). Although wire fox terriers have a similar combined carrier and at-risk frequency of 90%, none have ever developed the clinical signs of DM (3). "

https://www.pawprintgenetics.com/blog/2013/08/29/which-breeds-are-affected-degenerative-myelopathy/

Like many others you were scammed by a genetic test DM test that is not proven. As far as science knows there are hundreds of dogs with the SOD1 mutation that never get DM. DM is not always caused by a genetic mutation and there is no proof that the genetic mutation actually causes DM ... it is just correlated with DM and as any freshman scientist knows .. "correlation does not prove causation". The correlation between the genetic mutation SOD1 in dogs linked with DM does not hold up in all breeds with GSD being one of the breeds that they think it is correlated . A lot of dog owners have been misled by the OFA and the lab claiming that the DM genetic test is precise and accurate .. it is not. DM is closely related to ALS and MS in humans and we now have research "correlating" many other diseases, viruses, and blood brain barrier disorders with ALS and MS. In fact it is likely several breeds of dogs have a second genetic alteration in another gene other than SOD 1 which also contributes to DM. DM is most likely caused by several genetic mutations and environmental factor acting with and in combination. The truth is nobody knows what causes DM in dogs any more than we know what causes MS or ALS in humans which has 1000 times the research studies done in dogs for DM ... just a lot of speculation and correlation but no proof.  Before you buy a genetic test ask how accurate is it in predicting disease in the offspring and next generation.  A lot of genetic tests are great at predicting disease in dogs and people who have the disease as they are primarily only those being tested.  What is known is that a combination of genetic and environmental conditions presently poorly understood leads to ALS and MS in humans as well as DM in canines.

"Sporadic and Familial ALS

Most cases of ALS are “sporadic,” meaning they are due to no known cause. Approximately 5-10% of cases are due to known genetic mutations. In most of those cases, another family member also has ALS or a related disease (see C9ORF72 below). Such cases are called “familial.” Cases of familial ALS (FALS) are presumed to be due to genes, although the gene may not be known in all cases."

http://www.alsa.org/research/about-als-research/genetics-of-als.html

Even in humans the link between SOD1 and ALS ( the human model of DM ) is not the primary factor.

The MDR-1 gene mutation contributes to the sensitivity of dogs with this genetic mutation to their environment and toxins in their environment the dogs are exposed to.  We know what causes DM biologically in that the disease is a result of a breakdown and lack of myelin which protects the nerves.  Anything that contributes to this breakdown will increase the possibility of DM.

 

A simple check as to how advanced the problem is, is to Stand your pooch then deliberately (but gently) tuck the rear toes back under the paw and place the paw knuckles-down on the floor then see whether he will continue standing that way.

Good sign is he instinctively return his foot to the normal position.

Bad sign you can guess. So then discuss it with your vet.

 

If he has DM, there isn't a lot you can do for him, short of renting or buying a "rear-end trolley" for him, so that when he can no longer walk his hind feet himself you can strap his rear end onto the trolley and let him stroll everywhere that is flat using the power of his fore-legs.

 

And Prof. Roger Clemmons  of  Florida University has a special recipe that he claims will delay the disorder's progress - but takes a LOT of work for only a small extension of mobility.

 

There are support groups for owners of DM pooches. Click

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/dir

then type search seeds such as DM support or degenerative myelitis or whatever else you think might help. Some of the groups include the name of the state in their address.

The owner of

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/GSDgeneticdefects/info

would appreciate you joining her group and and asking her to create a DM folder where you can place your pet's data in an appropriate file.

Those tests don't prove DM ..

"If he has DM, there isn't a lot you can do for him, short of renting or buying a "rear-end trolley" for him, so that when he can no longer walk his hind feet himself you can strap his rear end onto the trolley and let him stroll everywhere that is flat using the power of his fore-legs."

This may sound harsh, but I think no animal should end its life in any kind of trolley. We ( the humans ) should have the personal wisdom/stature ( searching for the correct word..) to decide, when it´s time to go. The dog doesn´t have a choice...

All the best to the OP and his/her dog!