(Sigh) I suspect DM...how to know for sure, and then what? - Page 3

Thank you to those who have posted additional comments. I am hoping that eliminating my dog's exposure to milbemycin will reduce or reverse his possible exposure to any neurotoxicity that may be causing his symptoms of ataxia and slight dragging of the right hind leg. I have done the test for the knuckling...he is slow to correct the right foot. I am not opposed to the DM DNA test, but I have been reading the research and, true, it doesn't seem conclusive, and the results aren't going to help me or him right now. Obviously, something is wrong with him. The question is what exactly. I do need to pursue the x-rays to rule out anything else physically.

Susie...I agree with you. I will never hook my dog up to a cart. He has the sweet soul of a lamb with my children and the noble heart of a lion to protect us and our home. He is always ready to play with family and friends with a wonderful goofiness, but displays a quiet dignity when in the presence of strangers and people on the street. I will not let him be without his dignity. My heart will break as it has before with my other past dogs when the time to say goodbye is upon us, but life for a dog is all about getting up and going on all four legs.

Zenit!

Sorry, can't agree with not using a cart for a dog. Life is about walking on two legs with humans but those that can't can still have productive, happy and dignified lives.

When the time comes I will put my suspected DM dog in a cart. As long as I see that spark in her eyes I will do what I can for her. I have seen several happy, dignified dogs in carts.

Me neither. I've seen dogs who had more or less 'given
up' get re-energised by having a couple of back wheels
added to their lives.

What's so "undignified" about the canine equivalent of a
wheelchair, anyway ? Far more undignified to be hauling
yourself around by your forelegs, shitting & sitting in it, like
I have seen some selfish owners allow their DM dogs to
endure for months.

Zenit, do you feel all disabled humans who have to use chairs
to get around have somehow lost their dignity ?

How do you feel about Carting for dogs ?

Hund, we are humans, that said it´s up to us to decide what WE think is the best for OUR dog.
We can´t ask our dogs.
No "wheelchair" for my dogs - my decision.
I am willing to pay my last money in case any treatment/surgery/whatever is able to help my dogs - but for me ( and that´s for ME, not for everybody ) there are some points I base "my" decision on:

- Any treatment used must be able to get the dog pain free.
- A dog needs to be able "to go party" on its own, not for me, for itself.
- A dog used to "roam free" in my house for years is not going to sleep in the basement, because it can´t walk any more.

I don´t tend to compare dogs to humans, I do have the pleisure for quite some while now to care for my mother, sitting in a wheelchair, her mind broken from several strokes - are you able to guess how SHE would decide? Dignity?

"Dignity" for a human is the ability to think and decide on its own, no matter if this human has to use a wheelchair or not, "dignity" for a dog is the abilty to be part of the family, the used surrounding, the ability to walk and use its drives, the ability to keep itself clean.

Once again, that´s just my opinion, several of my dogs became quite old, slow, grey, but they became old "in dignity".
As long as we can´t ask them, we can only guess.

Susie, you said everything I was thinking while was out just now with my dog on a walk. I cannot add more, except I have also taken care of my elderly grandparents and I was with them when they died. Dignity does matter.
Susie, my heart goes out to you for your mother's health, and what you and she are going through.

Hundmutter, neither Susie nor I trying to start a debate. She stated her opinion in her earlier post and I agreed with her. Every individual here on this forum has the right to disagree or agree with us and state their opinion too. But I will not enter into a debate with anyone on this issue, nor will I compare humans to animals. I love my dog. He is a member of our family and I will do everything I can for him.

Actually if you know your dog they will tell you .. no need to guess. Our dogs talk to us all the time if we will listen. Dogs don't use the same language or communication skills that humans do but they definitely talk to each other and we are supposed to be the "superior" species. Most humans communicate with their dogs in only one direction .. they command and demand. It is not difficult at all to have two way communication with your dog if you try even a little. It is debatable if dogs are equipped to make their decisions about when to end their life but the same could be said for most humans.

Sorry .. I did not post this or double post here but the blank post happened .. a mistake that has happened a couple of time recently.