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by hodie on 28 March 2008 - 02:03
It is NOT uncommon for a very old dog to develop DM. Since it is a disease that affects the myelin sheath, it just depends on how long it takes for this to show up. Yes, there are other possibilities but it certainly is not impossible for DM to exist in an older dog. I have a dog here now, being boarded, who was a rescue dog I adopted out many years ago. He is almost 13. Last time he was here was about 8 months or so ago. When I last saw him he was just beginning to drag his feet and I suggested a vet consult and the possibility of DM. He was seen by a vet and diagnosed with that condition. His condition is much, much worse now than then and I fear his time is very limited. He exhibits all the classic signs. To make matters worse, he is a dog with EPI, but at least we can easily keep him lean!
Cauda equina, a neurological injury etc., could also be a cause. Suggest to your friend that the best things to do are sensible treatments. Giving the dog supplements not approved or recognized for dogs only makes things worse and may well detract from any small victory gained by trying to slow the progression of the disease with legitimate treatment and therapy. I have several DM dogs who have used swimming for exercise and it has certainly not hurt, although it would also be difficult to say whether it helped any.
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