DM Flash Test at University of Florida - Page 2

Taping my mouth shut because GSDS will now have no test geared for the type of DM they develop :(

 Marjorie
Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue
www.newbeginningsrescue.com  501 C3 pending

www.gsdbbr.org --> The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry (including frozen/chilled semen database)
Please utilize this Health Registry to ensure a healthy future for our breed!
Be PROACTIVE!
 http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group

When my GSD first began to manifest the signs of DM, I did not know what to do. My vet was not well-versed in that condition and wasted valuable time with misdiagnoses. By the time I went to another dr, my boy was mostly down in the back.  We began Dr. Clemmons' protocol in its entirety with the medications, supplements, and diet; however, I did not hold out much hope that the rapid decline would be averted. To my amazement, my boy plateaued for the next 13 months, until the disease made its final assault. Yes, I had a dog who needed to be moved entirely by mechanical means, but I still had him.  The only thanks I can give for that extra year together goes to Dr. Clemmons.  While someone might say that the protocol is out there for anyone to follow if they are so inclined, it is the Flash Test which is the linchpin for the research underlying the protocol.  Without that test, the work is short-circuited and GSDs, in particular, are cut off from the one hope they had for a study related specifically to them.

Flygirl- have you flown away? LOL!

Nope - I haven't been cleared to take off yet!  :-)
As for a contact - wellll - I guess you could direct your concerns to the hospital board. They're the ones who set the marching orders for thing financial in nature. I'm not sure who indivdually would be the best to contact. Let me see what I can come up with...

Is there any other veterinary school doing the same or similar reaearch? Is Dr. Clemmons staying at Florida, or will he go to another facility?

Thanks, Flygirl! My computer is rebelling and emails to me are not even being delivered, my inbox is so full. Now my phone is ringing off the hook. I really find it hard to believe they would pull the plug on DR C who is so well regarded, respected and revered amongst GSD people. What COULD they be thinking? Did they think we wouldnt care?????? That we would go silently into the good night? YIKES! Major mistake!

Marjorie
Executive Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue www.newbeginningsrescue.com 501 C3 pending   http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/SupportCriticalGSDMResearch   http://www.gsdbbr.org --> The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry (including frozen/chilled semen database) BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group

No other school is specifically researching the D of our breed, which appears to be quite unique. If it wasnt, there would probably be more money in it, as several breed clubs could chip in for research....

Marjorie
Executive Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue www.newbeginningsrescue.com 501 C3 pending   http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/SupportCriticalGSDMResearch   http://www.gsdbbr.org --> The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry (including frozen/chilled semen database) BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group

Unfortunately, it's the problem with the economy that is causing this (along with about a thousand other things!!). The Vet Hospital is losing an amazing amount of money - we're just not getting the patients that we were in both small and large animal. I've heard that in the case of a lot of the horses that we would normally see, because people don't have the money, they're putting their animals down rather than bring them to the University( it's easier to come up with $350 for the vet to put it down and the renderer to get the body..). That's a very very sad statement... As for myself, I'm due to be laid off by May - again, due to the financial woes from both the University and the State.
I did see Dr Clemmons in the hall and told him that the GSD community is all upset and is getting a petition together.

I know the economy is affecting everything. I work in rescue and so many fur kids have been left behind- real estate brokers go into houses and we get called because the people move out and leave the dogs in the house or the yard. Kill shelters(oxymoronic  term) are bursting at the seams with big dogs, because they cannot go to apartments when their owners lose their homes. Its really sad.  I am sorry you are getting laid off :(

Dr Clemmons is one of a kind and DM is such a devastating disease. I lost my beloved Jack Flash in 1998 to DM, and now I have another, Missie T, with DM. If everything comes to a grinding halt, the economy cannot get better :(

Marjorie
Executive Director: New Beginnings Shepherd Rescue www.newbeginningsrescue.com 501 C3 pending   http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/SupportCriticalGSDMResearch   http://www.gsdbbr.org --> The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry (including frozen/chilled semen database) BE PROACTIVE!   http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group