Degenerative Myelopathy and stem cell therapy - Page 3

Jyl, I'm sorry to learn that you have had 2 GSD's with DM. Hearing that some here have had their dogs suspected of having DM tested and all were at risk/affected lends a lot of credibilty to the OFA DNA identifcation program.

I've noticed the same thing regarding the dogs that are testing as carriers or at risks. Since not all at risks are allowed to go up on the site and many are identified only with call names, some DDR's etc could be missed.  When I get time I'm going to try to figure out how many tested dogs are not listed. They would be the at risks that the owners didn't release premission to list. Also, how many with these dogs are testing their dogs for DM?

There seems to be more American lines with at risks, but there are many more with Amlines testing for DM and from what I hear there is going to be a big push in the breed to test, so we will probably see even  more. I suspect that if more with imports would test, the odds would soon even out. Did you notice that a few of the German SL's that produced at risks are/were relatively popular studs so there must be many of their progeny needing to be tested. 

I want to very careful to not make this sound like a witchhunt that would cast a shadow on any of the dogs that are at risk or have produced at risks. They can still be used for breeding as long as they are bred to avoid producing more at risks. The beauty of the test is that a puppy can be done at 4 weeks so there is really no reason to withhold any GSD from breeding because of the results of this test.

My female tested as a carrier too, so if she is bred she will need to be bred to a clear too. She's 75% Am lines, 25% German SL's. I had my first dog tested just after the test became avaialable, he too was a carrier, 100% German SL's with some very well known dogs in the first 3 generations.

We have the tool to eradicate this disease from our breeding stock. Game on.............

MVP, I am so sorry for the loss of your dog with DM.  I won't let my girl go until it is clearly time. My rehab vet said she will let me know when that time has arrived. She is a beautiful person with such compassion and love for animals, so I trust her judgment completely. She doesn't believe in allowing them to suffer, but she feels as long as they have a zest for life and a strong desire to continue, we should allow them to do so if possible and every dog is different.  In the meantime I try to make every day count and cherish the special moments, just as you did.  
Char

I never want to go through that again, either, but in looking back the dog I had with DM was in all other respects the best dog I ever knew. Still, the next dog was from a kennel that had only DM clear dogs.  I hope and pray the treatment works! 


Please do keep us posted, and, I know this is not polite, but can you give us an idea what the cost of this treatment will be?

BLITZEN,
I only have 1 dog with DM.

Jyl, I'm glad I was wrong. 

Hunger4Justice, The cost is on the website, so it is no secret :). The cost will be around $2300 for the the biopsy kit, processing of the cells, two treatments and storage of the cells for one year. The person who gave me the info on Renovocyte, whose dog also has DM, has insurance and it's covering most of it.  Wish I had insurance right now....
Char

Shelby had a punch biopsy done on September 22nd and the skin samples were sent to Renovocyte lab to expand and multiply the cells. Today the cells arrived from Renovocyte and Shelby had her first treatment. The infusion took about an hour and she was observed for another hour afterwards. Everything went smoothly. She'll get another treament in about one month. Now we pray, wait and watch...

I am keeping very positive thoughts for a great outcome for this wonderful dog that is so loved.

Thank you Nan and Blitzen. There is someone I know who also has a dog with DM and she is the one who gave me the info on Renovocyte. Her dog had treatment this past Thursday and she is seeing signs of hope- more energy, more activity,  a slight bit more stability and coordination. I'm encouraged!