Degenerative Myelopathy and stem cell therapy - Page 1

I have posted on another thread ("maybe there is hope for dogs with arthritis"), but wanted to start my own thread and let those who are interested know about the DM treatment my dog, Shelby, will be receiving soon.

Someone I know has a dog with DM and her vet put her in touch with a lab in Indiana that does stem cell therapy for dogs, cats, horses and rabbits. http://www.renovocyte.com/?page=veterinary I contacted the lab, spoke to the vet there in length and have decided to give it a try as I really have nothing to lose but money.

The skin biopsies were taken this morning using a punch biopsy instrument. The vet shaved about a 5” patch on Shelby’s neck just above the collar area and got two samples. Shelby has four stiches (I originally thought it was 6, but with a closer look realized it is only four). They did it under local anesthesia and it went very smoothly. I dropped the biopsy off for shipment to the Renovocyte lab immediately afterwards. Now we wait for about two weeks for the stem cells to be processed and expanded. The cells will be shipped in an IV solution and infused by my vet the day the cells are received. Renovocyte would like for the vets to start injecting the stem cells directly into the spinal column, but that requires general anesthesia which can be detrimental to a DM dog, therefore I have opted not to do that and the vet agrees.

This treatment may only slow the progression of the DM or it may stop the progression for a time and there is a possibility of some improvement, but not a cure. Shelby will get two treatments, 2-4 weeks apart, and possibly more at a later time. Her stem cells will be stored at the lab for future use. At least in the end I know that I have done everything possible....

I will definitely keep everyone posted.

Bless you for trying!!!!  I knew a GSD with DM.  A very sweet dog.  Her owners had lots of money.  They tried underwater treadmill, gold beads, and stem cell.  Nothing worked.

A friend of mine is trying something for a different problem in order to give the dog maybe 18 months and the dog is over 13 years.  Vet may be able to either inactivate or kill the problem.

We all so love our beloved dogs!!!!!!!

The very very best wishes and prayers for you and your dog.  Please let us know what happens.

I also have a GSD with DM. I have been doing alot of reading and found this very good website about DM in German Shepherds.

http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/dm_web/DMofGS.htm

Jyl,

I'm so sorry you have a dog with DM. It is a horrible disease and at least the breeders can start to eliminate DM through testing their breeding dogs. 

Thank you for the DM link, but Shelby is already on the Dr. Clemmons protocol. He is definitely the DM guru.   MY vet said that the Dr. Clemmons protocol defintely seems to slow down the progression of DM. Those that aren't on the meds and supplements deteriorate much faster. Shelby also gets acupuncture and laser therapy, as well as at home physical therapy and massages. In October 2010 I noticed some wear of the nails on Shelby's left hind foot. I didn't think much of it at first, but it got progressively worse and Shelby was diagnosed with DM in January. She was very slowly declining up until four weeks ago when she took a distinct downhill turn and I have no idea why. She is still up and walking, but becoming more and more unstable. Both hind legs are splaying at times when on the tile and she is knuckling more with her left hind foot. As you know, it is so heartbreaking...

Char

Good luck with the stem cell therapy. Now that we have a DNA test to identify at risks, carriers, and normals, we should be able to find DM free line when looking for a new dog or for a dog to use for breeding.

Yes, kudo's to you for giving it a try.  I lost my boy 15 months ago to DM;  NEVER want to go thru that again.  HOrrific.  Am so glad of the possibility for stem cells to help with this problem;  didn't think it would happen quite this fast.  Will you please keep us all posted to the progress for your bitch.  I will be keeping my fingers crossed for her.  I really, really hope it helps her to an extended and healthy life.

Blitzen:  as far as I know, the European countries except UK are  NOT doing DM testing, have you heard differently;  and HUGH number of dogs come to the US from those countries;  don't see how it is possible for all of them to be tested.  JMO  Nan

PS  But it would be great if particularly Germany would start testing and then maybe they can be the start of something great; and I for one would consider buying from them again, until then, I will only go to breeders who are testing for DM.  Nan

I would really like to see pedigrees posted of any dogs w/DM. This is hereditary, so let's see who's passing it on. Some kind of tracking would be nice, I think, so that people not testing and producing it will maybe have some kind of accountability if it's "out there" for everyone to see. I mean, you have to be logical; you can't jump on everyone for not testing every dog because it's pretty cut and dried- 2 non-carriers aren't going to produce a carrier, so you can't jump on someone who knows their dogs' parents are non-carriers for not testing. I have never had or even known personally a dog w/DM. I know it occurs in all lines, but to what degree? What lines is it most prevalent in? I think a "map" of sorts would be helpful.

A few weeks ago I took Libby (10 year old) gsd to the vet for her senior check up.  After describing some things I have noticed about Libby, the vet says she suspects DM.  She told me there was nothing I could do for her so not to bother with the testing.  Looks like there are some things out there that I could try, so thinking it would be best to have her tested.  Can you tell me how they test for DM?

Cheryl

DM is in all lines, imported and domestic. As far as I know there are no pedigrees that are considered free of the mutation or more likely to produce it than others.  It's not unusual to find a clear and a carrier in the same litter. The individual dog must be DNA tested to identify their DM status so they can be bred to avoid producing more at risks. The at risks are the dogs that MAY develop DM although less that 15% of  those that test positive will ever show any symptoms of the disease. Some will die of other things before DM shows signs while other at risks will lead long lives without suffering from DM. No one knows yet why that happens.

Currently there are around 1,000 GSD's on the OFA site that have been tested for DM. The dogs that test as carriers or normals automatically go into that database and are listed on the OFA website. The owner needs to give permission for an at risk to be listed. Not all dogs are identified with their registered names or sires and dams; many are. This DNA testing is intended to give breeders the information they need to eliminate DM from their lines if they want to.

As far as I know, they are not yet DNA testing for DM in Europe.  I can see where this could be a very big issue for those in the US wanting to use the German Va dogs. They would have to take a calculated risk factoring in the status of their female, DNA the puppies at one month and take it from there. OR they could breed to dogs here in the US that have been tested.