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by marjorie on 09 February 2010 - 23:02
--- > Marjorie, If you read this - do know if any work was ever done to look at the possibility that a slow virus might be part of the causation or if there is any relation to Kuru disease or scrapies sheep? Also re the autoimmune component you might want to check out Polly Matzinger and her Danger theory re the autoimmune system. Her research suggest it is not the body fighting itself but in fact that there is minute damage caused to the body ( usually by bacteria or viruses) that is simply not recognized by the body at the time - that the defect is in the recognition system. Interesting stuff.
I will ask Dr C about this. Sounds very interesting.
Actually, the earliest case of documented DM was at the age of three years old :( It is rare, but it does happen.
Missie T started showing symptoms at 4 yrs of age. I brought her in for tests and nothing showed up to say it was anything else. Her hips are good, her spine was clear, no disk problems, no tick disease, no pain. 4 vets and neuro Dr said DM, and it looked like classic DM. I caught it long before anyone esle would have noticed, the early signs were so subtle, but I was neurotic, due to my experience with Jack Flash. I couldnt help myself from looking at her as if she was under a microscope, I had been so traumatized by DM :( I put her on Dr C's program and she went into remission. She has had good times and bad times, since I first noticed the symptoms, but she almost 9 yr old, now, and she is still getting around. We still go for walks, and in the summer, we do intensiveve swimming to build up her muscles. When she has trouble, I bump up one of her meds back to the original dose, and I find that sends her back towards remission, or at least mitiages the problems.. She has also been on Dr C's healthy dog program from the time she was 6 monhs old, so, perhaps that mitigated the DM, as well.
There was another dog in the DM support Group whose owner caught the disease very early, ( she also had a DM dog, before) and that dog had every rule in test, also same symptoms, etc as Missie T. She started on the program and walked until l she was 13 yrs old, when they were in a horrid car accident, and the dog never walked again after that incident.
:( Being astute and proactive is imperative in fighting DM. Then again, unless one has walked that road from hell, they wouldnt be neurotic enough to be so traumatized as to dissect every move their dog makes, and question it :(
I will ask Dr C about this. Sounds very interesting.
Actually, the earliest case of documented DM was at the age of three years old :( It is rare, but it does happen.
Missie T started showing symptoms at 4 yrs of age. I brought her in for tests and nothing showed up to say it was anything else. Her hips are good, her spine was clear, no disk problems, no tick disease, no pain. 4 vets and neuro Dr said DM, and it looked like classic DM. I caught it long before anyone esle would have noticed, the early signs were so subtle, but I was neurotic, due to my experience with Jack Flash. I couldnt help myself from looking at her as if she was under a microscope, I had been so traumatized by DM :( I put her on Dr C's program and she went into remission. She has had good times and bad times, since I first noticed the symptoms, but she almost 9 yr old, now, and she is still getting around. We still go for walks, and in the summer, we do intensiveve swimming to build up her muscles. When she has trouble, I bump up one of her meds back to the original dose, and I find that sends her back towards remission, or at least mitiages the problems.. She has also been on Dr C's healthy dog program from the time she was 6 monhs old, so, perhaps that mitigated the DM, as well.
There was another dog in the DM support Group whose owner caught the disease very early, ( she also had a DM dog, before) and that dog had every rule in test, also same symptoms, etc as Missie T. She started on the program and walked until l she was 13 yrs old, when they were in a horrid car accident, and the dog never walked again after that incident.
:( Being astute and proactive is imperative in fighting DM. Then again, unless one has walked that road from hell, they wouldnt be neurotic enough to be so traumatized as to dissect every move their dog makes, and question it :(
by marjorie on 10 February 2010 - 04:02
Dr C's reply
:
We did pcr for prions & a number of other agents and did not find an evidence for any. I do not doubt that something triggers immune reactivity, but it may be life plus genetics.
Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group
:
We did pcr for prions & a number of other agents and did not find an evidence for any. I do not doubt that something triggers immune reactivity, but it may be life plus genetics.
Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group
by Superdog on 10 February 2010 - 13:02
Hello Simon
Just to let you know I have not forgotten.
I had to check on one or two things before I answered you.
The Prof, dealing with it does not want to be over- whelmed by emails, as I have reported in a lot of the updates.
So as has been repoted in Updates please contact the info group for all paperwork and sample equiptment.
May I also thank those 26 persons who have already contacted us. All info etc posted today at main post office 10th Feb.
Superdog
by petowner on 10 February 2010 - 14:02
No worries Superdog , already got direct from researchers. Thanks. Simon.
by Nans gsd on 10 February 2010 - 15:02
Why not do the test for DM? You can order the swab kit on line or call the 800 number and they will ship it right out; $58.00; the info was posted on previous DM info site just a few days or a week prior to this.
by petowner on 10 February 2010 - 15:02
Nans gsd. This the test for DM here in U.K. that Superdog posted about. Simon.
by Nans gsd on 10 February 2010 - 16:02
OH: sorry, I am so sorry you are having to go thru this; doesn't seem fair. I have a boy I need to test, have been suspicious for some time; am dreading it though. Best of luck with your dog. Nan
by Sherman-RanchGSD on 10 February 2010 - 19:02
do the test for DM? +++
Absolutely.. I would suggest to anyone who's vet says me thinks in this situation to please have the dna test performed... it wont help the outcome of your dogs problem..but it will provide an accurate diagnosis. If you dog has it you can have some resolve and go forward..if not you can be sure not to overlook other possibilities. The other advantage to having the test is you will provide valuable information to the studies that are or will be going on in the future... sometimes the tests even become valuable in human disease studies. In the USA OFA offers a test and that can be used for breeding stock consideration as well as diagnosis.
There are any number of things that could *possibly* be going on with your dog.. I didnt see anything about age..but in any case I am sure its not easy for you...we wish you well.
Best wishes,
Debi
www.sherman-ranch.us
www.ironfistcreations.us
Absolutely.. I would suggest to anyone who's vet says me thinks in this situation to please have the dna test performed... it wont help the outcome of your dogs problem..but it will provide an accurate diagnosis. If you dog has it you can have some resolve and go forward..if not you can be sure not to overlook other possibilities. The other advantage to having the test is you will provide valuable information to the studies that are or will be going on in the future... sometimes the tests even become valuable in human disease studies. In the USA OFA offers a test and that can be used for breeding stock consideration as well as diagnosis.
There are any number of things that could *possibly* be going on with your dog.. I didnt see anything about age..but in any case I am sure its not easy for you...we wish you well.
Best wishes,
Debi
www.sherman-ranch.us
www.ironfistcreations.us
by melisa on 14 May 2010 - 22:05
Hello, I am new here, I found this site as I was searching for info on DM.
My GS dog, Chui, turned 10 in February, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia about a year ago. We have managed to keep it under control - moderate diet, loosing some weight, food supplements in form of chondroitin+glucosamine. Overall, the situation has been better gradually, we kept on going for 20-30 min. walks to keep the joints running and prevent muscle atrophy (but one can see his rear leg muscles "shrunk").
A few weeks ago I noticed he started being (more) unstable in his rear legs, keeping paws very close together, sometimes he sways...as if he's about to fall to a side. We still go for walks, he never refuses them, he even runs after a ball, but knowing/having him for 10 years I just don't have a good feeling about this. The latest was that 2 days ago, after having a great day, playing in the garden, having dinner, he was just laying on the ground, not laying down flat on the side, but with his upper part up, his hind legs suddenly became stiff, then kind of twitching, I could see he as getting confused and upset, his tail became stiff, as if he was going to poop...it all lasted a minute or two maybe...and then he was fine. He got up, I walked with him into the garden, then to his usual walk and everything was fine, he peed, pooped (a lot), came home and slept like a baby. Yesterday it was all fine. Tonight my uncle (we share the yard/garden) came running into my house, calling for me to tell me my dog had that "episode" again, only this time immediately as he got up he pooped. Then I took him to his usual place, his designated toilet, he finished pooping and then he was fine again. The walk later was fine, he drank some water and went to his kennel.
I am now confused...could all this be DM, or is it just a coincidence that some of the symptoms are appearing.
When I was searching the net, I came across this web-site that sells DNA test swabs that can test if the dog is genetically prone to the DM. I was wondering if the test could be also a way to diagnose the DM, to confirm that my dog has that condition already?
I live in a fairly small place in a country in Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and none of the vets that I can easily reach have any possibility to diagnose the disease...so I am not even sure we'll be battling DM, or we are just having HD+arthritis complications.
I would appreciate any advice or suggestion.
Cheers!
My GS dog, Chui, turned 10 in February, was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and hip dysplasia about a year ago. We have managed to keep it under control - moderate diet, loosing some weight, food supplements in form of chondroitin+glucosamine. Overall, the situation has been better gradually, we kept on going for 20-30 min. walks to keep the joints running and prevent muscle atrophy (but one can see his rear leg muscles "shrunk").
A few weeks ago I noticed he started being (more) unstable in his rear legs, keeping paws very close together, sometimes he sways...as if he's about to fall to a side. We still go for walks, he never refuses them, he even runs after a ball, but knowing/having him for 10 years I just don't have a good feeling about this. The latest was that 2 days ago, after having a great day, playing in the garden, having dinner, he was just laying on the ground, not laying down flat on the side, but with his upper part up, his hind legs suddenly became stiff, then kind of twitching, I could see he as getting confused and upset, his tail became stiff, as if he was going to poop...it all lasted a minute or two maybe...and then he was fine. He got up, I walked with him into the garden, then to his usual walk and everything was fine, he peed, pooped (a lot), came home and slept like a baby. Yesterday it was all fine. Tonight my uncle (we share the yard/garden) came running into my house, calling for me to tell me my dog had that "episode" again, only this time immediately as he got up he pooped. Then I took him to his usual place, his designated toilet, he finished pooping and then he was fine again. The walk later was fine, he drank some water and went to his kennel.
I am now confused...could all this be DM, or is it just a coincidence that some of the symptoms are appearing.
When I was searching the net, I came across this web-site that sells DNA test swabs that can test if the dog is genetically prone to the DM. I was wondering if the test could be also a way to diagnose the DM, to confirm that my dog has that condition already?
I live in a fairly small place in a country in Europe, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and none of the vets that I can easily reach have any possibility to diagnose the disease...so I am not even sure we'll be battling DM, or we are just having HD+arthritis complications.
I would appreciate any advice or suggestion.
Cheers!
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