E-Vet Clinic - Dog Health Care

Back to Bear - who if you had read yesterday know that he has Degenerative Myelopathy (DM).

This is when Bear was healthy and able to run like the wind. Contracting DM is very heart breaking as the owners of great dogs like Bear become debilitated and unable to walk. The progression can be very quick. It usually occurs in German Shephards later in life usually after 5 years of age. Other breeds such as the Belgium Shepherd, Old English Sheep Dog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Weimaraner and the Great Pyrenees may also contract this disease however it is so common to German Shephards that the official name of the disease is DM of GSD (Degenerative Myelopathy of German Shephard Dogs). It is an immune system related disease in which the lymphocytes (a white blood cell) have suppressed function. The actual effects of this suppression causes a demyelination of the spinal cord, basically a stripping of the lining of the spinal cord. Diagnosis is complicated and for a regular veterinarian or a consultant it is usually based on breed, signs, and ruling out other possibilities of neuroligic disfunction. However ideally to confirm diagnosis the Cerbral Spinal Fluid should be checked for elevated levels of protein and acteylcholinesterase. Also there is now available a DNA test which can be sent to Dr. Clemmons (a leading expert on DM) to help confirm diagnosis of the debilitating disease.

Back to Bear… In Decemeber I refered Bear to Arboretum View Animal Hospital because he was exhibiting signs other than that of DM, such as increased urination, tremors and seizure like symptoms, personality changes, and losing weight. Well Bear was able to be seen in January and it was discovered that Bear has AdenoCarcinoma. 2 tumors were found in his rectum. The original blood work showed elevated Calcium which was Ionized, which does point to cancer. Radiographs were taken and found no problem with hips or spine, so Bear probably has DM also. The owner decided because of both diseases that she was not going to take any drastic measures to try and save him. The treatment for the cancer would most likely exacerbate the problems with the DM, so she decided to treat holistically, keep Bear as comfortable as possible and let him live out his days as best he could with as good of a quality of life that she could provide him.

SO she - Changed the diet to completely fresh veggies, Raw meat, and California Natural dog kibble. Continued vitamins for DM, and changed the holistic treatments with the practitioner to reflect diagnosis of both cancer and DM.

So what happened? Well… in February 2007, there was some improvement noted with hind end and drastic improvement with water intake and appetite. He even gained weight!!! Imagine what changing to a raw diet and holistic kibble could do for a healthy dog!

In March there was a slight set back for three days as Bear stopped eating, but after those three days he popped back up and started back again. The owner decided to take the next step and put Bear on Aminocaproic acid and Acetylcysteine medication for his DM. And unbeleivably there was a major improvement in his hind end! He was almost walking normal! A visit to a new veterinarian Dr Reed at County Line Animal Hospital was fantastic. Bear had gained 22 lbs. Was fairly steady most of the time with his rear legs. He no longer had any tremors, his personality was sweet and wonderful again. And most of all he no longer excessively drinks water and pees all over the house! She was told by Dr Reed to “not to change a thing” that Bear was in a type of remission.

On June 2 I received an email from Bears owner. I’ll let you read what it says -

Bear takes Vit B Complex, Vit C, Borage Oil, Vit E, Fish Oil,Quantum Nerve restore formula, Quantum AT/BC Formula for cancer, and a holistic liquid Pam [holistic practitioner I referred Bear to] mixes up. Bear has weekly visits with Pam, acupuncture every other week, and strenuous exercise 3 XS a week. He still is on a raw diet and takes the medication for DM. Bear has his good days and bad, and that is OK! He continues to be happy and healthy looking and as long as he is, we will do whatever it takes to keep him that way.

Unfortunately a month later Bear’s cancer won the battle and he was euthanized on July 8th. Here’s the email I received…

I just wanted to let you know that I Euthanized Bear on Sunday 7/8/07. His cancer finally became aggressive and his will to live was gone. I want to thank you for all that you did for me. Because of you the DM was under control, unfortunately the cancer was not. I think of Bear as a learning experience and hopefully with the diet changes and reduction of vaccines, Archie will never go through what Bear endured. Thank you again.

I will miss Bear and although I and the rest of the team was unable to defeat one of his diseases I was happy to help put one of his others into remission so that he could have another year of a good life with his caring owner. Bear’s owner wanted me to tell his story a story of hope for degenerative myelopathy, a story that might help someone else going through a similar circumstance. We attribute Bears success over DM to feeding a Raw diet, his supplements, exercise and following Dr. Clemmons protocol which can be found here - neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm and of course acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. However I really attribute Bear’s success to his will to fight and to overcome some unbelievable odds. If it was not for the cancer he would still be walking around today.

This is the story of Bear, a case of Degenerative Myelopathy in a German Shephard, who in July of 2006 his owner noticed some weakness in his hind legs and a reluctance to jump.

In August 2006 Bear comes to see me for a consult and chiropractic adjustments because the owner just can not understand why he is constantly falling on linoleum floor and doing splits with rear legs. I do a chiropractic treatment and ask for a follow up in a month. In the mean time, in September, just before the follow up visit the owner takes Bear to the regular veterinarian. At that visit, the vet concludes Bear has symptoms which are a sign of aging and bad hips. However, no radiographs (x-rays) or tests were run. The owner starts to become concerned of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), which is much more common in German Shephards like Bear. At the follow up visit with me, I agree that DM is a possibility however Bear needs radiographs to rule out spondylosis and spinal stenosis. I urge the client to get X rays.

In October, his weakness is progressing, Bear is knuckling over with rear feet. I performed a nuerolgic exam which the results are not good! Even without radiographs with the prgression of the disease I have to agree with my client that DM is the most likely cause of Bears hind leg weakness. Unfortuantely chiropractic can only help a little with this disease and should be part of a larger protocol. I ask her to see a holisitc practitioner…someone who specializes in homeopathics and herbals.The owner also began research on DM using the University Of Florida website. (Dr Clemmons protocol which can be found here - neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm). The owner starts the vitamin protocol.

In December, Bear did seem to improve with the vitamins, however, he now has polyuria (increased urination). The owner returns to the regular vet for testing to rule out diabetes and cushings. She was told that the blood tests were normal. However now, Bear has tremors and seizure like symptoms, personality changes, and has lost weight. There is more going on here than just DM and I referred Bear to Arboretum View Animal Hospital, a specialty center.

The news is not good, but you will have to wait until tomorrow to find out the rest of the story.