What non GSD problems can mask as DM? - Page 1

A woman with a Greyhound stopped me asking if I knew of a vet who would listen to her. All insist her dog has DM. She has x-Rays, mri, spine tap. Current vet wants to send to MO to see if dog is carrying a DM gene.

Lady does not think dog has DM. Any suggestion where she can go for a discussion? Believe she lives in Orange Co, CA, but not know for sure.

Any suggestions? Help?

It is a diagnosis of elimination for a living dog. There is no cure. There is a DNA test offered by the University of Mo. that is considered controversial because the research is ongoing and not conclusive. It is a small cost that can help with the studying and collecting of data for this devasting disease. I would have no problems with getting the test done and when the dog sadly dies, have a necropsy done to confirm the live diagnose.

So sorry this is going to be the reality.

But owner does NOT believe it is DM.

No one ever wants to believe it. However, after spending at least $3000 on the standard protocol tests to eliminate injury, birth defects and viral or bacterial diseases, and the dog still presents with toe dragging, progressive paralysis and no pain or feeling, there usually is no choice left.

Your friend can attempt alternative treatments and spend more money to at best---slow the progression, but there is never a reversal. Does she have a legitimate reason to doubt her doctors? I would think not, they are doing what they can as far as what I know, and did myself. The DNA test, if positive would only seem to confirm the diagnosis of DM. If it came back negative for the gene, maybe I would have more reason to believe the owner's belief (or denial), over her doctors' expertise.

If a dog is suffering neuropathy, as evidenced by toe-dragging and a positive proprioreceptor deficit (dog does not right its foot immediately when the toes are turned under), it's got to be either DM or a problem with the spine. (Okay, damage to the brain could cause paralysis, but I can't imagine that happening and there not being other symptoms as well.)

I can't think of a single problem with the spine that can't be diagnosed with an x-ray by a competent vet. And she has consulted with several, so if one of them dropped the ball, you would think one of the others caught what he/she missed.

Sorry, I think it's likely DM.

Maybe she thinks it "can't" be DM 'cos the degenerative
myelopathies are not common in Greyhounds ? The
sighthounds don't so often get the back and nervous type
problems, to the extent that some other breeds do. And DM
is still widely known as 'German Shepherd Syndrome '!

Unfortunately one thing the research and genetic testing have
started to clarify is that there's probably at least two types
of DM. And it occurs in odd cases in a whole range of breeds;
so she cannot rely on the lack of probability that's what her
hound HAS got. Terrible pity, my heart goes out to her.

At any rate, there are FB groups that might provide a community to help her deal with the realities and with the heartbreak. I did a quick look and found one: https://www.facebook.com/DEGENERATIVEMYELOPATHY/

 

Also, this link has the testing information, which I presume she must be aware of; others unaware but reading this, might still benefit: 

http://www.offa.org/breedtests.html?btnSearch=Tests+by+Breed

Cauda Equina is one that an x-ray doesn't always show what you need to know...

There are other disorders that cause toe-dragging that have nothing to do with the spine. Thyroid disorders can cause it, believe it or not. I'd order a full panel, NOT the vet's thyroid test, but Dr. Jean Dodds' thyroid panel.

Why does she think it isn't DM? Maybe she has good reason for thinking that.

I've had a GSD diagnosed with "food allergies" and "DM" for the same symptoms...what was it really? CE. Infuriating how quickly vets want to jump to the DM diagnosis, so I understand her wanting to dig deeper, but it would help to know why she disagrees about the DM diagnosis.

Totally agree with Jenni78.
Had a PUPPY that the vet insisted has DM, ran the bill up to several thousand Dollars for the owners and wasted valuable time treating for tick born disease. I kept insisting to get every tick panel run known to man, but their vet insisted it could not be a TBD. Finally, after all the ordered testing pointed away from DM (pup came from DM tested parents and also tested N/N), vet agreed to run tick panel, and guess what: POSITIVE. Problem is, that the dog went untreated for several month and by now most likely has irreversible damage. Not saying that this is the case with the Greyhound, but wanting to stress that owners often know their dogs and some vets are all to quick to diagnose DM.

I was assuming since there was the spinal tap done, it was surely being used to rule out Tick Born Diseases. And also, the vets would have tried prednisone treatments to see if there was any change in the dog's condition as well. Remember, it is a diagnoses of elimination. Getting the DNA test done, if positive for the gene will certainly help clarify, and is not expensive compared to the tests already done.

Usually it is better to just treat for a suspected TBD with doxy, any way, because of the common occurrence of dogs' testing false positive. If the symptoms improve with the doxy, then that is all that matters.

My instance, was just the opposite, none of the vets wanted to diagnose DM, because they know it is impossible to be 100 percent sure, without a necropsy. This was before the DNA test for the gene was discovered. I insisted on doing more tests, because I didn't want to believe the first vet, that there was nothing else he could do.

Also, I could be wrong about this, but CE presents with pain? Yes? That would be a difference that the vet would notice.