Hi Guys

Hope someone can give me some advice please. 

Our 6 year old male GSD over the last few weeks has been having trouble getting up and was really stiff in his back legs.  Anyway, off to the vets for x-rays as he at first thought it was HD.  It wasn't HD, but apparently Tyler has a problem with the nerves in  his spine which are not working as they should, hence why his back legs are not working properly and hence the muscle wastage in his legs.  The vet has said nothing can be done for this and that it is a slow and gradual process, but eventually he will lose the use of his back legs.  We are devestated about this, almost two years ago we lost our other Shephard to a bowel tumour when he was 5 (everyone was a great help on this site at the time).  Any advice gratefully received.  Thanks again. 

Sounds as if it could unfortunatly be the start of DM, try putting 'DM in GSD' into Google, loads of different info.
so sorry, I lost my first GSD with this problem.
Chris

Hi Chris

Thanks for replying.  Is DM the same thing as CDRM?  The vet didn't mention this as I would have recognised it.  He said something about Cauda Equina (horses tail), but not sure if it is also called something else.  Will ring the vet and find out more, was trying to take it all in at the time when we went to pick Tyler up after his x-rays.  Did your GSD have to suffer for a long time before you lost him/her ?

TBH I would get an expert opinion. Sounds to me as if your dog could do with an MRI scan as well. We had  problems like this once and got referred to an orthopaedic veterinary surgeon who did the MRI and follows up on an SOS basis when we want to see him.
Well well worth the money.

GOOD LUCK.

Actually this is really outrageous. If the nerve wastage is due to spinal decompression then an op to relieve the pressure would fix it. X rays do not show soft tissue, so I am unsure why a scan has not been requested by the vet.

Go!!!

If it is Degenerative Myelopathy then an MRI scan will be useless. The dog has no pain from DM & depending on the dog the progression can be slow or quick. Fred Lanting is a world acclaimed expert in GSD disorders

Hi all

Thank you for your views.  I am awaiting a call from the vet so will let you know what he says as soon as I find out. 

Fiona. 

Hi again

Have just had a long chat with the vet who confirmed that Tyler does have CDRM and that nothing can be done.  He does not seem to be in any pain and still enjoys walks, the only problem at present is he has trouble getting up from a lying down position.  He is six years old, is this a normal age for CDRM and would he have been born with it??  Might he still go on for some years yet as he is without things getting worse for a long while?  Sorry for all the questions, but really would like some advice.  Thanks again.

Hi Fiona

I too would welcome advice on this condition as I suspect that my GSD has got it.

For about a year now when walking her back legs appear to go in front of each other and she also is very reluctant to run when off lead.

She is 8 1/2 but when I have mentioned it to my vet on my last two visits they haven't seemed concerned and said many GSds have problems with their back ends but if it gets any worse to bring her back it hasn't.

From what I read when my old girl had CDRM, it can happen at any age, though usually from middle age.  I lost my girl last year aged 8.  I noticed about a year before we lost her that she couldn't manage a proper triangle in the ring, she was cutting the corners.  Nearer the end she was very wobbly on her back end and had no muscle tone whatsoever.  You could see her spine from the middle of her back down to the tail and she had hollows above her hips.  She could no longer manage a walk and so we decided to call it a day.  it is recommended that you exercise every other day, with a rest day in between.  Hydrotherapy can also be a big help as it's non weight bearing.  As for whether a dog is born with it, I don't know and neither do vets.  My girls mother also had this awful condition, though it started later with her.  Do some research on the internet, there's plenty of info.  Just keep an eye on the tops of the back feet as they can get v. sore (boots might be an option).

All the best,
Sarah.

Hi again.

Thanks for your mesages.  I have spent the evening in a confused state.  I phoned the vet again today to clarify if Tyler had CDRM or Cauda Equina and he did not seem to realise that they were two different things and actually does not know what Tyler has!!!   He is sending the x-rays off tomorrow to an orthopaedic specialist and I have got an appointment next Tuesday at a rehab clinic for Tyler to have an assessment for physio, acupunture and hydrotherapy where he will be seen by another vet and a physiotherapist.  I just hope they have some idea what is wrong with him as we need to know so that we can get on and get him help if its something other than CDRM!!! He is a lovely and kind vet, but he is as confused as me it seems!!!

Fiona. x

Hi, one of the diagnosing things they do is to turn one of the dogs back feet over so the pad is facing back & up and the top of the toes are on the floor, dogs automatically pull the foot forward so the pad is down but with DM theydon't do this, hence sarahs comment about sore feet.
My boy wasn't lame but wasn't sound at about 7 yrs, V gradually got worse, he would turn when trotting and his back legs would get in a tangle but it got to the stage when they got mixed up when he was walking and he would stagger till he got them untied.
We let him go at 8 3/4. His front half was fine and 'lets go do something' but the back end was not under his control.
The final descision was when he pooped walking down the hall, I got his collar to get him to finish in one place, he turned round and it was 'O My G where did that come from, it wasn't me, I don't do that.' that happened 3 times in one day and he was SO upset. We got the vet to do a house call the next morning :-(. 11 years ago and I still miss him, he was my first GSD and I had waited 25+ years from when I fell for the breed to when I got him.
We did half think about a 'cart' but in a smallish semi with a step outside back + front and given the time he would have been out of it and just half a dog we  felt sleep was the right descision.
Chris

Hi Chris

It's such an awful disease isn't it, the mind is willing, but the back end just won't work.  I so wish they could find a cure for it.  I bet you still miss your baby and always will. I just want to find out exactly what Tyler has so we can make decisions about treatment or anything that will help him.  Will keep you posted and let you know more when I have been to see the vet at the rehabilitation clinic next week, and hopefully they might find out a little more.  If they don't doe the test with his back foot, I think I might suggest they do it!!!  Thanks again Chris. 

i work in a referral centre and you need to request a neurology specialist to examine your dog, not orthopedics. a neuro surgeon will conduct a full neurological examination lasting around 30minutes checking reflexes, deep pain threshold, gait etc i dont know where you are in the country but if anywhere near a veterinary school then ask for a referral.

Thank you.  Our nearest vet school is Bristol I think, we are in Devon.