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Re: [pyrnet] DM
Hi Shari,
A few years back I found a couple of GPs and subscribed to the list to
help me locate a home for them (BTW, we eventually found their owners,
they were missed). In any case, I've never unsubscibed, even though my
favorite breed is the GSD (I have two beautiful GSDs). Maybe your
e-mail is the reason.
I've had a GSD with DM. In fact, his case sounds a lot like your girl.
I adopted him at the age of 5 and he too had been kenneled his whole
life and didn't even know how to walk on a leash. He grabbed my heart
in a very short time. It was when he was 7 that we found out that he
had DM. Long story short, I became very involved in his care and
discovered a fantastic website that helped me deal with his disease (in
fact, I'm now the webmaster for the site: http://www.mzjf.com). You may
have already seen the site (especially since you've already found Dr
Clemmons information at U of Fl). I strongly suggest that you sign up
for the DM discussion board (http://www.mzjf.info/Forums). Marjorie,
Tamar and our other moderators and members are very well informed about
DM and are sooo sympathetic, it's a tremendous support group.
We've just added some links that offer financial resources
(http://www.mzjf.com/links.htm#FINASST). On the discussion board we
also have a forum to connect people that have dog wheelchairs to those
that need to borrow them. On occasion we have people that have meds to
donate as well. The pharmacy that you mentioned is great and very
helpful. I don't know if they can help in a case like yours, in terms
of giving discounts, but you might ask.
I don't want to clog the list with too much info, however, Shari (or any
others with GPs that have DM), please feel free to contact me directly.
BTW, GPs are one of the breeds that also get DM. GSDs are by far the
most frequent, however, I've personally known of several GPs that have
had DM as well. Best of luck with your girl Shari and thank you for
taking a GSD into your pack.
-- Bill Elliott
BDrube1441@aol.com wrote:
Have any or you had any personal experience with Degenerative
Myelopathy? Our rescue group has taken in a GSD with it and when I
went to the University of Fl vet school website, one of the breeds
mentioned as probably having some issues with it were Great Pyrenees.
This 7-8 year old girl has had hip surgery since with got her for
severe dysplasia and it seemed to activate her DM. The poor girl has
been boarded all of her life and I would like to give her the best we
can for the time that she has remaining. She is souweet, but very
neurotic and although she is not vicious, she has never learned basic
dog social skills. My husband says that she is like the child in the
class who blurts out all of the wrong things at the wrong times. Our
funds are very limited and we have 11 other dogs and 4 cats in our
small house, but we will do whatever we can. Because of our numbers we
are unable to do a homecooked diet, but we do use a high quality dog
food with human grade ingredients and no artificial additives/
preservatives. At present I am adding B vitamins, vitamin C, fish oil,
canola oil and vitamin E w/selenium to her diet. There is a pharmacy
near the University of FL call Westlake, which has formulated the
supplements and pharmaceuticals that they use at the vet school at
what is called an affordable price and I plan to speak with my vet and
Westlake about the costs of pursuing that avenue. They believe that
the disease is the same as MS in people and that it is caused by a
combination of genetics and toxins. After this dose of Ivermec, I plan
to go to the daily hw meds as is recommended. I would appreciate any
advice that you can give me.
Shari
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