Degenerative Myelopathy - Page 2

Starrchar...I'm sorry to hear about your girl being diagnosed with DM. It's very good you know early and can treat/plan accordingly. I do hope that more breeders start testing b/c I personally feel it's as important as doing Hips, Elbows, etc. I even have a link on my homepage about DM so people can educate themselves on the disease and also encouraging other breeders to test their dogs. The only way to cut down on the dogs diagnosed with DM is to test the breeding dogs and not breed those affected.

Dont get me started on the lack of breeders that test for it. I have only found one yes ONE in my state whom is reputable and tests for it.

We have also tested 3 of our breeding dogs so far and they have come back N/N Clear of DM. We have 3 more adults to go and the puppies, but both of their parents are clear of DM. We will still test them too. I do also believe that a lot of breeders don't want to hear that their best breeding dog/stud dog is a carrier or at risk of having DM, but they could also come back as N/N clear too. I do feel that all breeders should test all their dogs so that we have less dogs (if possible) getting this horrible disease. It is a Horrible disease and if your breeding at risk dogs (DM) or carriers to carriers/at risk, then you are only contibuting to the disease and having people that have purchased a puppy from you watch their loved family companion slowly decline and for their body to wither away before their time. It's not what I would personally want to hear (or have on my conscious) from someone getting a puppy from us. JMHO

I am testing for DM.
Although, I have older retired from breeding GSD's, I am only testing the young pups I am using for my breed program,
and dogs that I have that are breeding partners.

 So far
Theo Von Ryan is Normal
Roland glen fingers von Ryanhaus is Normal
Sweet Caroline Von Ryanhaus is a Carrier (She is breeding with Theo a Normal)
Tessie Von Ryan is Normal
Oeht ein Guter Sohn Sein Von Ryanhaus is cleared by parentage (Theo/Tessie)

I test for DM as well and so far all of my dogs have come back N/N. I have had so many people contact me with their heartbreaking stories of their dog they lost due to DM and how they want to buy a DM Clear puppy. I am fortunate to have never personally dealt with it and would like to keep it that way. I feel that all breeders should test for it but I think you guys are right in saying that you think some are afraid of the results. Hopefully some day it will be a requirement before breeding, but I think here in the US it will be a while since they still don't require hip and elbow certifications for AKC. But being progressive and forward thinking as breeders and setting a higher standard for the health of the puppies we produce is the only way to eventually get those in charge to change their thinking and the requirements. I've actually just this week sent it tests for three more dogs. I too used the Vet DNA Center for my testing, and usually add the long coat test for $20 if I don't already know because of prior long coats produced from that dog. I did have one female test clear for the long coat gene. I only sent hers in because out of 8 puppies I had no coats. And my other female Mandy produced 7 puppies with no long coats but she does carry the gene as does the sire, guess I just got lucky that time, although coats are the cutest puppies around!! My other female Vita also 7 pups, no long coats but she has not been tested for the coat gene. Anyway, here's hoping more will begin to test for DM :)

~ Barbie

Zamp von der Urbecke - Normal
Vita vom Kirschental - Normal
Mandy vom Holtkamper Hof - Normal
Malibu von der Westkuste - Clear by parentage (Zamp & Mandy)
Gaia von Salerno - Normal
Khloe von der Westkuste - Results pending (mother is Vita - Normal)
Dolce vom Paukenschlag - Results pending
Una vom Steierwald - Results pending

We have tested all of our dogs for this. Here is less expensive lab that has fast service and they email you your results and then mail the actual test results. I think this is important to test in breeding dogs very important to use as another tool in making breeding decisions. Agree strongly with Kelly . IMO Carriers need to be bred to dogs Clear N/N of this gene. I have heard statements of my lines are clear never had a problem well you do not know until you test. I purchased all of our dogs without being tested and before any of our dogs were used for breeding they were tested for the DM gene.

 Hena z Malej Fatry CD CGC   Normal N/N
Kessy Bohemia Sta - Se ZVV1   Normal N/N
Cheyenne Von Der Oste Kuste CCDL OB PPPD CAL3  Normal N/N
Geena Bady-Ron ZVV1   Normal N/N
Dyk Mania Bohemia ZVV1 CCDL OB PPPD  Carrier  A/N
Dux Valov Dvor SVV1  Normal N/N

http://www.vetdnacenter.com/ 

It is great to see there is other breeders out there that think this is  important   to test for the DM in there dogs. Kudo to the breeders that do and Shame on you breeders that don't.

we lost one from DM and another from spondylosis.  horrible in either case.  i guess that's why i am much more concerned with their spines than their hips.  a hip can be dealt with, the spine is another matter.  thanks to all those breeders who are now testing for DM.  perhaps this will become just as routine as hip xrays.
pjp