DM Death Statistics in the GSD among the PDB members - Page 12

---> I am way beyond your nickle and dimes. 

Well good for you :)


  Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate  

My heart aches. My GSD tested as "carrier" via Dr. Coates. His internist who is very good friends with Dr. Coates says my Blade has full blown GSDM and it doesn't matter about the test. There are flaws in the GSD breed for this particular test. My Blade will be PTS in 10-12 days if I am lucky. But it may be Friday if I am not. He has had had chronic GI which no Vet I take him to can help him now. And on top of that today he had raging UTI from GSDM. I am so devastated. I don't want to live or breath. Without him by my side I nothing. I don't believe this test is accurate for GSD's and never will. I will place him in Marjorie's database. I told his breeder today I have to set him free. She cried. I never thought she cared about him because I was not a National Schutzhund trainer. But surprisingly she does. She sent me a prayer my Facebook. But I am in so much pain I can't think straight. Gwen

Gwenith, I realize it's of scant comfort, but know this: you do not grieve Blade alone; the hearts of thousands of others who have lost GSDs they loved to this stealthy thief we call degenerative myelopathy are with you in spirit, and each time we hear of another victim, the barely-healed scar in our own hearts bleeds anew for that dog, and in memory of the ones we lost as well.  I am grateful to your breeder for her compassion, as it would be an additional injury to learn that the person who brought Blade into the world had forgotten that first and foremost, these dogs are companions, family members, not tools...

Would you please indulge us, the ones who will shed tears with you when you tell us Blade has been freed, post your favorite picture of Blade here, so we can see him as the dog he truly is? Not in this thread, with it's arguing and acrimony, but in this one instead, which is serving as a memorial of sorts to all the dogs boardmembers have lost to this disease, as well as other heritable diseases:

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/forum.read?mnr=605915

That thread should remind us that the toll this disease takes is real, regardless of the form in which it strikes...and that it's impossible for there to be too much research into the causes of it in all it variations. 

Gwenith, my heart breaks for you and your Blade.

I think this pretty much sums up this discussion right about now:


I understand where beetree is coming from, and I also understand why she's asking the questions she's been asking--and it is NOT because she favors one vet's work over another's, or doubts that there may be questions that still need to be answered about the disease.

BUT--I also understand why Marjorie's responses are so emotionally charged...If there had been more interest, more effort, more dialog and involvement by GSD owners back when the thread below was posted, then perhaps the work Dr. Clemmons has been doing for better than 30 years (that's how long I'VE been aware of it--it's probably longer than that) wouldn't have been financially abandoned by U of Florida:

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/bulletins.read?mnr=283635

What was feared then unfortunately did come to pass, and everyone who owns a German Shepherd Dog is at risk of paying an awful penalty because of this. Let's see if we can't get past the animosity, and get this work fully funded somehow, whether it's privately or is by the university itself.

Marjorie, although you are one of the most knowledgeable laypersons in the world when it comes to this disease, you are probably not the best person for the public relations/fundraising activities--you're far more effective, from what I've observed, when it comes to educating dog owners about the disease itself, and teaching them about managing an affected dog so he or she has the best possible quality of life. It's difficult to present just the *right* amount of passion for the cause without showing so much emotion that it's off-putting to potential donors.

beetree, I think I recall you mentioning some experience with writing grant requests...am I correct? Would you be interested and willing to become involved in that capacity? I would think that it would be best if whoever was going to be doing the grant-writing communicated with Dr. Clemmons directly, so there's nothing that gets 'lost' in the relay of information, and it was my experience that Dr. Clemmons was easily reachable and readily available in the service of researching this disease...so I believe it should be simple enough for an experienced grant-writer to work with him to craft successful proposals.

We can bicker back and forth about the OFA test's value or lack thereof, or we can come together as a community of GSD lovers to fight back against something that steals them from us far too early and far too cruelly.

Gwenith, I am so very sorry for what you are going through, I know your heart is breaking.  

Gustav, I will stop, now.

Hexe, 
You are a great communicator. I agree with your post! 
I certainly might be able to help, I will PM you.

(Have a great 4th of July, to everybody. I'll be leaving this thread be for today, I want to stay happy.)

Beetree, my request was only in reference to the question, lol, otherwise I enjoy your posts as does everyone else. I also sympathize with anyone who experiences a life threatening complication with their dogs. Trust me. I guess I am kinda like a General or Sgtmajor, in that I have been in the breed so long and seen so many of these things, I try to view them pragmatically instead of emotionally. I turn my feelings toward educating myself toward how to prevent things as opposed to curing things. There's a place for both types, that's why I support you and Marjorie in what you seek, while at the same time try to educate some people that there are ways to enjoy this breed and significantly reduce your chances of dealing with this type of malady through genetic selection. We both are working for the same thing, just express ourselves and our a cations differently. Happy 4th to you also!

Gwenith,

I am wrapping my cyberarms around you and holding you tight. I am so saddened about  Blade, and the pain I know you are feeling.  It hurts my heart each time I see another who the disease has preyed upon. Its one bad serial killer that needs to be laid to rest, just like it does to our beloved fur kids. Its horrid choice to make that final decision, but concentrate on what and when is best for him.  Thats true love...

Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate 

Hexe, that was pretty funny! We could also use a clip of Abbot and Costello's "who's on first"..LOL!

Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate  

Gwenith, I'm so sorry to hear about your precious Blade. My heart aches for you and tears flow as I write this. My girl, Shelby, also has DM also and I don't think she will be here in a few months. We know the outcome of this horrible disease, but we are never prepared. Sending prayers and hugs... 

Hexe, Excellent post- you made so many good points! 

Marjorie, I think anyone who has a dog with DM or has lost a dog to DM wants to get to the bottom of this, but it is all quite overwhelming and confusing. I really appreciate all you've done to educate and raise awareness about DM. Your support website has been very helpful.  

I still don't know what to think about the DM DNA testing. My dog tested as affected/at risk on two separate tests from different labs and she has full blown DM. So, in this regard the test was accurate. Nothing is perfect and is it not possible that this test, as with many diagnostic tests for a variety of diseases, produces inaccurate results at times? I'm sure you have written about this, but with so much that has been written I wouldn't know where to begin to look.

You mentioned in another post, "They have already admitted, in writing, that in certain breeds the type of DM the breed gets is not caused by the SOD1." So, if the GSDs don't have the SOD1 gene that the DM test is screening for, what causes the test results to come out as affected/at risk as opposed to carrier or clear? I am not a biology major or geneticist and am just trying to understand all of this.



 

--- > So, if the GSDs don't have the SOD1 gene that the DM test is screening for, what causes the test results to come out as affected/at risk as opposed to carrier or clear? 

I have no idea :( My expertise is solely GSDM


 .. :( I a m like a horse with blinders Marjorie
http://www.gsdbbr.org The German Shepherd Dog Breed Betterment Registry
BE PROACTIVE!
http://mzjf.com --> The Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group http://www.mzjf.info/hgate Heaven's Gate