DM Death Statistics in the GSD among the PDB members - Page 3

Beetree writes:
Just the facts, folks. It seems there are still some who have never seen this disease, and need proof that dogs do die from it, and it is not confined to a type. At the risk of repeating ourselves, (those of us with dead dogs due to DM), I am wanting to create a list. Seems that is what a few people keep wanting me to do, so here it is.

You can follow my lead, or create your own catagories, I don't care. I just want some statistics for the statistic people to play with. Thanks all for your participation in my quest for your facts.
 

Bee Tree- please note:

There is the German Shepherd Breed Betterment Registry, which is a health database for German Shepherds I created. If you go to the summary analysis page and click on Degenerative Myelopathy in health problems and also in cause of death, it will bring up all the names of the dogs entered upon the GSDBBR that have developed or died from DM along with their pedigrees, along with questionnaire's that seek to gather information about factors that are considered causal factors for the development not only of DM, but all disease. Each of the entered dogs names are clickable, and to bring up the pedigree, just click on the name of the dog on the left side, which is clickable. This can also be done for other diseases. One just needs to click on the disease in which they are interested, to bring up entered dogs with the partcular condition you are looking at. This has been in place for years now, and the link has always been right under my signature! If the sire or dam of the dog has also been entered upon the GSDBBR, their name in the affected dogs pedigree will also be clickable. I would think it would be better to have all the info in ONE place, rather than scattered about the net.

The German Shepherd Breed Betterment Registry
http://www.gsdbbr.org

Years ago, I also created a DM Pedigree Board. There are a few pages of pedigrees of DM dogs, entered by their owners, years ago. Of course, its hardly utilized but if you wish to have a look, it is still up

http://thegermanshepherddogdegenerativemyelopathypedigreeboard80626.yuku.com/ 
 
I have long been trying to gather pedigree info on DM. Perhaps people might wish to help by entering info on the GSDBBR, which is the latest effort to gain info, using a questionnaire that covers many contributing factors to DM and other diseases.

Heavens gate is another health database for GSDS and their is lots of DM info on there, as well. That one doesnt require the dog to be a registered GSD, so that covers rescues and adopted dogs, as well as pedigreed GSDS
http://www.mzjf.info/hgate

Cant say I havent tried to gather DM info. Now, if only people were ready to cooperate, the tools are all in place and have been for years... 
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 , along with their pedigrees! This has bene in place for several years now. The info has always been right under my signature 

Just test your dogs and and prove that your lines are free of the gene. What does it matter if there are no confirmed carriers or at risks in your dog's pedigree? If they haven't been tested, how would you know? Do we not xray hips and elbows unless our dogs have relatives that are lame? I'd guess than the majority of at risks are not listed on the OFA site anyway. Hudson has also pointed out that most at risks don't even include sires, dams or registration information. I get the impression that some here have assumed their dogs cannot be at risks or carriers because they think their lines are exempt from carrying the DM factor. If that is so, then their DNA would be of a lot of interest to the DM researchers. Given every GSD alive today goes back to the same foundation dogs, if there is a string of exempt dogs, then the researchers could try to find when the gene mutated and why.  

Pedigrees are only of academic interest, it's the gene pool of the individual dog that matters. The only significance of a pedigree is that a dog sired by an at risk can only be an at risk or a carrier. Selective breeding can eliminate a simple recessive in 2 generations; at risks and carriers can be used for breeding. It is not a test of elimination, it is a test to provide breeders with one more tool to use when planning a breeding.

For the first years this test was available most dogs tested were from ASL's. I don't think many GSD/WL breeders even knew about this test until we started to talk about it here.

Just test your dogs and and prove that your lines are free of the gene.
 

The way I see it, testing the dog ONLY proves that the dog was tested.

Testing results are:

• Normal / Normal (N/N) - this means your dog does not have the mutated strain and it will not develop degenerative myelopathy. (clear) However, there have been German Shepherds that tested Clear that were found to have DM, upon necropsy.
• Normal / Abnormal (N/A) - this means your dog is a carrier of the gene but will not develop degenerative myelopathy. (carrier) However, there have been German Shepherd Carriers that have been found to have DM, upon necropsy.
• Abnormal / Abnormal (A/A) - this means that your dog is affected with degenerative myelopathy and may develop degenerative myelopathy (affected). Not all dogs with A/A results will develop DM.

The OFA DNA Test only tests for the most common form of the disease, which not all breeds, such as the German Shepherd Dog, develop.

Daryl you have more excuses for not health testing, xraying, or titling your dogs than can be counted on both hands. Breed on..........................

You're just a blind believer in something that doesn't work.  When on ALL accounts the test proves NOTHING, I'll have to listen to common sense, rather than the series of wild and unfounded statements you've concocted.  Attacking me won't make the test any more credible, either.

daryl, we get it.  You don't have any use for testing.  Why bother even entering the discussion, then?  Clearly, you have nothing of any value to contribute, since you don't believe in health and soundness screenings and testings--there's no need for you to keep chiming in, 'prove it-prove it-prove it' ad nauseum.

--- > You're just a blind believer in something that doesn't work.  

Have to say  I agree, in relation to this particular test, but then again, anyone who knows me knows I have zero faith in that test. Having had 2 dogs succumb to DM, if I ever considered owning another GSD, which I will NEVER do as much as I love the breed, an at risk designation wouldnt stop me from purchasing the dog- thats how little faith I have in the test.

I will now run for cover... LOL!
 
Dr Clemmons site has moved- its new url is http://dog2doc.com/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm 

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  

--- > I have worked in the veterinary field since 1986 and I have owned and been associated with GSD's since 1977 and have never seen heard or heard of a dog with DM

 . 

Now you have- meet Missie T... I lost her in April to DM.

Missie T, not a day goes by that I do not think of you and hold you close in my heart.... I miss you more than any words could ever say...

She was so beautiful. I lost my heart GSD to breast cancer last year and remembering her still brings me to my knees.