CDRM and feeling low

Oberon

Oberon

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Old girl started on Prednisolone a week ago but I'm not seeing any benefit. I didn't think we would.

She's bad this weekend. She's fine around the house, but going for a walk is hard for her after 5 minutes. She just trudges on, not sniffing or leaving scent.

I might just walk her round the block tomorrow and take the Wolf for a longer walk on his own.

Do you find they have good days and bad, like MS sufferers, or is this a fast decline?

She's been showing symptoms (in hindsight) gradually for a year now.

This week, the news and it's implications that I'm going to have to say goodbye to her at some point, has finally hit me and I'm struggling to deal with it.

Can other people who have dealt with this, give me their experiences please.
 
First of all I'm sorry, it's a horrible disease. I havn't got personal experience but I am a vet nurse and as part of my job I run our canine hydro pool so I swim dogs with CDRM. Some dogs deteriorate very quickly and some take longer. Sometimes they get worse then stay like that for a time before deteriorating again.

Have you tried hydro? As long as you find it doesn't make your dog too exhausted post session you may find our dog enjoys it and it will help to keep her muscles built up.

To be honest, drug wise I've never really known anything to help/slow the progression down. I'm sorry xx
 
Also if she is struggling to go out on walks I'd just let her potter round the garden, ie let her decide what she wants to do. Also keep her on grass as much as possible to protect her feet. I have known some people have success with the Biko harness too xx
 
When my girl started to go downhill we stopped walking but we had a big garden.
We had no time frame and no framework.
He began showing symptoms like foot scraping at aged 12 and then at 14 she started to slow down.
The first ever day I saw her struggling to get up onto her hind legs out my bedroom window, I told my mother and she called the vet and she was given sleep within about half an hour.
Bear in mind our decision was based on her great age for a GSD and the fact that she had broken a front leg in puppyhood and we did not think it fair to then have her struggling to bear weight on her hinds.

As mentioned, drugs don't really have an impact on CDRM.
 
Thank you.

Other people's experiences help. I looked at some videos on YouTube and seen what stage I never want her to get to....

We go on the beach as often as possible (when the tides is out enough to walk safely on the sands) and she paddles in the sea - so she gets free hydrotherapy:)

Just walked her around the block yesterday and she'd had enough, so I dropped her back home and took Salem out on his own. Despite my fears of how he'd cope as an only dog, he was a pleasure to walk and much more responsive. So that gives me one less thing to worry about.

I'm still bursting into tears each day, but I'm starting to adjust to the idea that I can't fix this.

I've never lost a pet yet, so Xara will be my first time when it comes.....
It's going to suck:(
 
I'm really sorry for you your girl, it really is awful :(

I too have a girl suffering from it and had a very slow decline over the last few years, however last year she had a rapid decline with the vet saying I should think about options if she continues declining at that rate :( She appears to have steadied again temporarily

She has steadied a little and on metacam for her severe arthritis in her front legs ( been on it since diagnosed at 18months). I am dreading it as she is my first dog ive had from pup. We actually haven't done any road/concrete/tarmac walking for about 3-4 yrs now due to all 4 feet dragging and she is now restricted a little, ie only 2mins of ball throwing rather than 20mins. I will add she is a staffie and only 8yrs 7months but very old in body, luckily puppy in mind :rolleyes: :D
 
Wow, that is sad. At least my girl is old (at least 13, but we can't be sure). Sorry about your girl, that's really not fair. xx
 
I feel for you Oberon, that is what is so horrible about the condition I think, we are helpless to do anything. My experience is that there is no particular time scale, Buffy only deteriorated very slightly over a couple of years and then suddenly this summer went downhill quickly, but I have others who have lost the use of their legs slowly but steadily if that makes sense. It might seem harsh but once mine start falling over a lot, struggling to get up that si when I make the decision. I know some people swear by the carts etc but not something I personally could do.
If you can take her on the beach and in the sea that sounds great, but I agree with others that to some extent you have to be guided by them and maybe stop walks and just have potters in the garden, or if you she enjoys the car, take her to grass areas for a change of scenery. Its a killer on your back though lifting a big dog in and out of the car.
Its easier said than done I know but try not to think to much about the future, and enjoy the time you have with her now.
Kc Mac, so sorry about your staffie, 8 is too young.:( A friends champion bitch was affected at only 8 too, very sad.
 
Xara's doing OK so far. Some days weaker, some stronger but she's still managing to walk with us every day.

She was up for fun today when Salem found a piece of wood and she decided she wanted it.
(please excuse my terrible voice - she's a little deaf to me these days...!)
[YOUTUBE]QXI--cbe8kc[/YOUTUBE]
 
My old boy was diagnosed with this at the end of last year, at the time the vet said we'd have to make a decision within 6 months so I have a pretty good idea of what you're going through.
Sadly Sarge died from something unrelated 3 days after being diagnosed but at least I didn't have to watch him decline...

Obviously I didn't have much time to research it but I was going to take him swimming and Hilton Herbs do a supplement for CDRM, might be worth a try.

Also, my vet mentioned one of the Hills feeds, the b one I think. He thought maybe feeding spinach would help as that seems to be the main ingredient in this feed.
No idea if any of this will help but I guess it's worth a try.
 
My last GSD had this. Horrible distressing condition. She had already had major spinal surgery for a collapsed disc but it eventually got to the stage where she had her paws bandaged to prevent the scraping/rubbing, then very quickly became more indisposed on her hind legs. The morning she couldn't stand up again after a wee was the morning I said goodbye.

Makes me cry even after nearly 10 years without her - Miss you Adicia xxx

Sorry, that's me being a bit soppy.
 
whisp&willow said:
what a shame :( i dont have any experience with CDRM, but just wanted to say how sorry i am for those who have (had) to see their dogs go through it. :(

Oberon: fingers crossed xara's stronger days outnumber the weaker ones. ;)

xxx
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Thank you.

I don't burst into tears on the beach, when I walk her any more.
But I can see her getting weaker.
I really can't fathom not having her with me forever.:(

I've noticed she has adapted to her weakness though - her gait is different when she runs and she gives herself a run up to get on our bed.:)

She is the member of my animal family who HAS improved with shoes
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i kind of know what you mean- i felt that way about tego this sommer (40 yr old pony) she was just looking a bit thin and poor. it struck me how little time we may have left... it terrifies me, and she's actually my sisters pony- so we arent even the closest. :(

:p at the shoes! ;)

xx
 
She's been doing OK over the last few months - has a couple of 'canter' steps on the beach when the tide is out because she loves the beach so much.

But this week she's been struggling.

And today she was dreadful:(

Her 'bad leg' (right hind) kept getting left behind (about 5 times) and she really struggled with stability.

I'll see how she feels on the beach when the tide is out.

I don't know what to do.

I don't know when 'it's time'?

She's still happy around the house - weak but can make it on the bed when she really wants to....but she's struggling to walk around the block.

When do you call it a day?
 
Oh bless her. She's your dog and you know her best so it will be hard for anyone else to say.
As mentioned on this thread and ad nauseum every time the topic is brought up, with us, it was just seeing her struggle badly to get onto her feet and the look of mortification/unhappiness on her face, not being able to understand why parts of her that used to work, did not anymore, even though in her head she knew what she was trying to do.
This after a very full life, surviving quite a few knocks, and having giving us all she had, despite that.
 
She's still able to get up. She's still able to get excited about going for a walk. She still enjoys the first part of the walk - sniffs and leaves scent.

Looking back through the thread and the previous replies - it's not time yet.

I just needed to talk.
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Thanks.
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Ok so I had a chocolate bar in bed with a DVD to make myself feel better.....and she made it onto the bed to mug me! Shes currently snuggling up to me now!
 
Like CC I made the decision with mine (and sadly more than one:() when they were really struggling to get to their feet, and overbalanced a lot once on their feet. With Buffy I perhaps decided a little sooner as with her sight problems although she was able to get up she really struggled with her balance and was beginning to look so confused.:(
From what you say it sounds like your girl still has a reasonable quality of life, so I think you are probably right that it isn't her time yet.
 
Feeling for you on this one; she will let you know when enough is enough, and I guess one small comfort to gain from all this is that there is no pain associated with it..........you are doing your best for her, she is still quite happy and coping xxx
 
I'm back again for some more support.

She shuffles with her back legs now. She can walk half the block before she struggles (staying upright with poorly functioning hind legs is tiring).

She can't walk in the bathroom on the tiles without her beck legs splaying.

As I write and think about it, I would class her as struggling.

But she is still 100% in herself and gamely barks at anyone coming to the door.

I keep thinking "better a day too early than a day too late." But she is so happy otherwise.

I thought I would know when it's time....but I am so confused. Do I carry on and wait for her to start struggling more and lose function on her back lags or do I end it now, and let her go out while she is happy and healthy?

Doing the math, we've had her almost 11 years and the RSPCA aged her as between 3 and 5....so she could be 14-16.

On the plus side - I don't have to worry about her future health...so if she wants something to eat she can have it. Even if that means my ice lolly (that I was enjoying before she demanded it :p)

xaraicelolly.jpg
 
Aw I so feel for you, I have been in the same position too many times with CDRM. It sounds like she isn't really enjoying her walks now, would she get upset if you left her at home and just let her potter round the garden? When mine have reached the stage when they are having more bad times than good that is when I make the decision to let them go, but it is something only you can decide.
 
I think you will know when the times right, as she's not in pain and is happy and healthy then you should just spoil her rotten :)

When the time was right for Jake ( he had a tumor in his jaw ) he changed so dramaticaly, so quickly; deep depression, hiding from everyone, not wanting to go out or even move. Was the hardest thing we've ever had to to, we had never lost a pet before either.

Anyway, hope you are feeling more possitive and huggles to your doggie x

I had pizza and strawberry cheesecake to cheer me up :)
 
Thank you.

I curtail the walks when she is with us or I just take her to the yard alone and let her potter (which she loves).

She seems so happy in herself and if I think about it - totally not ready to go.

But then I worry about not knowing when it's time :rolleyes:

Spoke to hubby this evening and he gave me an emphatic - "stop being stupid...she's perfectly fine." :o

Sorry to periodically ramble like this - just need to get it out sometimes :o
 
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