CDRM (degenerative myelopathy)

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Does anyone have a dog that suffers from this disorder?

Also my vet has recommended a Biko Physio Brace so would be interested if anyone has used one, and if it helps.

Thanks
 
Its a horrible, horrible condition. Unfortunately I have had quite a few dogs with it, not a huge amount that can be done apart from keeping them as muscled as possible, gentle steady exercise is the way to go. Swimming is good, if you can find a hydro pool near you (I see you are in Shropshire, depending on which part you are there is a pool in S Cheshire). As your lad is 12 and presumably only just showing symptoms you should hopefully be able to give him a decent quality of life for a while yet. The good part of CDRM, if it has a good part, is that they are in no physical pain, sadly as they lose the ability to get about I believe they do suffer mental pain, and I have always made the decision to pts before they are totally off their legs. I do know of people who have used the "wheelchairs" but it is not something I personally would choose.
I have never heard of the Physio Brace so can't offer an opinion, off to google now.

Just had a look, it does look really interesting, wonder how much they are. Might have a chat with my vets to see what they have heard about them. Although Buffy does show some of the signs of CDRM I think it is more to do with spondylitis so wouldn't use for her, but with the probably inevitable fact that as I have GSDs I will probably have another at some point with CDRM it is something I will bear in mind.
 
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I agree Murphysminder - as soon as it gets to the stage he can't walk comfortably, or becomes incontinent, I will make the decision, although am dreading that day. I certainly would not go down the wheelchair route as couldn't imagine anything more humiliating for a dog!

Fortunately he is still very mobile, just loses his hind legs occasionally when climbing up steps etc and my vet has seen the brace used on other dogs with positive results, even if it cannot put off the inevitable. They retail at approx £80 but have one at the surgery which they are kindly going to loan me, so will see how he gets on.

I will google pools in our area, and may pm you if can't find one more local. He is happy pottering about and going for a daily walk and appreciate that I need to keep him going as much as I can.

He is an incredibly cheerful and seemingly healthy chap and does not seem concerned at the moment so am just hoping that we can keep him comfortable whilst he is still enjoying life.....
 
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It sounds like he is in the very early stages, so I will keep my fingers crossed you have lots of time left with him. You seem to think very much like I do as to when it is time to let them go, I couldn't bear to see one of mine dragging themselves round, to me that would be keeping them going for purely selfish reasons.:(
 
Yes, and I will level with you.

The first bitch was kept on about two years too long and my mother still feels guilty over 20 years later.

The second, we called the vet the minute we saw her struggling to get her weight onto her back legs.
She'd already broken a front one as a puppy and I was never going to let a big brave girl like that drag her back legs and soil herself after having got to 14 against all the odds.

Sadly, as yet there is no cure :(

Hope you enjoy the rest of your time with your boy x
 
Thanks CaveCanem - don't worry I know the score, and am always of the mind of a day too early than a day too late, whatever the animal.

Fortunately is it is very mild at the moment and he is still happily using his hind limbs, just occasionally misses a step or struggles to get up a hill, which is why the vet suggeted the brace.

I think the worst thing, although ironically the best thing, is that he will not be in pain but that is maybe why it will be harder when the time comes to pts.....

As a matter of interest, how quickly does the condition progress, although I appreciate that every case will be different?

Thanks for all yout kind words and support x
 
You are right, it is hard when they are not in pain, it is tempting to keep putting off the moment. But if you know your dog you recognise when they are losing that quality of life, even if it something as simple as becoming incontinent in the house, that can really upset some dogs who have always been clean.
Ime it doesn't progress particularly fast, I think with mine it has usually been at least a year often more before I have felt the time has come, and I am so paranoid about it I usually spot the symptoms very early on.
 
Firstly I am very sorry to hear about your boy. He obviously has a very loving owner who wants to do the best for him.

I am a veterinary nurse and part of my job is running our hydrotherapy pool and water treadmill. I have swum probably twenty or so dogs now with CDRM, mainly GSD's but certainly not all. It is a horrid condition but although there is no cure definately things can be done to improve the dogs quality of life. As others have said it is no way physically painful but definately causes mental upset when the dogs mobility really starts to deteriorate and also when incontinence kicks in.

I have had clients who have used the Biko harness and it did help to some extent with keeping the dog more stable whilst walking. My clients had the dogs measured at their vets and then vets ordered in for them. From what I remember they arn't cheap, but the clients felt they did help.

I have also had clients buy carts, the dogs do generally cope well with them and do enjoy being able to 'run' again but I'm not sure how well they sit with me.

Definately go down the hydro route (not just because I do it) it really does help to keep the mobility going and their muscles as strong as possible. I advise water treadmill sessions if the dogs mobility is still good as they find it much easier to walk in the water and it's also building up
the muscles they use for walking. Once the dogs mobility decreases then I would advise swimming.

Hope that helps even a little xxx
 
Just to add also that I have seen some dogs progress quickly over a couple of years and then some dogs will remain static for years and then suddenly deteriorate so it's very much individual to each dog.

It also depends of course when the owners feel the time is right to call it a day, personally and this is only my opinion and I never had a dog with it personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable with keeping them going when they can't have a reasonable level of mobility or continence xx
 
Both of ours have been very gradual.

We knew D had it for a while because of the knuckle scraping behind, but like I say, she had already broken a leg in puppyhood so the minute it became apparent that her ability to get up and down was starting to go, we made a decision.

As others, when movement and toileting ability starts to be compromised, IMO, it's time.
 
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