[QUOTE=mommy peanut;7914274]
Blume Farm,
There are other labs/places that do the DM test that have nothing to do with OFA. Just an FYI :)[/QUOTE]
So, it is a dna test? Or is there a diagnostic test?
It’s a DNA test. Multiple labs will send it out for you, like Idexx, OFA, Antech etc, but they all send the sample to University of Missouri.
Getting affected results (A/A) in a symptomatic dog goes a long way to confirming diagnosis, but getting clear results (G/G) wouldn’t rule it out because there is a non-inherited form as well. The vast majority of dogs affected have the genetic type but some do develop the spontaneous type (which is opposite from people).
[QUOTE=bluedapple;7907729]
just wondering how your vet diagnosed it? Did you guys go to your own vet, a neurologist, X-ray, mri?[/QUOTE]
Own vet , with a referral to a neurologist. Did in house rads , they were surprisingly clean for a 14 year old Show (Americanized) GSD. Discussed MRI/myelogram but given his age and current symptoms/symptom progression over time it was pretty clear.
I am fairly close to UF and there is a specialist there who has done a lot of research on the disease and has a theory that it may be auto immune based in some dogs. In my own dogs case, as a puppy (I got him as an owner surrender at the referral clinic where I worked ) he suffered from pretty terrible Eosinophillic Gastroenteritis in the end we ended up throwing the book at him to treat it and in all honestly none of them really “cured it” He eventually just grew out of the symptoms by about 2 maybe 3 years old. But he certainly had a history of possible immune related issues.
Dr. Clemmons as far as I know still will do consults for DM patients.
http://dog2doc.com/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm
http://www.westlabpharmacy.com/index.php?module=VeterinaryPatients&page=veterinarydegenerativemyelopathy
well, if it helps, I have a dog that was mis-diagnosed with DM. The symptoms sure looked like it, and we all agreed it would be silly to pursue MRI, etc. They did do a genetic test and he tested negative- I think from my reading it is the best test to do first, quite cheap. If the dog tests negative, probably best to assume he doesn’t have DM and pursue other testing options to make sure it’s not something treatable.
In the meantime we started on underwater treadmill work and we met several dogs+owners with DM pursuing the same option. Their dogs gradually got worse and worse, and mine got rapidly better- went from staggering around like drunk and falling down to running and jumping. Vets quietly decided he must have had a blown disc or something that they missed. I’m still annoyed that even in the face of the negative test they didn’t bother to pursue any other options or treatment. He might have some impairment for life that might have been prevented with a quick, accurate diagnosis and surgery. We had several sessions where I objected he had tested negative and they poo-pooed it and ignore the fact that he was getting better.
