tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35351798.post8143654195865496446..comments2023-05-01T08:20:05.782-04:00Comments on Chronicles of a Yarn Obsession: For the Love of a DogCarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13852092038782981663noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35351798.post-20995434946418581302009-03-16T19:57:00.000-04:002009-03-16T19:57:00.000-04:00My 13 y.o. G.S.dog has been suffering with the rea...My 13 y.o. G.S.dog has been suffering with the rear leg weakness for about 2 years, slowly progressing to the point that his toes would bleed after a walk on the pavement. ( from knuckling under). We just assumed, after consulting our vet, that he has D.M. We put him on prednisone and this seemed to give him more strength. We also bought him boots that have rubber (sneaker) bottoms to give him more traction and prevent his feet from tearing and bleeding on the pavement. Recently someone suggested that if the prednisone is working, it might not be D.M. We are considering further testing with some new found hope. The test to determine D.M. is inconclusive, so I'm not sure about that. I know exactly how you feel. We have moved to the 1st floor bedroom and center all of our activities so that he can be with us. We've spent hours feeling sad, depressed, helpless. He has a few flaws in his character, but is my hero and the canine love of my life. The pain of watching this progression is excruciating. Good luck to you, and to all of us going through this with our lovely friends.<BR/><BR/>LynnAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35351798.post-18138478996144939692008-03-15T10:29:00.000-04:002008-03-15T10:29:00.000-04:00That is so sad. I know how expensive pets can be. ...That is so sad. I know how expensive pets can be. We put a dog through chemo for 7 months. I completely feel for you and my heart goes out to you and your lovely Riley. Why not offer up some of your crafty work and ask for donations to help Riley out? I know many knitters/crocheters have done this to help a cause. Might be worth a shot. <BR/>Amanda http://her.blogware.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35351798.post-91368358103951235962008-02-07T12:17:00.000-05:002008-02-07T12:17:00.000-05:00So Sorry for what your going through. I have a bl...So Sorry for what your going through. I have a black lab named Cody that recently started to have weakness in his back legs. He already lost the use of one of his front paws, so this was really ominous.<BR/><BR/>We rescued him from the pound when he was 10 weeks old, when I was a tire salesman and couldn't afford to buy a lab from a breeeder. He was the best dog I've ever owned.<BR/><BR/>I'm a physician now, so I spent the money and had him worked up this week. He had a myelogram on Monday which showed a spinal cord tumor. He couuld barely walk before the test, and 40 hours after the test he couldn't even hold a sitting position.<BR/><BR/>I had to bring him water and sleep downstairs because he cried when I left him. I couldn't watch this once vibrant dog unable to even roll over.<BR/><BR/>We had him put to sleep this morning. It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make. I'm crying now just typing about it. I miss him so much. He was so good to us; we didn't deserve all the love and affection that he gave us. I took him for granted. I'll never forget him.<BR/><BR/>I'm just replying because I wanted to say that I understand what you're going through. I found your blog when I was googling about Cody. It was an inspiration to me. I want to thank you for it; and I want to encourage you to enjoy every minute, every wag, every lick, every bark, and every step...because they're precious. Make every minute count.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35351798.post-9416223781106518152008-01-28T17:12:00.000-05:002008-01-28T17:12:00.000-05:00I'm so sorry. What a horrible feeling. I wish I ...I'm so sorry. What a horrible feeling. I wish I knew what more to say, or what advice to give, but I just don't. I hope it all works out.Dove Knitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07509052920860503605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35351798.post-28347861777238812572008-01-18T16:02:00.000-05:002008-01-18T16:02:00.000-05:00Hi, I went through all this myself when my rescue...Hi, I went through all this myself when my rescued German Shepherd started showing signs of degenerative myelopathy, a disease which is very prevalent in G.S. dogs (I had experienced it before with my German Shepherds). The canine neurologist told me all the same things that you were told, about all the expensive tests which still leave you in question after spending thousands. My regular vet, however, told me that it almost certainly was degenerative myelopathy, because of the knuckling under of the back paws and because the dog was not in pain (like he would be with a disc problem or arthritis, etc.). Indeed, it is the only comfort of this disease that it doesn't actively cause pain. I have learned so much about degenerative myelopathy. I thought you might like to know that there is now apparently a test for D.M. Here is a link to info on that http://www.mzjf.com/test.html. Perhaps this would be helpful instead of paying so much money for all the big tests. However, I cannot vouch for it because I did not get this test, since I've experienced this disease before and Puppy's symptoms and progression were so typical of D.M. <BR/> <BR/>Also, if it is D.M., you should know there is a lot of info on treatment and suplements at this website http://neuro.vetmed.ufl.edu/neuro/DM_Web/DMofGS.htm<BR/><BR/>Just yesterday I started my dog on the WestLab drugs mentioned in this last link--I have no idea whether there will be any response (my vet thinks<BR/>its a waste of money, but I feel helpless and am willing to try). <BR/><BR/> I wanted to mention the best thing that has been possible. We found (used on Craigslist) a great doggie cart, Eddie's Wheels, that has allowed us to keep taking our dog on long walks. He loves it, because he has mobility when he's in it, while around the house and yard he is quite impaired. The cart has been vital because keeping the front legs strong is vital to help him drag around his rear. <BR/><BR/>I hope some of this is helpful--there are alternatives to the expensive tests that may be helpful whether your dog has degenerative myelopathy or some other ailment. Most of all I wish you and Riley a great future.<BR/><BR/>Susan Eason<BR/>susan.eason@comcast.netsusanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10464230815093437229noreply@blogger.com