Looking for DM help...

MelissaS · 12-12-2011, 07:58 PM

Hello, I am new to this community

I am hoping for any advice possible to help out my buddy....
My big old boy Calvin was diagnosed with DM a couple of weeks ago. He is about to be 13 next month so he's no spring chicken...although other than the DM he is remarkably healthy. Since his diagnosis I have been spending all my free time trying to find any advice possible. I have him on several of the supplements suggested by Dr. Clemmons, as well as adding some of the vegetables he suggested to his diet. This week I also started him on Royal Jelly and plan on also adding Bee Pollen to his regimen. Has anyone out there had success with these? He seems to be doing well thus far on the jelly.
I also had another question that I just can't seem to find the answer to... Is the DM worsened by the cold weather? We live in the Northwest and it has been really cold and damp. I want to continue trying to exercise him but I don't want to make it progress further by subjecting him to cold temps...
I am on the fence about trying to drag him to therapy. Since I took him home at 8 weeks he has had terrible anxiety being in the car, no matter what we have tried to soothe him. Just recently we had to take him to the vet which after a night there and 2 car trips left him almost completely unable to walk at all. I think it was the stress of all of it that made his legs so much worse. We thankfully somehow got him back on his feet and walking again. He is very determined and I know he has a lot of fight left in him. This boy has been my hero on more occasions than I can remember and it's my turn to give back to him. I have read through so many of the posts on here and am inspired by the support everyone has ben able to offer. Any help at all would be so appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Melissa

Jax08 · 12-12-2011, 08:03 PM

Read this thread!!! Very exciting!

Success: stem cell treatment for degenerative myelopathy

BR870 · 12-12-2011, 08:06 PM

At 13, I would just try and make whatever time he has left comfortable and spoiled rotten. Thats just me. No therapy, no car rides, no medical procedures. Just tons of love, comfort and lots and lots of dog treats... Let him have what time he has left in happiness surrounded by his people.

zyppi · 12-12-2011, 08:29 PM

I'm sorry.

I lost a 9 year old to DM about 5 years ago.

I would avoid any stress to him, love him and let him enjoy his elder years.

Geeheim · 12-12-2011, 08:49 PM

I agree with what others have said. Just enjoy what time you have left with him. Spoil him rotten and love him lots. =)

marti · 12-16-2011, 04:39 PM

I'm assuming its Degenerative Mylopathy and not Diabetes Melantis?

My GSD was wobbly in the hind legs due to over medication by a Vet. I thought maybe he had DM and so did she.

Fortunately, a pharmacist said he should not be taking both drugs
I went home gradually d/c one of the drugs, found another Vet and he was back to his same old self within a week.

But during the wobbly time, weeks asking the Vet what's wrong with him, I held his tail to steady him everywhere he went but especially as he was getting up. Even the neighbors would help out. It made a big difference. He could then walk very well with that bit of stabilazation even up and down steps.

GSDMUM · 12-17-2011, 01:03 AM

My 11yr old male, Frisco, also has sever DM. He is now on Dr. Clemmons medication ( made in a Pharmacy in Florida and shipped to me, reasonable price).
As far as the weather, it depends. It very well make it worse. Mine reacts badly to hot Georgia summers and it exacerbates his symptoms.

It may be the stress of going to the vet that exacerbated your dog's symptoms. My female passed in the summer and he took it so hard. He was depressed, wasn;t eating, whining, etc. It was just hearwrenching, so we purchased a puppy just for him. It really helped him but the stress of loss made his DM go swiftly downhill. Now he has more stable days and some really bad days. We try to keep his life less stressful. If the puppy is too much for him, he will come over to me and we let him in part of the house where he is comfy.

carlsonee · 01-10-2012, 03:59 PM

http://wholisticpawsvet.com/articles...pherd_Dogs.pdf

Not sure if you have checked out this article, I had a scare with my dog and looked up everything I could. Falko did not have DM, but I was ready to go out and start the diet and supplementation. I am still thinking about checking out that "Natures Recipe Food" too. Let me know what you think. May prayers are with you and your baby.

msvette2u · 01-10-2012, 04:22 PM

I've heard to give them salmon oil.
I'm sorry about the diagnosis and hope you can find some great ideas here.

**JakodaCD OA** · 01-10-2012, 07:11 PM

the link above is a good one.

My senior, now passed male, tho he didn't have DM, he did have spinal issues due to neurological problems associated with tick disease, laser treatments worked really well for him , so that is something you might want to check into as well.

12-12-2011, 07:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
MelissaS New Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 1	Looking for DM help... Hello, I am new to this community I am hoping for any advice possible to help out my buddy.... My big old boy Calvin was diagnosed with DM a couple of weeks ago. He is about to be 13 next month so he's no spring chicken...although other than the DM he is remarkably healthy. Since his diagnosis I have been spending all my free time trying to find any advice possible. I have him on several of the supplements suggested by Dr. Clemmons, as well as adding some of the vegetables he suggested to his diet. This week I also started him on Royal Jelly and plan on also adding Bee Pollen to his regimen. Has anyone out there had success with these? He seems to be doing well thus far on the jelly. I also had another question that I just can't seem to find the answer to... Is the DM worsened by the cold weather? We live in the Northwest and it has been really cold and damp. I want to continue trying to exercise him but I don't want to make it progress further by subjecting him to cold temps... I am on the fence about trying to drag him to therapy. Since I took him home at 8 weeks he has had terrible anxiety being in the car, no matter what we have tried to soothe him. Just recently we had to take him to the vet which after a night there and 2 car trips left him almost completely unable to walk at all. I think it was the stress of all of it that made his legs so much worse. We thankfully somehow got him back on his feet and walking again. He is very determined and I know he has a lot of fight left in him. This boy has been my hero on more occasions than I can remember and it's my turn to give back to him. I have read through so many of the posts on here and am inspired by the support everyone has ben able to offer. Any help at all would be so appreciated. Thanks so much, Melissa

12-12-2011, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
BR870 Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 828	At 13, I would just try and make whatever time he has left comfortable and spoiled rotten. Thats just me. No therapy, no car rides, no medical procedures. Just tons of love, comfort and lots and lots of dog treats... Let him have what time he has left in happiness surrounded by his people. __________________ Rob Ezra von der Rennbahn Princess Abigail "Abbie" Kai (RIP) Loki (RIP)

12-12-2011, 08:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
zyppi Crowned Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Back home to Louisiana! Posts: 4,946	I'm sorry. I lost a 9 year old to DM about 5 years ago. I would avoid any stress to him, love him and let him enjoy his elder years. __________________ Anne Nothing is as simple as it seems or as complicated as we make it~ Attitude is everything -- Pick a good one! Sofie AKA Ussina vom Haus Brezel Jack von Jagenstadt Tatty - Burmese bad cat

12-12-2011, 08:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Geeheim Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 347	I agree with what others have said. Just enjoy what time you have left with him. Spoil him rotten and love him lots. =) __________________ -Tegan vom Heinolf German Shepherds VH FB page

12-16-2011, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
marti New Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	DM I'm assuming its Degenerative Mylopathy and not Diabetes Melantis? My GSD was wobbly in the hind legs due to over medication by a Vet. I thought maybe he had DM and so did she. Fortunately, a pharmacist said he should not be taking both drugs I went home gradually d/c one of the drugs, found another Vet and he was back to his same old self within a week. But during the wobbly time, weeks asking the Vet what's wrong with him, I held his tail to steady him everywhere he went but especially as he was getting up. Even the neighbors would help out. It made a big difference. He could then walk very well with that bit of stabilazation even up and down steps.

12-12-2011, 08:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jax08 Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NNE PA Posts: 14,337	Read this thread!!! Very exciting! Success: stem cell treatment for degenerative myelopathy

12-17-2011, 01:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
GSDMUM Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Atlanta Posts: 226	My 11yr old male, Frisco, also has sever DM. He is now on Dr. Clemmons medication ( made in a Pharmacy in Florida and shipped to me, reasonable price). As far as the weather, it depends. It very well make it worse. Mine reacts badly to hot Georgia summers and it exacerbates his symptoms. It may be the stress of going to the vet that exacerbated your dog's symptoms. My female passed in the summer and he took it so hard. He was depressed, wasn;t eating, whining, etc. It was just hearwrenching, so we purchased a puppy just for him. It really helped him but the stress of loss made his DM go swiftly downhill. Now he has more stable days and some really bad days. We try to keep his life less stressful. If the puppy is too much for him, he will come over to me and we let him in part of the house where he is comfy. __________________ Brandy (GSD) R.I.P 1999 - 2011 Frisco (GSD) 2000 - Cheyenne (GSD) 2011 -

01-10-2012, 03:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
carlsonee New Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 18	Help with DM http://wholisticpawsvet.com/articles...pherd_Dogs.pdf Not sure if you have checked out this article, I had a scare with my dog and looked up everything I could. Falko did not have DM, but I was ready to go out and start the diet and supplementation. I am still thinking about checking out that "Natures Recipe Food" too. Let me know what you think. May prayers are with you and your baby. Last edited by carlsonee; 01-10-2012 at 04:04 PM.

01-10-2012, 04:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
msvette2u Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Beautiful Pacific NW Posts: 5,533	I've heard to give them salmon oil. I'm sorry about the diagnosis and hope you can find some great ideas here. __________________ Ruger v. Sunnyside Stray 4-11-11

01-10-2012, 07:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	the link above is a good one. My senior, now passed male, tho he didn't have DM, he did have spinal issues due to neurological problems associated with tick disease, laser treatments worked really well for him , so that is something you might want to check into as well. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

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