What do we do if our dog has been tested affected?

Do we continue training them?
Do we continue hunting them?
Do we just go on as if nothing has happened and wait?
Do you fix them so they no longer can breed?

And how do you handle the saddness of knowing what's there, that is going to play havoc on your dogs body?

And when they develop DM then what do you do?
Put them Down?
Make their life as comfortable as possible and nurse them as long as possible?

This is not a debate it is a discussion topic. Ideas and words of encouragement belong to this topic if you are to post and join it.

Michael Moscowitz
Murray is at my side

Mike again as I posted above Life goes on.
A 9 year old in my book is a dog that should be neutered as they are at the age they are more suseptible to testicler cancer. Having had a dog with cancer it is just as devistating as DM. With that being said, just move on and train to the best of your abalities I have one effected with EIC needs one pass for MH title, and one tested A/A for DM who is 2 1/2 years needs 4 for MH title. that in my book does not deminish thier value to me in any way.
These guys are bred for huntung and thats what I will do, hunt and train like nothing is wrong. They need the structure no matter what happens.
I forgot to mention I also have a 5 year ond female that Is MH. jammed the Speciality Derby and the Q along the way that is A/N. She is still my buddy and best friend but we still continue to Hunt and Train. Clay

quote:

Originally posted by Moscowitz:
What do we do if our dog has been tested affected?

Do we continue training them?
Do we continue hunting them?
Do we just go on as if nothing has happened and wait?

YES to all of the above! Because at this point nothing HAS happened other than you found out he has 2 copies of a gene that is linked to DM. Having this gene means he MIGHT get DM, not that he will for sure! It is quite possible that he will never develop it, at this point nobody can tell. So keep living every day same as always!

As an owner of a puppy born from an "at risk" bitch, I can tell you I am sure glad that Martin did breed Sassy! DM status is not a reason to eliminate a dog from the gene pool.

Mike

I know it is easier to say than do, but Murray is at risk and hasn't developed DM. Try not to panic, no one knows if Murray will ever develope DM or not since they don't know what will trigger the onset.

Enjoy him like you always have. I believe you said in another post that Murray is 9 years old. You are very lucky to have him live as long as that with or without DM.

We all hope that Murray never develops DM.

Take care

Jeff

Mike,

I just talked to my sister yesterday about DM. She is a k-9 physical therapist...She is going to send me some info, and I will forward it to you. With moderate physical therapy, a dog that is symptomatic can live many months longer than one that has no PT. Much depends on the dog and how the DM progresses. Some dogs live 2-3 yrs after being diagnosed....Some only 6 months.
She does a lot of water treadmill work - I would suggest you continue to work Murray and especially swim him when the weather is warm...

Chin up! Murray may never show symptoms.....and that is what we will pray for!

Do not have Murray neutered....He is a nice dog and can still be bred..... Do you like Larry? Do other people like their 'Murray' sons and daughters?

Juli

Mike,
Come see for yourself! How about the 1/17?

I have an 8yo AA. He is worked everyday because if he doesn't work he won't eat. I expect/accept no less in his training/performance then if he was N/N.
He will continue to run trials in '09.

If someone wanted to breed to him it would depend on what the bitch brings to the table.

Do I watch his gait and hind quarters everyday? You bet!

Until the day he no longer wants or can retrieve
he will do what he loves. I owe him that.

Tim

January 17 is great. Time and place?

Back to DM But there doesseem to be a screw up in results because Larry is Normal and Murray is his sire. I sent a call into Missouri.

Mike, First, the at risk status of Murray is questionable (see DM results posts). But even an "at risk" (AA) dog still deserves life to the fullest. I'll explain.

You know Chessies. They demand and require "a job" to be happy. They need mental & physical stimulation to be truely happy.
So even with an AA dog, life goes on as always. If the dog does FT, HT, hunt, whatever, and is accustomed to that lifestyle
then that should continue. Besides an AA dog may or may not develop DM.

Life is too short anyway for our beloved peakes. If I could I would exchange years of my life to extend the life of any dog
Plus we worry about other diseases/ailments or accidents taking away our chessies 'too early'. Too many unknowns we face.
Therefore, I view each day with any dog a gift. And to live life to the fullest, no matter what. The dog that leads a happy
and fulling life fares better than a dog that does not have the joy or freedoms to participate in what they love to do.
So I cram and pack into each day whatever makes the dog happy. So continue doing what Murray loves and is happiest with.
If training, FT's, Hunting is part of this, go for it. As I said, Chessies need a purpose to be happy. And after all, that is what we all truely want for our peakes, to see them happy and enjoy life. Best Regards, Your concerned friend, Charlie

Words of encouragement. Enjoy the dog and what it brings to your life.
It is understandable to have some sadness, knowing that if DM develops it will certainly take its toll on the animal.
My opinion is you do what is best for you and your dog, only you will know what you can live with. Take it each day at a time, don't dwell on what might happen in two months or longer.

http://sites.google.com/site/bvspawsitivestrides/Kristi...enerative-myelopathy

here is a little info my sister wrote about DM and physical therapy that can be used to help dogs that have symptoms.

Juli

Mike, enjoy Murray and remember he is "at risk" not necessarily affected. They even changed the wording on the ones tested by OFA. I had one of the first to get tested (also AA) and she's listed as affected also. I do not plan to treat her any differently unless or until she shows any symptoms of DM. In the interim, any AA dogs that do not get DM should be of great use to researchers so they can find out what differentiates them from AA dogs that do get DM. A

Its the same dog you owned before the test , Im sure your dog will NOT change the way he/she will treat you .

After being diagnosed with PSC my dogs treated me the same ,,,,i wish my people friends would learn from the dogs .

Hi Mike,

First of all, I hope you will get Murray and Larry re-tested; something isn't right somewhere.

My first Chessie, Kandi, had DM, and I hope I can answer some of your questions (and fears!). Kandi was my first obedience dog, and we were working on her utility dog title when the DM symptoms appeared at age 8.5. Kandi lived another 3 years with DM. I think all the work, exercise, and jumping we did her whole life helped her last as long as she did. I was told by several vets to keep her moving as much as possible.

When Kandi did lose the use of her rear legs, we got a cart for her. There was nothing wrong with her mind, or her front legs at that point, and she did great in the cart. She still needed a JOB, so we started doing pet therapy visits at a local hospital. We visited a wing that treated stroke victims and brain injury patients, who also suffered from paralysis. Seeing Kandi in her "wheelchair" helped these patients so much. I have never done anything with my dogs that I'm more proud of than the visits we made with Kandi. Although watching and caring for a dog with DM is a painful experience, there are wonderful moments too. I honestly would not trade the experience; it taught me so much.

If I had an A/A dog now, I would not back off any plans for training/showing/hunting unless there were definite symptoms. And I'd keep them well exercised/conditioned. There are some older A/A dogs that are still fine.

I hope this helps!
Lorrie

Mike while your down on the 17th you can come and hunt over another A/A chessie. Tim you should come too.

Thor is 3 and my pup is 8 months both are A/A and I am going to train, hunt, test, and maybe even show and trial them like I planned.

This test does not and will not affect how I will treat these dogs. Yes I will be careful who I breed them too but I am going to do as much with them as I can because we both love to do it.

If your kid tested postived for some disease he might get when he is 40 are you not going to allow him to play baseball and football as a kid and just tell him you should just drop out of school?

Well you kids have fun this evening I am going to go hunt my A/A dog right across the water from where DR. Stewart hunted his dogs 200 years ago.

Mike, I was devasted to learn my Gauge was A/A but have since read as much as possible about DM. The forumns both here and cbrs4me are great in both teaching and all the opinions. I am now going on with life as normal, we are doing both conformation and starting hunt tests n the spring. I now have a changed attitude and still have a great dog. He doesn't seem to care one way or another as long as he's working on something. Deb

Just to let everyone know the certification on Murray was wrong. He is a carrier and not affected. Larry is normal. But i can't help but be extremely sensitive to dogs that are affected. But the strange thing is Murray is a carrier of DM & EIC. Yet Larry is Normal of DM and clear of EIC. Murray is Larry's sire. Go figure!! So we must continue to keep carriers in the breeding pool.