fourleg.com

Hi Laurie,

I have a query about the treatment/management of a German Shepherd diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy this week.
The dog has Hip Dysplasia diagnosed several years ago.   She has been swimming at our facility 3 times a week for the last 5 years.
 
What would you recommend for the initial treatment of this dog?    We have a Spectravet Laser, Acupuncture, NMES and a Muscle contractor.
Looking forward to your advice.

Cheers
-P

Hey P,
As for your DM, CHD dog, you are already doing all the right things... keep him moving.  I address spinal issues (due to maladaptive movement strategies) and help the owner to acquire assistive devices as the become necessary.  Other than that, there really isn't much you can do to change the course of it's direction or the seemingly random progression (fast or slow).
You can laser the mid - upper thoracic spine, and hips too of course... and acupuncture for the same.  But these will not change the progression of the DM.  I would't waste any time on e-stim.  Any upright functional activity is going to be WAY better.  E-stim in this scenario is 'pissing in the wind' (please forgive this rural Canadian phrase, but, I thought you'd be able to 'handle it'!)

There is that study by Kathmann et al re: DM dogs.  I look at what they did and quite frankly, I think the 'magic' in what was provided was the exercise.  Lots of short tolerable bouts of exercise (be it UWT or walks). Do not press into fatigue.  And in regards to their recommendations for massage, if the massage helps the dog with stress and sleep... then those could bolster physical function... but there is not a direct correlation with the DM.  ROM... watch the joints and see if it's needed.... I've never had a DM dog lose range.

(I believe I have an article on DM in the Articles section under Neurological Rehab, if you are wondering what on earth I'm talking about in regards to the Kathmann study).
https://www.fourleg.com/media/DEGENERAT ... PATHY2.pdf

I hope this helps!

Cheers,
-Laurie