This story was updated June 2018.
Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is one of the most devastating neurological disorders in dogs. It’s a progressive disease caused by the breakdown of the spinal cord. It most often strikes dogs between the ages of 8 – 14, but dogs as young as 5 years-old have been diagnosed as well.
DM is an autoimmune disease that slowly attacks a dog’s central nervous system by killing off the protective coating of the spine called myelin. Without myelin, nerves are unable to communicate with the part of the brain that controls movement.
Dogs become paralyzed in the hind end within 6 months to 1 year. Eventually the paralysis moves to the front limbs and respiratory system.
Until a few years ago, there wasn’t much a veterinarian could offer in the way of treatment. Today Degenerative Myelopathy dogs have new options thanks to researchers who have dedicated their careers to studying the disease.
R.M. Clemmons, DVM, PhD is one of these heroes. Before his retirement as Associate Professor of Neurology & Neurosurgery at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Dr. Clemmons worked with DM dogs for more than a decade. His research led to the development of a four-tier plan to manage symptoms and slow the progression of DM.
One of the major components of the plan is a diet that slows the progression of the disease.
Before I share Dr. Clemmons’ diet for DM dogs here are more facts you should know about Degenerative Myelopathy.
First discovered in 1973, DM is a genetic disorder that is comparable to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) and Multiple Sclerosis in humans. Dogs with DM show early warning signs of: hind end weakness, stumbling or crisscrossing the back legs, and knuckling or scuffing the rear feet when they walk.
A mutated gene has been identified as the major risk factor for the disease. An easy-to-use DNA test is available from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) for owners and breeders. The test is approved for breeds that have been proven to be susceptible to DM though a University of Missouri study.
These breeds include:
- American Eskimo Dogs
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Borzoi
- Boxers
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Great Pyrenees
- Kerry Blue Terriers
- Pembroke Welsh Corgis
- Poodle
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers
- Wire Fox Terrier
Read about Skye’s Story of Degenerative Myelopathy
Here is Dr. Clemmons’ Diet for Dogs with DM
The overall goal of the DM diet is to stabilize the immune system of sick dogs through wholesome and balanced home-cooked food. Processed foods have been eliminated. And scientifically proven vitamins, minerals, and natural herb supplements have been added.
“Diet may have a powerful influence on the development of chronic degenerative diseases and new information suggests that dietary regulation might play a more significant role in the progression and development of diseases like MS,” said Dr. Clemmons. “Elimination of toxins from pre-processed food may assist in preventing a number of immune-related disorders. The current treatment of DM is designed to suppress the immune disease, but does nothing to correct the immune alterations which led to the disease state. Diet might help in correcting this defect and allow the immune system in DM dogs to stabilize.”
It might surprise you to learn the DM diet is not based on large quantities of meat.
“Wild dogs were not big meat eaters” said Dr. Clemmons. “They ate bodies, including intestinal contents often laden with plants and plant materials.”
The Basic DM Diet
This recipe is equivalent to one serving for a 30-50lb dog. It equals 1 can of commercial dog food. Adjust the portions up or down for your dog.
- 2 oz. Boneless Pork Center Loin Chop (boiled, baked or fried in olive oil)
- 4 oz. Tofu (soybean curd)
- 8 oz. Long Grain Brown Rice (3 oz. cooked in 6 oz. water)
- 2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ cup Molasses
- 2 Whole Carrots (boiled and then cut up)
- 1 cup Spinach (cooked)
- 4 Tbs. Green Bell Pepper (chopped and steamed)
- 4 Broccoli Spears (boiled and then cut up)
You can substitute poultry, beef and lamb for the pork chop. This will alter the composition slightly, mainly by added additional fat. The weight of meat is based upon boneless portions.
Most of the items can be prepared in a microwave or by boiling them. Based on your dog’s body weight, you will need to make more or less. For example, if your dog weighs 80 pounds, multiply all the ingredients by 1.5, keeping their relative proportions.
Food can also be prepared in advance and frozen for later use. Dr. Clemmons recommends that before feeding, you remove the food from the freezer and thaw in hot (or boiling) water or microwave to defrost.
Note: Dr. Jeff Feinman, Certified Homeopath and Integrative Veterinarian pointed out that some dogs are allergic to tofu (soy products). It causes gas and bloating. Dr. Clemmons likes tofu because it contains flavonoids which promote health. You can start with tofu in the recipe, but substitute with one of the other proteins if you see digestive problems.
To complete the diet, add (amount per serving):
- 1 tsp Dry Ground Ginger
- 2 Raw Garlic Cloves (crushed)
- ½ tsp Dry Mustard
- 1 tsp Bone Meal
Note: Pet owners have shared their concern about adding garlic to the diet. I contacted Dr. Clemmons about the issue and here is what he wrote on June 21, 2018.
“Garlic is not toxic to dogs in culinary levels. The first study to implement garlic in toxicity came from Australia where 5 dogs were lumped with 1 cat. The dogs ate onions which are toxic in moderate amounts and the cat had a reversible Heinz body anemia and ate garlic. The second study looked at dogs on garlic and if fed garlic over 7.5% by weight of diet, the dogs did develop a reversible Heinz body anemia. That is a lot of garlic. So, we do not see toxicity at normal levels used in cooking. The rest is not quite an urban legend, but those are the facts.”
Garlic is an excellent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory food. Dr. Clemmons recommends garlic because when it is combined with dry or pickled ginger it can replace the need for “aspirin-like (NSAID) drugs.”
That said, a report posted in Veterinarypartner.com, links garlic to Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in some dogs. IMHA causes severe anemia. If you are concerned about adding garlic to the diet, try substituting with these antibacterial foods: coconut oil, honey or ginger. Be aware that coconut oil can cause diarrhea and ginger can cause gas and bloating. Start with small amounts to see how well your dog tolerates these foods.
Dr. Clemmons also recommends mixing the DM diet into your dog’s existing food a little at a time until they adapt to it. The process should take about a week. This should help dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Dr. Clemmons has also approved the DM diet for healthy dogs that are listed as one of the breeds susceptible to the disease.
The 3 other tiers of Dr. Clemmons overall treatment plan for DM Dogs.
These include:
Exercise – such as walking or swimming with periods of rest.
Medication – as prescribed by your veterinarian.
Dietary Supplements – Yeast, B-Complex, vitamin E and C, and selenium. In addition: omega-3 fatty acid, Gamma Linolenic acid, Soybean Lecithin, Coenzyme Q, Ginkgo Ginseng: (males only) Dong quai: (females only) Green tea, Grape seed extract, Hydergine, Siberian Ginseng, Bromelain/ Curcumin and Feverfew. (Dosages are available on Dr. Clemmons’ website.)
Click here to read the complete article written by Dr. Clemmons about his 4-tier plan for treating dogs with DM and other neurological diseases.
You can find many of the supplements for Dr. Clemmons DM diet on Amazon, where Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog is an affiliate. That means we get a small fee with your purchase at no additional cost to you.
We truly all are what we eat, dogs included! I very much like his suggestion of getting away from overly processed food and to strengthen the immune with healthier nutrition. I fed home cooked for a while before making the switch to a raw diet.
*strengthen the immune system
Do we measure the spinach first or after it is cooked?
Jeannie, the recipe calls for 1 cup of cooked spinach. So I would measure afterward and not before you’ve cooked it.
FYI spinach was moved up on a list of highly contaminated veggies to number 2 or 3 so I would buy organic
It sounds like a good plan to buy organic whenever you can.
We are what we eat
hi 🙂 This article when i clicked the link from dr clemmons is from 1992. Does he still support this protocol of food do you know? I am trying to find more updated info from him and can only find stuff from a long time ago ? Thanking you
Loretta, Dr. Clemmons retired a number of years ago, but his research on dogs with DM still rings true.
Oh okay good to know. I am finding it very hard to get his medications in australia and my specialist vet told me that those medications don’t work after they all ( specialists in australia) started trialing them. Thanks very much.
I didn’t know anyone was doing a clinical trial of the meds for DM dogs. I’m glad to know research is being carried out, but sad to learn about these results. It sounds like you have a wise veterinarian who will do the best for your dog in treating this terrible disease.
What is the consensus on garlic? I keep reading that it causes hemolytic anemia and that garlic/onions should never be fed to dogs. Is it only PART of the garlic that is contraindicated? Raw vs cooked? Or is this just an individual sensitivity?
I found a helpful article about feeding garlic to your dog on Dogs Naturally Magazine. It talks about the “benefits” of garlic. The story also suggests the use of fresh organic garlic. Here is the link to the story. http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/garlic-for-dogs-poison-or-medicine/
Garlic may not necessarily be too good with this disease. For people who have Lupus and some other autoimmune illnesses garlic is not recommended as it can stimulate the immune system.
Coral, You are not the first person to question Dr. Clemmon’s use of crushed garlic in his recipe for dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy. I don’t have an answer as to why he included this ingredient.
My 7 yr old male is exhibiting similar symptoms of DM but his genetic marker test just came back negative. He is OFA good, the full skeleton X-ray done 2 weeks still shows his hips are good and no abnormalities were seen. Blood panels are fine. He’s alert and playful as normal but he’s losing weight and I’ve seen an acceleration in the loss of strength in his rear legs. Have an appt with orthopedist as the vet wants to make sure she didn’t miss something on the X-rays.
I’m searching for any possible answers. My gut and 25 years of being a GSD owners tells me this is not joint related as far as what I’ve seen with HD or vertebrae issues.
I’m looking at this diet because I do believe if there’s an autoimmune or such going on that his diet will be a primary part to fight this. He’s on Victor which is supposed a high quality grain free ocean & salmon food with additional fish oil supplement and Cosequin. But I think I need to get him off of commercial food but I want to try to find the best diet I can and the supplements.
Suggestions and thoughts are requested. My other 2 GSDs lived to be 13-14 so this is a new issue for me.
Tiffany, I am sorry to hear about your dog. I think it is good that he is going to be evaluated by an orthopedist. If anything, it will help you rule out structural disorders. In addition I would suggest getting an evaluation with a neurologist. Warning: it will be expensive. There are other forms of myelopathy or a spinal tumor that can be affecting your dog. It is interesting about the weight loss because I don’t think that is typically one of the first signs of a neuro disease. (I am NOT a veterinarian. This is from my own experience.) I think you are on the right track to keep searching for answers. Going in a completely different direction, have they tested for hemangiosarcoma? I had a GSD who had this form of cancer and weight loss was a clue. Please show the DM diet to your veterinarian before you start your dog on it. Please also check out a website called Balance It. It is a great tool for dog nutrition. I’m sorry that I don’t have other suggestions. Please let me know what you find out from the orthopedic vet. Best wishes.
Thank you for the information. I will ask the vet.
I will keep you updated.
Thank you,
Tiffany
Our 13 year old lab?-mix has been tentatively diagnosed with DM.
OFA DNA show her to be a carrier. We are doing research on holistic treatments and will follow your nutritional and exercise guidelines. Are there any nutritional supplements specific to DM? Also, we are puzzled by the fact that a chiropractic adjustment showed great improvement the first time but subsequent ones didn’t. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.
Ursula, I am sorry to hear about your dog.
I’m glad my story about diet options for DM dogs was helpful. Soon, I plan to do an interview with Dr. Clemmons to learn about the updates in his research on DM.
I do not have an answer as to why your dog improved during the first chiropractic adjustment and not a following one. It might have to do with the fact that DM is progressive.
A few months ago I did an interview with holistic veterinarian Dr. Bessent. You can read the story here: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/how-a-holistic-veterinarian-would-treats-a-dog-with-ivdd-or-dm/
Dr. Bessent recommends this for DM dogs: Omega-3 oil made from Krill. She likes Krill because the tiny fish have less toxins and heavy metals.
She also recommends electro-acupuncture treatments because the needles send a warm wave of electricity to a dog’s spine. This stimulates the nerves in the hind legs.
Dr. Bessent also suggests DM dogs use a herbal blend called Morinda Hindend Support. It tones and strengthens the hind limbs. The blend is sold by Herbsmith, but it a prescription from your veterinarian is needed.
I hope this information helps. Dogs are living longer than ever before with this disease. If you are on Facebook, there is a great Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group you might want to join. Best wishes.
Thank you, Petrescuemom! Are you referring to the CanineDM support group, or a different one….I see that there are several!
Sandy, There might be several groups, but the one I joined years ago is Canine Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DegenerativeMylopathy/
I had a Rhodesian Ridgeback who passed away 2 years ago at age 11. Unknown to me until she passed and we got another dog from the same breeder, she had DM with symptoms starting at 2 years old. Myself and her veterinarian had no idea what was wrong with her. as a last stick effort, after she lost bowl and bladder control, I started feeding her the diet mentioned above. After one month, she regained bowel and bladder control and could run up to 5 miles with me until a few month before she passed away. Diet really does matter!!
Kelly, I am thrilled you had success with Dr. Clemmons diet for DM dogs. He is still doing research on DM dogs and I hope to get the chance to interview him about that very soon. In the meantime, you can be proactive about DM by letting breeders know they can have their dogs tested for DM. The test is easy to use and inexpensive. It is offered by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. https://www.ofa.org/diseases/dna-tested-diseases/dm The test is available for individual owners as well. Thank you for sharing your success story.
We have ridgeback that’s been diagnosed with DM almost two years a go. She’s on a very similar diet. Mixed with daily exercise in her wheel cart, and walk in an electric cart she seems to be doing pretty good. She needs help expressing and with every aspect of life but Diet, excersise and getting out are essential in our experience. Don’t give up, with. Little help your dog can survive. This is a great article that can have perfound results. You may see Riley on a California beach near you, she is very active for a paralyzed dog.
Jonathan, I’m glad Riley is doing well on the DM diet and exercise plan. Degenerative Myelopathy is a tough disease and it’s good to hear some good news.
I was searching for recipes for homemade natural dog food for dogs with DM – My dear nephew has a dear dog which is his Rescue Dog – It was just diagnosed with DM. He is devastated – I would like to find some home made natural recipes I can copy and make a book with helpful information for him. He is going to try to exercise her more [which may be a blessing in disguise] as he is very overweight and has a hard time losing weight. He told me today he is going to try to start walking his dog daily and I am so glad. Thank you for any information you can give me – Please help and thank you so much
Shirley, I don’t have recipes to offer you, but the ingredients for Dr. Clemmons DM diet should help you put together a few for your nephew’s dog. The Basic Diet is for a 30-50lb dog. If you put a recipe book together, I’d love to see it.
The Basic DM Diet
2 oz. Boneless Pork Center Loin Chop (boiled, baked or fried in olive oil)
4 oz. Tofu (soybean curd)
8 oz. Long Grain Brown Rice (3 oz. cooked in 6 oz. water)
2 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
¼ cup Molasses
2 Whole Carrots (boiled and then cut up)
1 cup Spinach (cooked)
4 Tbs. Green Bell Pepper (chopped and steamed)
4 Broccoli Spears (boiled and then cut up)
1 tsp Dry Ground Ginger
2 Raw Garlic Cloves (crushed)
½ tsp Dry Mustard
1 tsp Bone Meal
Hi everyone. Before i post anything here i wanted to know if this board is still active,
Thanks Eric
Eric, Yes this website is still active and pet owners regularly leave message. If you want to interact with other pet owners, please check out the Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog Facebook page. In addition, there are several active groups on Facebook specifically for owners with dogs diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy. Here’s the link to our page: https://www.facebook.com/LessonsFromAParalyzedDog/
I feed my baby twice daily. Do I feed 2 meals as listed above or do I give half at one meal and the other half at 2nd meal?
Lisa, This is a great question. The recipe from Dr. Clemmons is rather vague. I was under the impression it makes one meal for a 30-50lb dog and pet owners can adjust the quantity up or down depending on the size of their dog. If it looks like more than your dog normally eats, you can cut the size in half or any size that fits your dog’s appetite.
I had the same question, so I googled around for how much food a dog should have and found the below site. It seems to me this is a recipe for a full 24 hour period.
https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/dr-coates/2015/july/are-you-feeding-your-dog-right-amount-32905
My German shepherd started showing symtoms of DM about 3 months ago, I’ve read loads on the disease and watched videos to see what help is out there. What medicine do I ask the vet for??
Shirley, I’m sorry about your dog. I am also sorry to say there is no medication currently available for DM dogs. The best treatment (and I will soon be writing a new story about it) is daily controlled physical therapy. A new study found the survival time in dogs with DM increased with physiotherapy. Please ask you veterinarian for a referral to a qualified canine rehab center near you. I think including PT along with Dr. Clemmons diet are two great therapies for your dog.
Hello,
I have an 11yo lab/rottie mix who came back positive from the DM test through the OFA.
What about the 2 medications Dr Clemmons refers to as 80% effective? EACA and NAC.
I was going to meet with my vet tomorrow to discuss him prescribing them to my girl just
to see if they will make a difference as nothing else seems to be slowing the progression.
Thanks,
Tom Dillon
Thomas, Yes I would definitely mention these supplements to your veterinarian. I know NAC is used to improve neuropathy symptoms in humans. I understand that Dr. Clemmons is still doing research in Florida. You might want to reach out to him. Best wishes.
Hello
My mom and dad have a 7 year old Silver Lab. On Wednesday my dad had him at the park as usual for his daily walk. He was running, playing and happily marking his spot on every tree and bush he could find. By Wednesday evening my dad noticed his tail was limp and pulled down close to his body. Normally his tail is up and pointing outward. By Thursday morning when my dad went to let him outside his back legs gave out and he fell. My dad immediately called the vet and brought him in. They did a back xray and blood work. Nothing showed abnormal with the xray and the next day the blood work came back normal also. The vet prescribed an anti-inflammatory for him. On Friday my parents took him back to the vet because he hadn’t been able to urinate or have a bowel movement. The vet used a catheter to empty the bladder and told my parents if he’s not going on his own over the holiday weekend they would need to take him to the emergency clinic to have the catheter hooked up to him again. By Saturday my mom said his mobility and stability had improved some. He’s eating and drinking but the poor baby is still unable to relieve himself. They took him back to the vet on Saturday where they used the catheter again and then showed my dad how to attach it so they could do it over the long weekend instead of taking him to the emergency clinic. I discovered the article regarding DM and relayed the findings to my parents and told them to ask the vet if this is what he could possibly have. The vet told them he didn’t think so but he wasn’t ruling it out completely. But hasn’t made any attempt or suggestion about testing him to see if he’s a possible carrier of the gene. I also told my mom about the diet you shared and suggested that they start him on it. As I am a very firm believer in a healthy diet with supplements being very beneficial. Twenty years ago I had a Rottweiler that was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 3 and my husband and on changed him over to an all natural meat and vegetable diet with added supplements and he lived an additional 10 years past what our vet had told us he would. So my parents have switched his diet but 3 days in to when all of this first started he does seem to be getting around better, he’s still eating and drinking great but he still isn’t able to empty his bladder on his own, he won’t even attempt to lift his leg. It is hard for him to stand from a laying down position so when he’s trying to get up he’s having a small bowel movement and his tail is still very limp and now appears very bushy and corse at the tip. Do you or anyone else have any suggestions on what can possibly be going on with him? If it is DM is everything that’s happening with him normal and if so will he eventually be able to urinate and have normal bowel movement? For those who have used the diet is there any estimated time frame as to how long you had your pet on it before you started seeing signs of improvement? Any advice or suggestions would be so greatly appreciated as we are all just heart broken that this is happening to him and with absolutely no explanation.
Thank you,
Anne
Hi Anne, Sorry for this late reply to your comment. I have been away from my computer and out-of-town. I hope at this point your dog is doing better. I am not a veterinarian, but I agree that your dog does not have DM. This disease starts gradually so you would not have seen the severe symptoms that he presented with. It could be a number of problems that I am sure your veterinarian will research. That said, keeping your dog on a healthy diet can only do good things for him. Best wishes for a good outcome.
There are three items on this list that google says is bad for dogs; the spinach (the most contested, but if your dog, like mine, is suffering from a disease, why risk it?), the mustard, and the garlic. This diet is basically protein, grain, and vegetables. I’m concerned that it is advocating three items known to harm dogs (regardless of quantity).
Michael, You are not the first person to question Dr. Clemmon’s use of garlic in his recipe for DM dogs, but it is definitely an ingredient he recommends. As far as spinach is concerned, I turned to the reliable resources at veterinarypartner.com. They write that deep leafy greens are good for dogs, but note that people worry (as they do with humans) about it contributing to bladder and kidney stones. If this is a concern, please look to substitute spinach for a dark leafy green veggie that doesn’t contain oxalate.
In regards to Supplements do I add all on the list or c@n I just choose a few. Thank you
Sharon, Dr. Clemmons’ diet recommends all of the supplements. But if you are concerned about any side effects I think you are fine with adding them one at a time to see how your dog reacts. The diet is a general plan and each individual dog is different. I hope you see an improvement in your dog. Best wishes.
Thank you, we are at the very early stages so I want to slow it ASAP if possible. I have also read that golden paste (turmeric) helps with DM
What is your take of MMS being used in Dogs with DM? Have you tried checking and clearing for parasites as parasites cause a lot of autoimmune diseases in humans. This also could be similar to the EBV virus in humans that is the main reason for autoimmune.
There is a very slight chance of a REAL autoimmune disease being real in either humans or animals.
But now it’s finding exactly what is triggering the inflammation and turning these genes on, which is no doubt a pathogen of some kind and/or an environmental one.
SunWisher, Thanks for all of your suggestions about autoimmune diseases in dogs. Your suggestion about finding the exact gene causing a disease like DM is exactly what is going on in one research study. A specific gene was found in dogs with DM and that clinical trial is trying to “silence” the gene. I don’t have any information about DM dogs benefitting from MMS. I imagine it is because researchers have not linked DM to a parasite. There are diseases like Neosporsis which are caused from parasites, but to my knowledge DM is not one of them. DM appears to be a genetic problem. Let me know if you have other suggestions or do you know a dog who has benefitted from MMS? Maybe we could do a story about it.
where can you buy supplements for a dog with DM?
Vicki, Many of the these supplements Dr. Clemmons recommends (Yeast, B-Complex, vitamin E and C, and selenium. In addition: omega-3 fatty acid, Gamma Linolenic acid, Soybean Lecithin, Coenzyme Q, Ginkgo Ginseng: (males only) Dong quai: (females only) Green tea, Grape seed extract, Hydergine, Siberian Ginseng, Bromelain/ Curcumin and Feverfew) can be found on the Herbsmith website. https://www.herbsmithinc.com/ Herbsmith is a company I trust. Dr. Bessent, who is a holistic veterinarian, started the company and formulates each of the supplements. I hope you see good results in your dog.
Hi. I just found this site I don’t have answers for these questions I only have more questions. Our little girl Ellie has a hard time getting around. Her back legs fail several times a day. She bangs into walls and furniture. My husband says she is hurting herself. But it doesn’t stop her. She is currently on a diet plan and supplements from Balance It for pancreatitis she had 2yrs ago. She gets poached chicken breasts and white rice. We feed her 6 times a day so we don’t over tax her system. This new Dm problem started the beginning of this year. Along with the DM symptoms she also developed a gaging problem. She also exhibits a type of swallowing problem like something is rising up in her throat. She eagerly eats all her meals. So the vet doesn’t think it’s the pancreatitis again. Does your dog have any problems like this?
Anyway thanks for site
Linda, I’m sorry this story didn’t answer your questions. In reading about Ellie’s symptoms, it makes me wonder if she could have another neurological condition. I’ve written lots of stories about DM, but I’m including links to two that might be helpful. The first is a story about a dog named Skye and how her DM developed. The second is a video that shows the typical say a dog with DM walks. Both stories cover the basic symptoms of DM and the breeds prone to the condition.
https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/skyes-story-of-degenerative-myelopathy-in-dogs/
https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/early-stages-of-degenerative-myelopathy-in-dogs-video/
I was also wondering if your dog has been evaluated by a veterinary neurologist? Or have you done the DNA test for DM? You can get it through the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Here is the link: https://www.ofa.org/ Both of these ideas might give you a clearer picture. I am not a veterinarian, but from my personal experience dogs with DM do not bang into walls when walking and they do not initially have problems with gaging on food or swallowing. And if Ellie has advanced DM, I am surprised she is still walking on her own. Ellie’s condition could be a variety of other neurological problems. An exam by a neurologist can be expensive, but it could benefit your dog. Please discuss this with your veterinarian.
Our boxer is 10 years old and after 12 teeth being removed it seemed like his back right leg became iweak and he slides on floors.
The vet said he has arthritis in his spine but this seems more like a nerve problem like DM.
What can we do to improve his bone and muscles and/or immune system
Phil, Whether your dog has arthritis or a neurological problem, as long as he isn’t in pain, talk with your veterinarian about starting your Boxer on hydrotherapy or physical therapy. Here are links to stories about both: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/what-to-expect-when-your-dog-is-enrolled-in-canine-water-therapy/ Rehab exercises you can do at home: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/6-rehab-exercises-your-handicapped-dog-can-do-at-home/
The best thing you can do for your dog is to continue light exercise.
I am not in the veterinary field so please talk with your dog’s vet before starting either of these. You might also want to get protective boots for your dog to help with the slipping. Walkabout Harnesses has two kinds to choose from. They are a company I work with and trust. You might want to also consult your vet about why arthritis is suspected. Have your dog had an x-ray of his spine? I say this because if it is arthritis there is a relatively new injectable medication that works wonders. It is called Adequan. Here is another post about it: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/chose-give-dog-adequan-canine-fight-arthritis/ I hope these ideas help. Please let me know if you have other questions. I am happy to help.
Help I have a 6lb Min Pin with probably DM. I’m confused on how much of the recipe to feed her. She is my Psych Service Dog. I rescued her then she rescued me. I am crushed for her and spend a lot of time crying. I am disabled and money is limited, I need things I can use or purchase fairly cheaply to help. She is my whole world.
Kristina, Thank you for reaching out about your Min Pin. You mention that your dog “probably has DM.” Is that a diagnosis from your veterinarian? I ask because Miniature Pinschers are not generally prone to DM. It makes me concerned if there is another reason, like a ruptured disc, for her paralysis. In any case, I have an answer for your question about Dr. Clemmons DM diet. It is a healthy diet whether or not your dog has DM. The list of ingredients in the post is for: “One serving for a 30-50lb dog.” I suggest your divide the quantity by 5 for your 6lb dog. Please let me know how your dog is doing and what are her symptoms. And regarding items your pup will need for paralysis or hind end weakness, please go to the Lessons From A Paralyzed Dog website. (best to do this on a desktop computer). If you scroll down the home page you’ll see a FREE downloadable Guide For Paralyzed Dogs. It’s a short e-book with typical products paralyzed dogs use. You’ll also find on our FAQ page posts about How To Get A Donated Wheelchair, Organizations that help paralyzed dogs and all of the basics about care. Please take care of yourself. I am here to answer your questions.
I have not had a vet specifically say DM.. I understand though its expensive to run tests and as I said I’m on Disability. This came on quickly like one day she was trotting along barking at the AC man to 7 days later seeming drunk in the back end then 5 days later unable to walk. She knuckles in the back with no trying to right it. She is 10 yrs old.
Kristina, I’m glad you sent a follow up to your first comment because Degenerative Myelopathy does not happen quickly. Pet owners see symptoms over a long period of time before their dogs are paralyzed. It typically takes about 6 months. Your Min Pin’s problems sounds like acute and more in line with a ruptured or bulging disc. I am not a veterinarian so I am guessing, but after writing about disabled dogs for 5 years, I sure it is not DM. If you are concerned about expensive tests, you might want to at least bring your dog to her veterinarian for an overall basic exam. If the vet thinks it is a problem like IVDD or a disc problem I recommend you go to the website Dodgerslist. Linda Stowe, who founded the website, explains how to use a conservative approach to helping your dog. This includes things like strict crate rest to allow the spine to heal. Please look at her website. It is a wealth of information. And please consider a visit to the vet. It will help determine whether your dog is in pain to get a basic assessment. You don’t have to put her through expensive tests. But you might be able to decrease any pain she is in. Please let me know what you find out. P.S. If your dog needs emergency care of surgery, there is an organization called Bialy’s Wellness Foundation that helps.
I have a 8yr old 70lb GS with a suggestive diagnosis of DM. Most of the symptoms are the classic first symptoms. My vet recommended chiropractic and (cold) laser therapy as treatment. She has had only one treatment and I am hopeful that it will work. I would like to change her diet to natural after reading this article but I read somewhere that starch doesn’t do well with DM. I plan to use the diet on this article. I am not sure to add the rice? also what supplements can I add to her natural food? which herbs are good for cell regeneration? My GS has a sensitive stomach so I have to go at it slow. I am new to this process and concerned how I am going to accomplish this task. Thank you Eve
Eve, Thanks for reaching out about your dog. I think you’re on the right track to keep your German shepherd as healthy as possible. In addition to laser therapy and chiropractic treatments please talk to your veterinarian about water therapy or canine physical therapy. Even regular walks are helpful. Research shows that maintaining light exercise is good for DM dogs. I also highly recommend Dr. Clemmon’s diet that is in the story you read. At the bottom of the page, you’ll see the supplements he recommends. Dr. Clemmon’s has spent much of his career researching Degenerative Myelopathy so please feel about the diet. Other pet owners questioned his use of garlic, but Dr. Clemmon’s was quick to send a reply to me about why he added it. So it’s best to follow the diet as written (unless your dog won’t or can’t eat it). It’s probably a good idea to start adding ingredients slowly to see how it affects your dog’s sensitive stomach. If you click on the link it will take you to Dr. Clemmon’s website and he is happy to answer questions. I am also including a link to another story about how a holistic veterinarian treats dogs with DM. I think you’ll find the herbs she uses interesting. https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/how-a-holistic-veterinarian-would-treats-a-dog-with-ivdd-or-dm/ CAVEAT: While all of these treatments are helpful, they do not cure DM. It’s a progressive disease that doesn’t have a cure. And it progresses at different rates for different dogs and we don’t know why. You can try each of these therapies and diet and if they don’t work for your dog or when they stop working, please don’t beat yourself up. As long as your dog knows she is loved, you will have done a good job. Best wishes.
My 12 yr old Labrador appears to have the symptoms described in this blog on DM. This is very helpful information.
Candy, I’m sorry to hear about your dog. My website has several articles about DM so I hope you’ll look at some of the others for ideas to help you Lab. One in particular is about a dog named Skye who lived a long time with the disease. Here’s the link: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/skyes-story-of-degenerative-myelopathy-in-dogs/
I have a border collie that is 15 years old. We recently had to rush him to the vet because he wouldn’t get up. Diagnosis was enlarged heart, very anemic ( 45 wbc count ). The vet put him on heart medicine, a steroid, tetracycline and an oral iron vitamin. He has finished those now. As of the last few days, he struggles to get up to even eat or go outside. At times, he has been incontinent with urination and bowels. He seems to want to try and get up but then just lays back down.
On his best day, he will get up to eat and try to go outside and use the bathroom. At times, it seems like he might be constipated, but then he will have an accident and can’t control it.
It is possible that degenerative myelopathy could be his diagnosis and my vet did not test him? From observing the videos I’ve seen, it looks exactly like it.
Cindy, I’m sorry to hear about your dog. I am not a vet, but it doesn’t sound like Degenerative Myelopathy. DM starts slowly with only slight symptoms and progressives over time. Please talk with your veterinarian about the incontinence. It could be due to the steroids or due to his overall weakness. Your dog might be waiting too long to go outside because he doesn’t have the strength. One way to help would be to get a support harness to safely assist your dog to a standing position and help him outside. Before you purchase one, try using a large towel (like a beach towel) as a sling under his lower belly. Here’s story that explains how to do it: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/how-a-towel-can-be-used-for-sling-walking-a-dog/ And be sure to run this by your vet to see what he/she thinks about a sling to assist.
Hello, I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi who is 11 years old. His first time to see the neurologist was July, 2017 when I observed he was favoring his left rear leg and he had been scuffing his toe nails. He is now to a point where he has lost all muscle in his back limbs and is beginning to lose what he has left of his front limbs. He has become very frustrated and wants to get up and move around. He is so full of life and wants to enjoy it. He had been in a cart from Aug., 2017 to Dec. 2018 and I bought him two more wheels. He has not adapted to the four wheels too much. He cannot really urinate on his own and his a continuous UTI. I got him a stroller and I hope he will enjoy the outdoors with our other corgi in the stroller. At this stage of Roscoe’s life, do you think a special diet will help him? He has been on Dr. Clemmons vitamin mix since July 2017, but I had not started him on the diet. Is there any chance that this diet might help my guy at this point?
Catherine, I am sorry to hear about Roscoe. Dr. Clemmons’ diet is a good healthy diet no matter which dog eats it. I don’t know if it will slow down the progression of your dog’s disease at this advanced stage, but it will probably bolster Roscoe’s overall health. Please show the diet to your vet and see what he/she thinks.
Catherine, I had one more thought. The link in my story takes you directly to Dr. Clemmons website. You might want to reach out to him directly. I had a question and I was impressed how quickly he emailed an answer back to me.
My German shepherd has dm as well and I have found a web page with some other ideas for help. I have ordered the products and waiting to try with my boy. The link is https://brendascorner.nzymes.com/dog-paralysis-challenges/brendas-paralysis-support-program-for-dogs/ if anyone wants to have a look. Good luck with your doggy.
In regard to diet, can you recommend any of the new fresh home delivery diets? (Fresh pet, Darwin’s, pet plate, farmer’s dog, ollie) I would much prefer to sign up for one of these with similar characteristics as the diet recommended because I can then just add the supplement recommended.
Thanks you for your time.
Suzanne, I think you idea is good about using one of these fresh diets. The only one on your list I’m familiar with is Farmer’s Dog because I see other pet bloggers endorsing it. I personally like a company called Just Food For Dogs.
I suggest you take a look at each of the products ingredients and see which is close to the ingredients from Dr. Clemmons’ diet for DM dogs. If I get a chance I’ll look into this too and get back to you.
First of all, thank you so much for all you are doing to help people and their fur babies, you are a wonderful kind human being. Having somewhere to ask all of these scary questions is priceless. I am hoping you may have some incite on what I might be able to do to help my girl Lily. She is a nine year old golden doodle, ten next month, who by process of elimination has been diagnosed with DM. She had x rays and blood work done on April 9th and was sedated for the xrays. Before xrays she had scuffing occasionally on her back right leg. After sedation she seemed much more nervous and jumpy over every sound. This got a little better after a few days but now returns more often. She has since degraded to where she trips maybe three times on a walk and then other days just unsteady on her feet. Her front leg is also showing signs of weakness but I am thinking it may be compensation for her back legs. My worry now is that when walking she has started to pant about halfway through the walk 1/2 hr walk at a slow to moderate pace. Yesterday after her walk she continued to pant even at rest and then last night we had a tough sleep with her panting and moving around. She has been panting again during the day at some points and then this evening a long time after her walk, excessively… it is a scary thing to watch and not seem to be able to calm her down. Her breathing isn’t slow and regular and its even when she falls asleep she is breathing rapidly. I have read that heavy panting is part of DM but thought it occurred in the late stages? Just wondering if you know of any way to help her? I am speaking to my vet tomorrow but as it is Sunday today. Thank you for any ideas, incite, you may have.
Debbie, I’m sorry to hear about your dog. It’s good you’ll be talking with your vet. Lily might have an underlying health issue in addition to DM that’s causing stress on her lungs. Or she might be over exerting herself on the walk. A half hour is a long time for a dog with weakness in their limbs to hold herself up and support the weight of their body as they walk. You might want to try 2 15 min. walks instead. Have you looked into a support harness for her? I think it’s one of the best tools you can have. Here’s link to a story about harnesses. In fact it’s our most popular post. https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/my-5-favorite-harnesses-for-handicapped-dogs/
Dogs with DM progress in their disease at different rates so another reason for the panting might be progression of the condition. If you type in Degenerative Myelopathy in our website search bar you’ll see lots of other articles. Here are a few you might want to read: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/degenerative-myelopathy-dogs-have-new-options-and-diet/ And Skye’s story: https://lessonsfromaparalyzeddog.com/skyes-story-of-degenerative-myelopathy-in-dogs/ Best wishes