Hi everyone,

Just got back from the vets who have diagnosed my gorgeous GSD with CDRM. Vet said that there is nothing that can be done and that it is only going to get worse. He asked if I wanted to end her pain today and I asked if there is any other alternatives. He said there wasn't but gave me some steroids saying that they will not work but will allow me to have another week with her.

I am so devastated! I'm a good person and she is an amazing friend.

I had to make another appointment for one week today.

My question is...How the hell am I gonna cope? I've not stopped crying uncontrollably and I feel at a total loss. What am I gonna do?

Thanks for listening

Sorry it was a bit depressing for you all, I'm just in complete and utter shock!

what is cdrm, but my god i cant imagine what you are going through, i found a lump on my dog i have had 7 years and i am petrified, so knowing you dont have long with your dog is heartbreaking, but plese try and cheer up just a little i know that sounds awfull but your baby will be picking up on it , and just try to give her the happiest and most comfortsble days possiblexx

oh you poor sausage, i really feel for you, sending you lots of hugs ((()))

what is cdrm,


http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/cdrm.htm

So sorry about your bad news.

awwwww michael i so feel your pain i lost 2 dogs last year within 6 weeks and it is so heartbreaking
nellie died on aug 4 and we found a huge mass between tia legs on aug 8 we were absolutely devastated
deep down in my heart i knew she was dying but couldnt have the heart to take her which was foolish on my part keeping her alive to for me

just remember the good times because they will outweigh the bad ones


good luck xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This may sound blunt but its times like this when you have to think about the dog rather than yourself.

You will find the strength, sadly its part of having a dog or any other pet for that matter.
:sad:

http://www.provet.co.uk/health/diseases/cdrm.htm

So sorry about your bad news.

Reading the link it says many dogs can live for several years with CDRM:confused:.
Is your dog suffering at the moment?

Thanks to everyone for their comments and concern, I really appreciate it!

Don't really know about the accuracy of information that I have from different sources of CDRM but according to the vet, this disease is degenerative and starts at a back limb and works it's way through the body from tail to head. If left, the animal becomes completely paralysed and becomes incontinent because they are unable to move at all. The sad thing is that the brain is still 100% active. It's commonly refered to as a canine form of Multiple Sceloris. That said, I know nothing about either disease and I can only let you know what the vet said and what I've read since coming home from the vets.

From the stage my dog is at, to complete paralysis would be around 3 months.

I''ve got to try to let her go with some dignity as Malky said, it's about her now and not me although I'm completely heartbroken.

She knows I'm a wreck and she's trying to comfort me huh...the irony of it! I have to try though.

Thanks again to everyone who posted. She is gonna be so spoiled before she has to go.

:'(

Reading the link it says many dogs can live for several years with CDRM:confused:.
Is your dog suffering at the moment?

I was just going to post the same comment. Below is a paragraph from the above link.

"Prognosis
The rate of progression varies greatly from one dog to another. Once they are unable to get up management of large dogs becomes a problem for many owners. A canine cart can help provide mobility to immobile patients. Fortunately, dogs with CDRM rarely develop incontinence so many dogs can live for several years with this condition."

So sorry to hear this.
I have always had gsd`s and this condition is very comon in older dogs.
Your dog may be quite happy for a while but when it interferes with her quality of life then you will know the time has come.
In some dogs it happens very quick as it did with our Sam, he`d been quite stiff on his back legs for a couple of weeks, then just collapsed without warning.
Our family pet as we were growing up got right to the stage where he had to be carried outside to wee and poo, I really wouldn`t want to see somehing like that again, it was truely heartbreaking.
I`m sure you`ll do whats right for your pet, you will know when the times right just don`t let her suffer.
god bless
xx

I personally would have had her PTS there and then if there was no treatment, I couldnt drag it out for a week knowing whats comming. You must be in pieces.
I had to have my 15 year old PTS when he was 15, the choices were ..... done straight away or take him home, say goodby and take him back at tea time .... I know if I'd have gone for opion 2 .... I would never have taken him back.

All the best with whatever you do,

Years ago we had a Springer that had a drawn-out illness, when we went to the vets for the last time my wife couldn’t hack it and had to stop outside, as said above the longer you draw it out the worse it will be.

I am sorry to hear , I hope you find the strength to do whats best for your beloved doggy

So sorry to hear your sad news, but one of the most loving things we can do for our animals is let them go without pain and dignity.
Take care

Sorry to here that our last GS had this at around 12 the vet suggested the same thing had a second oppinion and he went on to be 15years old with medication for pain how ever you know your pet best and will no when enough is enough.

I think you know when it's time to go. My heart goes out to you in this situation. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done but the alternative of watching my baby in anymore pain was unthinkable.

Good luck. :cry:

So very sorry to hear this I've had Gsds for years and fortunately never had any with this dreadful disease, you must be totally heartbroke, maybe you can get a littte bit of comfort from terminators post, but only you can make the decision, how ever hard, and only you will know when the time is right,
have to be honest though I couldn't have let her go there and then, at least take the time now to think and decided what is the right thing, mainly for her and for you, whatever your decision my heart goes out to you.

I agree with Mary Poppins, I couldn't have let it happen there and then, especially if I wasn't slightly prepared or expecting it in some way.

So sorry to hear your sad news :(

I'm so sorry to hear this... I had to have a cat pts and, like Pink Lady, I chose to do it there and then. However - I knew that her quality of life would be drastically reduced on treatment and she was suffering.

Having read some info on CDRM I personally would be tempted to get a second opinion. At the end of the day it's your dog's quality of life that counts and I would never keep an animal going for myself if it was suffering. However - I read that CDRM is progressive but not always fast and usually doesn't cause incontinence - is there something else to cause your vet to believe it will progress faster? It also says they don't suffer apart from the frustration/distress of not being able to get up.

If your dog is too distressed then I would definitely say now is her time - however, I've known of many dogs using carts and leading happy lives. You would need to be around her all the time to enable her to get up but the cart would help her to lead a normal life (to an extent).

Eventually you'll lose her, but is this not worth considering? Or at least getting a second opinion? It all depends on your dog - some wouldn't cope well with the cart, others are fine and love it.

Also my bitch is urinary incontinent and although she's on medication she does occasionally have leaks and she's still a perfectly happy dog. At first she was upset by it but she's learnt to live with it when it happens and if it did ever happen to your dog a vet bed will help keep your girl dry but obviously not easy to bath a GSD with no use of her back legs regularly!

If you've got another week with her before your final appointment why not look into it. If your girl doesn't take to it then you have to look at her quality of life but whilst I know a lot of people are against the use of carts, they can drastically improve some dogs' quality of life and extend their lifespan considerably.

My heart goes out to you when you see a friend suffer and we as people can see and imagine life here on earth without them. Lucky for animals - they don't have to go through this torment that we do of 'what if' they just live in the moment - because they know nothing else.

Your dog (thankfully), just feels a bit funny - why doesn't that move when i tell it to - sort of thing. Again - thankfully - they don't lay awake (like we do), for hours - wondering what it will be like to be here without us - and the sort of things that we humans torment ourselves with.

I have had 2 beloved gsd's that have fallen fowl with CDRM. One which was 9 and in that day we just thought her 'back end had gone' as so often happened with gsd's. But I lost my love 'BIG MAC' at just 6 years old. There was nothing at all wrong with him, apart from nothing would move. Its the saddest cruellest disease - everyone who sees their pet with it is heartbroken - but - you care for your dog and you will do whats right.

The best advise I ever give to people is this.
Wake up every morning - have a look at them, and say - do they seem happy to day? Are they in pain this morning - if the answer is No - Forget that question until tomorrow morning - and don't beat yourself up over tomorrow. Enjoy today.

Even though they have problems with their health - they will pick up on you being distressed - and that is something that does upset them more than the pain.

My friends' gsd has started with this at the moment, and they have recommended hydrotherapy. Myself? I wonder if thats the right thing - but they are going to try it out.

Good luck - you love her and will carry on loving her

I feel for you, what a horrible position to be in. Your in my thoughts & prayers

I too feel for you greatly, and would find it equally as hard if I were in the same position. I hope you find the strength you need to be able to make the right decision as you see fit, bless. xxx

I really feel for you i really hope you both have an amazing time together however long it may be!!

xxx