Nov 14th 2009 Triskell's progress

In January 2009 Triskell started to lose the strength in her hind legs. After x-rays, computer tomography and even an examination / MRI at the Small Animal Clinic of the University of Giessen, we could rule out almost anything but Degenerative myelopathy. Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a potentially debilitating neurological condition that can eventually paralyse its victims. Unfortunately, the cause of DM remains unknown, although researchers in both clinical and basic sciences are working to find answers. DM has been described as a degenerative neurological condition. Because there is no screening test DM is considered a rule-out condition, in which other mimicking conditions, such as a disc condition or tumours, must be eliminated, leaving DM as the conclusion. At present, a definitive identification of DM can only be determined post-mortem. Signs usually appear when a dog is between 5 and 9 years old. It begins with a loss of coordination in the hind legs. The dog may wobble or drag its feet. The condition generally results in rear leg paralysis in approximately three to six months, foreleg paralysis in about another three to six months, and respiratory failure approximately three to six months later. No pain appears to be associated with the paralysis, other than the dog wanting to continue life as before but being unable to.
Both sexes appear to be equally affected. Triskell started to show first signs of hind leg weakness sometime in late 2007. She started to have trouble with stairs, after long walks she would drag her feet instead of lifting them and little by little her hind legs became wobbly and weak after running or after very long walks. In January her legs just stopped working after a long walk. She was able to use them again after a couple of minutes, but for the rest of the day her hind legs seemed weak.
We spent 6 weeks of tests and examinations and finally it had to be DM, cause there was nothing else left. Since February we are on a strict exercise plan:
We walk every day, the physiotherapist works with Triskell up to 4 times a week, we even put her on an underwater treadmill for dogs in August and September. Unfortunately Triskell has a recurring pneumonia since 2006. In October 2009 she had the worst onset of pneumonia to date and almost died from it. For 7 days she needed to be hospitalised in the intense care unit (again at the Uni clinic in Giessen). When she came back she had been immobile for at least 5 days and her ability to walk was gone. Her hind legs didnt respond at all and her front legs were only able to move if somebody supported her. Triskell wants to live, loves to go out for walks, and has an unbreakable spirit.
That is why Im not giving up on her.
Every day she shows me that life is worth fighting for.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Irish Wolfhound
• doggon Wheels
• Degenerative myelopathie
• dog in wheelchair
• paralised dog

[SeitxiS]

tl;dr