[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: The DM test
- From: <cnnpmm2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2013 17:23:09 -0500
Thanks for posting your experiences, Penny. Here's what I learned about DM and
testing -- straight from the "horse's mouth."
We have a young GSD who injured himself and was seen at a Neurology clinic,
staffed by only Board Certified Neurologists. While the dog was at the clinic,
I asked them to do a DM test. The Neurologist said, "Whatever for? DM is a
disease of the old. Period." The Neurologist went on to say he could count on
one hand the number of TRUE DM cases, in younger dogs, that have been seen in
the clinic or while completing his residency in Neurology.
Also, I was told DM is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases around. All too
often, when a Vet sees a dog weakening in the rear, the dog is automatically
diagnosed as having DM. (Of course, there are exceptions to this.) I'm sure
if we had taken our boy to a local Vet, he would have been diagnosed as having
DM. Our regular Vet admitted as much.
I wonder how many dog owners just accept the diagnosis of DM without any
follow-up? I wonder how many dogs, that were labeled as having DM, could have
been helped because they were actually suffering from something that was
fixable? Such was the case with our dog.
Re. the test for DM, the Neurologist told me that it is unreliable and it
shouldn't be used when making breeding decisions.
Right now, I just don't have much faith in the test. My problem is not with DM
testing per say; it's with the fact that the DM test isn't reliable. Someday,
I hope that the test will become infallible and we can eradicate this disease.
Until then, I will not rely on this test when making breeding decisions. Our
gene pool is small enough as it is.
For those of you that swear by the DM test, how do you explain the cases where
the dog tested DM Clear and developed DM anyway? Or, the dog that tests DM
positive and never develops the disease? This leads me to believe that DM is
polygenic in nature and not a simple recessive. If it is true that DM is
polygenic, then, unfortunately, a *definitive* genetic test for DM will be
difficult to develop.
PaulETTE McGuirt, GSDCA Member
Wellborn-Allemande German Shepherds
Qui Me Amat, Amat et Canem Meam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Penny Kroh" <farmdogforever@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "The List" <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, December 15, 2013 3:02 PM
Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] The DM test
We have a test for DM and have for awhile. I say, so what? The test,
though some consider it a tool, is flawed. I am very familiar with DM
having lost a whole litter to it in 1990 at 10 years of age. There was no
test then. I spent a lot of money testing all of my dogs recently, only to
have one of them come down with DM. She was older, but had tested CLEAR.
At the time, I received about 25 e-mail responses from people whose dogs
also tested CLEAR and got DM. Some were necropsied and some were not.
Imagine how many other dog owners have had dogs who were tested CLEAR and
came down with it anyway who have NOT come forward. (And what about the
Carriers. I shudder to think.) Be careful when making a breeding? YES.
But I will spend my money elsewhere, until there is a more reliable test.
It's frustrating.
Penny in NC
The Farm Dog Forever
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