Hi All

Am new to this site. I am wondering if anyone has has experience treating a dog with DM? AFter receiving a grave prognosis from the veterinary hospital (after months of pressuring them to carry out diagnostic tests etc) eventually we were told that Molly has DM and that there is nothing they can do. We had no choice but to return to homeopathic treatment. My friend who is a homeopath prescribed Lathyrus Sativa and Plumbum Met both in 30c, twice a day. After her intial dose, she stood. We could not belive it (and I did not want to believe it because I was determined not to get my hopes up again!). In the few weeks leading up to the presumptive diagnosis and then the subsequent dose with Lathyrus, she went from bad to worse. She reached her low point after coming out of hospital when she lay on the grounf to defecate. It was so upsetting, my doggy is so so proud and would never have done that! She could not move her hind legs at all, and was being carried everywhere (she is not small either!)

After the first remedy she stood, and then fell again! We both just stared at her standing on all 4's swaying gently from side to side and we were afraid to look at each other! We kept the dose the same and over the next few days, I had calls from my parents to say that she had managed to take a few steps before falling, or that she had managed to get up on her legs from sitting and then fell. Most recently, i noticed that she is able to urinate and defecate in the usual squatting position and she may fall after a few seconds.

Now the improvement appears to have stopped! She has not got any worse which in itself is great, but I was expecting the miracle to continue! Now, she is still very bad, but improved on what she was.

I am also concerned that perhaps I am just "seeing" improvements where there is simply waxing and waning of symptoms as standard....? Could it be that I am just seeing what i want to see? My friend says to relax that the remedies may take moths to work but cannot wait that long!

Will keep posted.

Regards

Molly's Mammy 

 Hi Molly’s Mammy and Molly - Welcome!

I’m so sorry to hear about Molly, it must be very worrying for you both.

Sorry I don’t personally have firsthand experience with degenerative myelopathy, but Dr Clemmons DVM, PhD is a great authority on degenerative myelopathy – his treatment protocol is here http://naturallycomplementary.com/community/files/folders/articles/entry1297.aspx . It is very comprehensive, he gives advice on; diet, supplements and lots of tonic herbs that could help Molly. (He’s even done a simplified shopping list with the most important ingredients in bold – very handy!).

Exercise is also important,  although this will obviously be hard for Molly. You could consider hydrotherapy as an option that may be easier for her?

The link on this page also has lots of good degenerative myelopathy for dogs info http://naturallycomplementary.com/community/files/folders/success_stories/entry1296.aspx It has a couple of stories about Bear and Dudley who had degenerative myelopathy and benefited from acupuncture and Chinese herbs (keep scrolling down the downloaded page for the stories).

I’d also consider reiki or other energy type work. Healing with energy is also something that you can learn to do yourself (there are lots of books on energy/reiki/ healing in the naturallycomplementary.com bookshop http://naturallycomplementary.com/animal-book-dvd-alternative-complementary-medicine-natural-holistic.html ) and it can have amazing results - never under estimate your own healing power, especially for beloved pets!

Also in the downloads / success stories section, there is the story of Winky the dog and how homeopathy helped him with degenerative myelopathy. http://naturallycomplementary.com/community/files/folders/success_stories/entry1134.aspx

He was prescribed the same homeopathic remedies as Molly. It took him about 3 months for significant sustained improvement – obviously every dog is different and individual – but just to give you an idea.

 It must be hugely frustrating for you both and I appreciate waiting for improvements can seem like an eternity, but it does take time to heal and the healing process can be up and down.

Anyway hopefully Winky’s, Bear’s and Dudley’s stories will give you and Molly hope J

Best of luck to you and Molly and keep us posted

Kind regards

Gina

Hi Gina

Thank you so much for your reply, you’ve no idea how much I appreciate it. It sometimes feels like Molly and myself are battling this horrible thing alone – over the past 18 months I have asked time and time again if it could be DM and I was told it was everything from arthritis to slipped disks, hip dysplasia, spinal lesions, neoplasia etc etc! I kept pushing for specific diagnostic procedures and referrals to veterinary hospital and eventually they carried out radiographs and MRI to rule everything else out and tell me what I already knew! Dealing with the medical profession can be like banging your head off a brick wall sometimes!

My friend does reiki so I may ask her to carry out some on Molly. We really did think that the homeopathy was working, and maybe it is like Winkly where it takes longer but I hate seeing her like this L We have changed her diet to cut out all dog food, she is now on beef, lamb, brown rice, pasta, cod liver oil, cooked powdered egg shells and the (very!) occasional biscuit to keep her spirits up J I plan on buying her a good brand of dried dog food to supplement but that will have to wait until payday! J

Will keep up updated with any changes!

Thanks again

Kind regards

Louise

Hey  Louise!

My pleasure, you are so welcome and you are not alone!! Cyber space can indeed feel lonely, but for all the silence I’m sure there are plenty of well wishers “lurking” (I’m guilty of this myself ) on the forum, that are with you in spirit, even if not “out loud”!

Give the homeopathy a chance – honestly the healing process is up and down and does take time, whatever the modality – as frustrating as that is! It sounds like you are doing everything you can

I appreciate that - as with everything - money is unfortunately is a factor but  don’t discount learning how to heal yourself/your pets – there are loads of great teachers/courses/books out there, but equally there is lots of free info on the internet  if you Google and root around I’m sure your friend’s Reiki will help – a few years back I was sceptical about Reiki/energy work – but I was lucky enough to work with a really gifted Reiki therapist (I’ve blogged about it) – and the results can be truly amazing.

Hang in there, we ARE with you

Wishing you and Molly all the best, lots and lots of good health and happiness

(Top name for a dog BTW – my 2 year old blonde lab is called Molly – obviously I’m hugely biased, but ....she’s gorgeous! Her ½ brother Robbie is in the naturallycomplementary.com  logo

 I admit it – I’m a lurker!  

I’m so sorry to hear about Molly Louise, my thoughts are with you.

I haven’t had a dog with degenerative myelopathy myself, but I did find this story about "Amber" who benefited from herbal remedies which might be of interest? http://www.herbal-treatments.net/testimonials/dog-testimonials/ambers-herbal-success.html

Again, as said above, improvement was “slow and steady” – always a frustrating one for us owners who want our dear animals to be healed yesterday! But again, hopefully it might give you and Molly some hope

Keep us posted, we ("vocals" and "lurkers" alike ) are all with you both.

Molly is doing well believe it or not. We have changed diet etc and started her on homeopathic treatment (what have we got to lose?) and she has defintiely improved. She can now walk with the aid of a small sling under her abdomen (which is more to provide balance than take weight) and she has a run twice a day where the "sling holder" can barely keep up - just like in her "collar and lead" days! We are starting her on a conventional treatment regime shortly but will continue with homeopathy so will keep you posted.

Regards.

That is really great news Louise! I'm really pleased for you and Molly. Thanks very much for letting us know

Keep in touch

Kind regards

Gina

 Hi There

Just a quick update

Molly is still doing very well. She is no longer on homeopathic treatment as this ran its course for her but we have her on a new conventional protocol (aminocaproic acid on a daily basis) which has been known (but not proven) to slow or stop the progression of the disease. I will be honest and say she has had some very very minor progression, but given that it is ten months since her diagnosis, this is still really good. Naturally, she is having three monthly blood tests to ensure that the drug is not having any adverse effects and to date they come back clear for kidneys, liver etc.We hope to improve her muscle mass by introducing regular hydrotherapy, and of course her quality of life is superb now as she has her cart from Eddies Wheels so she is flying around the place! I can barely keep up with her these days!

Is there a way we can post images here? Would love to show you a picture of here flying about in her wheels!

Regards

Louise

That is excellent news Lousie - many thanks for the update

Check out the pictures of Molly and her new wheels here! http://naturallycomplementary.com/community/photos/molly/default.aspx