Thatcher has DM. Anyone use Dwanecart wheelchair?

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Rbastedo

Rbastedo

Boxer Buddy
The booties are nice for outdoors, Thatcher tends to trip over anything (or nothing) these days.
It's a lot worse when someone new comes in the house, he gets excited and loses his footing. Not progressed to incontinence yet, I'm afraid that will be the time when he gives up as doing his business inside would be a nightmare for him.

I found him unable to get up one morning and he was scared, I think because he hadn't been outside yet and was afraid what might happen. He was shaking, I calmed him down told him repeatedly everything was all right and got him up and walking.

I know sometime soon the time will come and he won't be able to do that, but for now we are working on having more good days with him.
This all seems easier with the smaller dogs, but there is a reason we have Boxers and I'm grateful for the (almost) ten years we have had with him.
 
Rbastedo

Rbastedo

Boxer Buddy
Gunther we all do our best with what we know at the time.
There's plenty of things I'd do differently if I only knew then what I know now and I am sure I will be able to say the same in a few more years after I learn more new things.

Thatcher's disease is taking the predictable course, we are still working with him and he still manages to go up and down the few steps of the back porch and wander around the back yard to take care of business a couple times each day. I keep reminding the family that we need to encourage him to do things himself instead of treating him like an invalid. The time will come when he will truly be unable and then we can do it for him but for now even though it's painful to watch we need to let him pick himself up and go as much as he can.

We had a birthday party for our 2 year old grandson last weekend and Thatcher always likes to be right in the middle of all that. He was so tired out afterward that he just couldn't get up after trying to stand and socialize with all the party guests for several hours. I got him up in his spot on the loveseat after they left and he really snoozed. He was better the next morning, but he really enjoys it when there are a lot of people visiting.

We got a sling from Walkin' Wheels but so far it just hasn't been as helpful as we hoped it would be. Maybe it will be something we use more when he can no longer get himself up.
 
Gunther

Gunther

Super Boxer
Rbastedo said:
His favorite place to sleep since being banned from stairs (our bed is upstairs) is the loveseat. He can still usually make it up so most mornings I come down he's comfortably sleeping there. Once that no longer works for him we have some nice covered pads that he likes, one 2'x4' and the other is 3'x6.

Dwanecart so far hasn't communicated with me about when I will get his wheelchair, I know I've got at least one 20" bike wheel outside that I can use and maybe two - just need to make sure they turn freely and have good tires and tubes then we will be ready for it.
Click to expand...
Is that a "loaned" cart he is using?


Rbastedo said:
When Thatcher is done using this cart we will keep it in case our younger Boxer needs it. Too bad DNA testing for DM wasn't being done when our pups were conceived. Hopefully reputable breeders are testing for it now because it's a terrible thing for a dog to have to go through.
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Yeah I have a GSD with "wobbers" so I can scale Struddell's cart up when the time comes.

On the DM front, I communicated with breeders and asked some questions, pretty interesting. Good Breeders provide health testing. It takes two dogs with the DM gene to get a dog that will most likely develop full blown, DM.

Best bet is to have two DM clear dogs to have zero chance of DM. I only found one breeder with Two DM parents and the Dogs were Euro's.

I asked some questions as to why and dogs that any DM genes were being breed? I asked why not just stop breeding them?? The answer was that 79% of Boxers have one of the DM genes! If you stop breeding the gene period 79% of Boxers get thrown out of the gene pool.

So the reasonable thing to do is to make sure "both" parents don't care the DM gene. A sound Boxer is best acquired from a good breeder.

This also means that if you get a BYB, like I did and many of us have done in the past. You have a hugh
possibility of having a DM dog,If you get" lucky" it will be one clear parent in the breeding pair, the odds aren't good!



Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Contact Us
 
Gunther

Gunther

Super Boxer
Gunther said:
Is that a "loaned" cart he is using?


Yeah I have a GSD with "wobbers" so I can scale Struddell's cart up when the time comes.

On the DM front, I communicated with breeders and asked some questions, pretty interesting. Good Breeders provide health testing. It takes two dogs with the DM gene to get a dog that will most likely develop full blown, DM.

Best bet is to have two DM clear dogs to have zero chance of DM. I only found one breeder with Two DM parents and the Dogs were Euro's.

I asked some questions as to why and dogs that any DM genes were being breed? I asked why not just stop breeding them?? The answer was that 79% of Boxers have one of the DM genes! If you stop breeding the gene period 79% of Boxers get thrown out of the gene pool.

So the reasonable thing to do is to make sure "both" parents don't care the DM gene. A sound Boxer is best acquired from a good breeder.

This also means that if you get a BYB, like I did and many of us have done in the past. You have a hugh
possibility of having a DM dog,If you get" lucky" it will be one clear parent in the breeding pair, the odds aren't good!



Orthopedic Foundation for Animals: Contact Us
Click to expand...
Not sure if my point was clear here. A BYB puppy has a very high chance of having DM! Not slamming Quality(real) Breeders they are the ones who know what there breeding pair "should produce"! :)
 
Rbastedo

Rbastedo

Boxer Buddy
True, now in 2014 if they do genetic testing for everything available. (expensive yes?)

In 2003 there were not as many available tests, so those of us with aging Boxers may or may not have gotten lucky in the genetics.

We also have rescues we are taking in, and most of the time that's a total crapshoot genetically.

It's a complex subject, I thought the thing you were asking me is if my cart was a loaner? As in I borrowed it from someone? Or if I'd be willing to loan it to someone else? I'd probably be most likely to put it up on Ebay after we are done with it.
 
furrykidmom

furrykidmom

Completely Boxer Crazy
This is the email that we recently received from the company that did Woody's test. We paid $58 for his test. We received this email a few weeks ago and ordered it for our new puppy. I think $38 is inexpensive. But this sale ends the end of February. We did not test Woody for breeding purposes. We tested him to see if that was most likely what he had. He had both allelles.

Below is the email from DDC


Last chance reminder for $38 on DDC's Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) DNA Test


Hello,

Just a friendly reminder that DDC's special February promotion on Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) DNA testing ends very soon. If you were waiting to order, don't delay any longer- now is the time!

Normally $58 per tested canine, from now until the end of February, all pre-paid DNA test kits for DM will be made available for a special low price of $38. You can purchase as many as you like now for future use.

For more information about the Degenerative Myelopathy DNA test go to DNA Test for Canine Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

For a direct link for ordering the pre-paid DM kits, please go here... https://www.dnacenter.com/vet/dm-order.html

Other popular DNA testing options include Coat Length and Coat Color tests. These "extra" tests can also be purchased at the time samples are returned for only $20 per additional test (on the same animal). Just indicate with your return samples and include payment for the additional tests when returning your swab samples.

It has always been our mission to provide our clients with the highest quality testing available along with the very best value. Please share this information with others you think may benefit and let us know if you have questions or comments, we're always glad to help.

Thank you for your business.

DDC Veterinary
One DDC Way
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
contact@vetdnacenter.com






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Copyright © 2014 DDC Veterinary, All rights reserved.

Thank you again for choosing DDC for your DNA testing needs in the past, we really appreciate your DNA business.

Our mailing address is:

DDC Veterinary
One DDC Way
Fairfield, Ohio 45014






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Rbastedo

Rbastedo

Boxer Buddy
Thanks FurryKidMom,
I just ordered a kit for our younger female, she's a rescue however she's out of two purebred boxers that we do have information on (lucky for us).
Still no genetic test info available so this test will help us prepare if she tests positive or be relieved if she does not.
 
Gunther

Gunther

Super Boxer
Rbastedo said:
True, now in 2014 if they do genetic testing for everything available. (expensive yes?)

In 2003 there were not as many available tests, so those of us with aging Boxers may or may not have gotten lucky in the genetics.

We also have rescues we are taking in, and most of the time that's a total crapshoot genetically.

It's a complex subject, I thought the thing you were asking me is if my cart was a loaner? As in I borrowed it from someone? Or if I'd be willing to loan it to someone else? I'd probably be most likely to put it up on Ebay after we are done with it.
Click to expand...
No you had said something a couple post up that had me confused. :)

Yep I know the rescues..for a lot of folks it's going to come as a surprise! :( In 2003 my girl was a puppy
and DM was something I was never aware of till she came down with it at 8 yrs old. :(

I have no idea what the test cost. If someone has details they should put it up here. I only know it can be done.
 
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