Page 121 - Aussie Magazine - 2023 Issue 2

was a shock and like a small rock falling of our
shoulders, now we knew what was going on, but
it meant “Boom” would not stay that long with
us. He was affected! Affected with symptoms!
My world stood still for a while. I realized this
would be the last months together. I worked
very hard to ensure he was as comfortable as
possible. He got several physio treatments
a week, water treadmill, electroshocks, laser
therapy, massage…. Unfortunately nothing has
helped to keep his muscles in shape, keeping his
coordination, nothing slowed down the speed
of ataxia. On the contrary it became worse and
worse with every passing day. The only joy for
us was his always happy and powerful face. He
just looked at us like he was ok and wondered
why we were concerned. Because he was happy,
TRUE STORY… it seemed like he didn´t care about the loss of
coordination of his hind legs.
One day as my boy “Boom” was standing on the
Grooming Table and enjoyed his Spa Day , when Very soon I decided to use shoes on him and
I noticed that one of his hind legs slipped away, work with expanders to assist him while
and knuckled back in position for balance. I was moving and prevent his legs to slip away. He
scared and called a Physiotherapist to get an idea didn´t felt or showed any sign of pain, even if
what is going on. Without any noticeable results his hind paws were bloody or a nail got broken.
and no pain reactions. But you were still able to watch daily how
the coordination and feelings leave his hind
This was just the beginning of our journey! My dog part. With progression of the DM you could
showed even more times a knuckled paw, also watch “Boom” getting more sad. He was sad
his toenails became extremely short and the hair he couldn´t go with us for walks for a long
started to rub off. He had some physio treatments time, he could not play with the others in the
didn´t brought any improvement. We consulted garden without falling down, he could not jump
our local vet and gave him pain killers we went to into the bed or the couch by his own. It was
the Neurologist. After some checks and proofing extremely hard to watch his sad eyes. He was
X-Rays there were no signs of Cauda-Equina, just lucky if he could hang with us around, but
lumbar disk or scoliosis. He still showed no pain, unfortunately as advanced the disease became
also without being on pail reliever. His condition he need more and more help which really broke
became worse, his hind legs started slipping his pride at all. He was annoyed that he needed
away. So, we decided to go to a specialist for an help, he didn´t showed it but I was able to
MRT. Unfortunately, again without any results. read his eyes. So I knew the day will be near
The vets released us without any diagnosis, he to make the hardest decision I´ve had to make
was not able to help us. so far. The psychological strain was bigger than
the happiness. So I decided to make the last
After lots of research by myself I found on journey together with him! He was born in my
Facebook a group of dog owners with affected hands, and he was put to sleep in my hands. I
dogs of Degenerative Myelopathie, every sign my am forever grateful I had this handsome dog by
boy showed looked like it was DM. We made the my side, but thinking about the way I lost him
DNA Test and the feeling by getting the result still breaks my heart.

A Worldwide Magazine for the Aussie • Issue 2/2023 | 121