Supportive partners

So you've just gotten the news from your veterinarian... 

they "diagnosed" that your pup may have DM... 

We are here to let you know that while this is not a path we've chosen, we too have gotten this dreaded news & know how you are feeling (HUGS). We are here to help you! There is HOPE and your pup can still live their best life with you! Like with people that have been diagnosed with ALS & other neurological illnesses, it's all about how we chose to respond. 

First of all, this is likely a "pathofunctional diagnosis" in that they have ruled out the other likely possibilities that this disease can be known to mimic. Currently, the only way to confirm that it is in fact DM is by doing a necropsy postmortem. This is a very detailed process that not all veterinarians have the proper tools & equipment to do this procedure as well as very costly but nonetheless, it won't help your pup while they're living; so, for now, we have to rely on the professional assessment of our loving veterinarians & neurologists to deliver their clinical findings thru the "rule out process". Some veterinarians have experienced DM first hand while others may not have even heard of this disease being that there wasn't a genetic test available until 2008.

ShadeOutDM support group on facebook is here to help you thru your journey (There is NO charge for this membership!)

We do have several veterinarians that generously donate their time to monitor discussions as well as several owners that have taken the DM journey with multiple pups too.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shadeoutdm.org