Have you heard about Shade Out DM? It’s a nonprofit foundation that’s working hard to eliminate Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs. DM is a fatal, inherited disease that’s on the rise.
Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
The main goal of the group and their founder, Tauni Beckmann, is to educate the public about the growing number of pups who fall victim to the disease every year.
The organization does this through:
- Public awareness
- Education for dog breeders
- Seminars for veterinarians
- Genetic testing
- Research
If you have a dog that’s been diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy, Shade Out DM is a group you should get to know.
Note: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
How Shade Out DM got its start
Tauni Beckmann started her career as a horse trainer and a diagnostic laboratory tech who had a special fondness for Pembroke Welsh Corgis. In 2015, her treasured Corgi named KC fell victim to Degenerative Myelopathy (DM).
Together they became advocates to stop the disease. Tauni started a dog wheelchair loan program called KC’s Kruisers. And she joined the board of directors for Bandit’s K9 Care, a nonprofit organization that provides financial aid for dogs who need veterinary care.
During their time with the group, KC became a popular figure who wore cool sunglasses and raised money for disabled dogs. Each November the little Corgi and her pet mom would host a fundraiser called Race At Your Own Pace. The event brought in much needed funds for research and programs.
It’s a tradition that Tauni continues to sponsor after losing KC to Degenerative Myelopathy in 2017.
eBook
Find The Right Dog Wheelchair For Your Pet
Your dog has a mobility problem, and you want to buy a wheelchair. But do you know what kind of cart will work best for your dog’s individual needs? After a decade of teaching pet owners how to make the right choice, I put the information into an eBook!
How Race at Your Own Pace works
Race At Your Own Pace is a fun competition that everyone can do. This year the event runs from November 10-17.
It’s organized so that you can participate in-person or join virtually with your dog and your friends, in your hometown. Teams can choose to run, walk or raise donations while they relax on the sofa.
Participants can take part in these ways:
- Organize a 5K race for runners.
- Jog with your dog at a local park or in your own neighborhood.
- Run virtually from the couch
The goal is to promote awareness about DM and to raise funds to continue research and education. Shade Out DM sponsors research projects at four schools of veterinary medicine.
If you would like to participate in the event, contact Shade Out DM www.shadeoutdm.org to register.
An overview of Degenerative Myelopathy
DM is a neurological disease that can be inherited when a puppy is born with two copies of a mutated gene called SOD1. To date the duplicate copies of SOD1 have been found in more than 100 dog breeds.
The disease starts to affect dogs when they become senior pups between the ages of 8-14 years old. It begins by attacking the central nervous system.
At that time, the disorder slowly strips away a protective coating in the spine called myelin and it takes away a dog’s ability to move their limbs and feel sensations.
Degenerative Myelopathy is often compared to a human disease called ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), or Lou Gehrig’s disease. In fact, a lot of the research being done for ALS is being combined with the research for DM dogs.
DM is a disease close to my heart because it’s likely the cause of my dog, Sophie’s, paralysis in 2008.
Dogs with the condition first show subtle signs such as knuckling their rear paws, slipping on slick surfaces and crisscrossing their hind legs when they walk. Eventually the legs become paralyzed while DM moves to the respiratory system and vital organs.
Most dogs live between one to three years after a diagnosis. You can read more about Degenerative Myelopathy here: What Pet Parents Should Know.
Shade Out DM and the DNA test
After KC passed away, Tauni and her husband Ted decided to put in even more effort to provide support for families. That’s when Tauni’s focus turned to the DNA test. She believes DM can be eradicated if dog breeders use the test to screen animals before they are bred.
That way, dogs who have two copies of the mutated SOD1 gene can be pulled from the breeding pool. It’s become her goal to educate breeders about the DNA test and how it can save lives.
Today Tauni spends much of her time talking with dog breeders at conferences and industry trade shows. She also educates the public to ask dog breeders if they screen with the DNA test and to get the results of the test before adopting a puppy.
Get the Essential Guide
The Essential Guide of Products for Handicapped Dogs e-book is a labor of love for me. I wrote it to answer your most pressing questions about where to find the best products for your wheelchair dog. You’ll find products you didn’t know existed and each will improve your dog’s quality of life. Print a copy and keep it by your side.
Evaluating the DNA test
Currently there is no definitive test a veterinarian can use to confirm that a dog has DM. Veterinarians can only make a diagnosis based on your pet’s symptoms.
That’s why the DNA test is so important. The results tell pet owners and breeders if a dog is “Normal” (the dog does not have the genetic mutation), or a “Carrier” (the dog has one copy of the SOD1 gene) or “At Risk”, which means that (2 mutated SOD1 genes were found.)
The test provides the following information:
- Normal (N/N) – Canines in this category have two normal copies of the gene. They are the least likely to develop DM.
- Carrier (A/N) – This result says that a dog has one copy of the SOD1 gene. Dogs in this category are less likely to develop DM.
- At-Risk (A/A) – This is the highest risk category. Dogs receiving an A/A score have two mutated copies of SOD1. The test doesn’t mean every dog with this score will develop DM, but they have the highest chance of developing DM during their life.
Here’s a short list of the dog breeds prone to DM:
- American Eskimo Dogs
- Bernese Mountain Dogs
- Borzoi
- Boxers
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
- German Shepherd Dog
- Golden Retriever
- Great Pyrenees
- Irish Setters
- Kerry Blue Terriers
- Pembroke Welsh Corgis
- Poodle
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Soft Coated Wheaton Terriers
- Wire Fox Terrier
Ask your veterinarian for the complete list.
Read more posts about DM: Click here.
My favorite harnesses for disabled dogs.
