This week’s blog comes about after reading a journal abstract on the subject of knee osteoarthritis (OA) after different types of knee injuries in young adults.  No surprise, the study found that knee OA increased almost 6x in young adults who had a knee injury (compared to those that didn’t).  Those injuries included, cruciate damage, meniscal tears, and intra-articular fractures.  Yes, it’s a human study, but do we really think it would be different in dogs? 

 

I did a quick PubMed search (because I’m a nerd) and found a 1975 study whereby the researchers radiographed then dissected 150 cadaver stifles from veterinary practices.  20% of those dogs had stifle arthritis.  When looking at the total number of stifles with osteoarthritis, 37% had some form of mechanical derangement (i.e. cruciate tear, meniscal tear, or patellar dislocation), whereas 61% the cause of OA was unknown.  Well, that’s weird… I would wonder if the remaining 61% has partial cruciate tears that would account for joint inflammation and/or a tear of the contralateral limb… which we know can cause issues in BOTH joints. 

 

Subsequently, I went down the rabbit hole to see what new information could be found since 1975 (ha ha… just a bit!) and found the following.  “Synovitis is an early feature of the CrCLR arthropathy in dogs before development of joint instability clinically. Severity of synovitis is correlated with radiographic arthritis in joints with minimal to no clinically detectable CrCL damage.”  Great!  That fits with current knowledge and with where I’m going here! Let’s go back to the concept that joint injuries lead to osteoarthritis.  Joint inflammation leads to cruciate disease and eventually osteoarthritis. KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE!!!  What can we do about it?
 

In a little over an hour, Dr. Marsden explains in a live interview what causes DM to PROGRESS and shares his PROVEN TREATMENT PLAN that has successfully SLOWED DISEASE PROGRESSION and even HALTED it!

 

I know the statements here are going against what you've been told and if you are looking for a magic pill, maybe don't watch this. This is based on real science which he illustrates.

 

"There is NO CURE for DM.... There ARE MANY!" ~ Dr. S. Marsden.

 

Dr Marsden is known internationally for his work in integrative veterinary care and his protocols have been able to significantly slow, halt, and even reverse the progression of DM!

In this interview he provides the bases for understanding how PHYSIOTHERAPY, FRESH FOOD, and specific CHINESE HERBS can bring "down dogs" back up ON THEIR FEET and provides a real life example!!!!!

 

He also shares some NEW POSSIBILITIES combined with the above protocol upright, to keep your dog walking on their own, and ultimately, with you longer.

Dr MARSDEN'S 3 TIPS FOR LIVING WITH DOGS WITH DM

 Start early

 Don't give up

 Keep up the protocol - feed fresh, daily PT, bupleurum (chinese herbs) , and modalities that keep the spinal cord healthy

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IMPORTANT LINKS

*Degenerative Myelopathy – A Clinical Model and Strategy: https://www.civtedu.org/steve-marsden-webinars3/

*Dr Marsden's Formula for bupleurum - https://nphc.ca

*5 Day DM Learning Challenge - Living with Dogs with Disabilities

*Living with Dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy. The Program 2.0 https://livingwithdogswithdisabilities.thinkific.com/...

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FOODS  CONTAINING NATURAL SOD

 cabbage, Brussels sprouts, wheat grass, barley grass, broccoli, peas, tomato, mustard leaves, spinach, honeydew, cantaloupe, chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, cashews, hazelnuts

Comment #FRESHFOOD for a link to Dr Marsden's cookbook!

 If you are watching on a page other than Upward Dog Rehab - please message me in messanger and/or join @Living with Dogs with Disabilities where the file is uploaded 

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MORE ABOUT DR S. MARSDEN

Dr. Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, MSOM, Lac. Dipl.CH, CVA, AHG lectures for IVAS, the AHVMA, the AVMA, and numerous other organizations. He is co-founder of the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies and is a director emeritus of the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland OR. He authored the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine (Mosby); and Essential Guide to Chinese Herbal Formulas (CIVT). Dr. Marsden is extensively trained in alternative medicine, including Chinese herbology, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine. In 2010, Dr. Marsden was named Teacher of the Year by the AHVMA; and in 2009, the Small Animal Veterinarian of the year by the CVMA.