Annapolis Woman Cares For German Shepherd With Degenerative Disease
By THERESA WINSLOW
The Capital of Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- One of Cathy Krohn's favorite things is sitting by the water on her neighborhood beach and watching the sunset. Her beloved German Shepherd, Kyle, is always by her side, even though the Annapolis resident had to carry the 75-pound dog there.
Krohn acts as Kyle's hind legs, because he suffers from degenerative myelopathy, which is similar to Lou Gehrig's disease in humans. Kyle's front legs work just fine -- for now -- although the disease will most likely rob him of the use of those if he survives that long.
"I think she's doing everything she can to keep her friend comfortable and give him the best quality of life," said Dr. Norma Woodburn of Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital.
Initially, Krohn wanted Kyle to be a search and rescue dog. She ended up rescuing him.
The first signs of a problem came up when Kyle was training and came up lame. Krohn got the official diagnosis of the condition, which impacts the spinal cord, when her dog was three. Kyle began dragging his rear feet at age six. At eight, he began to lose use of the legs completely. When he turned nine, he could no longer empty his bladder himself. He'll be 10 in June.
"I was devastated he couldn't be a search and rescue dog," Krohn said. "He was so intelligent. But he's got the best disposition. So he just became a pet and he's had a good life."
Woodburn said the condition progresses slowly and is common in German Shepherds. Huskies, collies and Corgis can also be affected. A genetic test can identify the disease, but wasn't available when Krohn got Kyle.
"It's an awful disease," she said, "but he has no pain. He's happy. He plays. The only reason he's still going is because I stimulate him. Most people would put him to sleep well before now."
Neighbor Diane Rugge marvels at Krohn's patience and kindness.
"I've never seen anyone love an animal as much as she loves Kyle," Rugge said. "When she sees him, you can tell he's her best friend."
The love comes with a steep price, both in terms of money for Kyle's medications and vet bills, and for Krohn herself.
Her back and shoulders ache from him taking him outside five times a day.
"I have issues, oh yeah," she said. "I'm going to have to go to the chiropractor."
On the plus side, she doesn't feel the need to workout at the gym. The 53-year-old hefts her pet by use of a harness. She has a cart for him, but he doesn't like it.
"It's a full-time job," said Krohn, whose actual job is as a sales manager at a local furniture store. "You can't leave, you can't go on vacation. Sometimes, I get upset, but all you have to do is look at him. We're so bonded."
She gets him down the front steps of the house by using a small ramp her husband built. He can't lift the dog himself because his back is worse than hers, but he helps with feeding. He's done more in the past, as have her children. Her son hurt his hand and works a lot, and her daughter is in college.
Once Krohn has Kyle outdoors, she takes off his diaper and presses on his stomach to empty his bladder. Then, she positions him in his favorite spot on the grass so he can greet passersby. Often, he likes to chew on a stick as he mans his post.
"He's the most precious dog," said neighbor Shirley Lord. "Everybody loves Kyle."
Still, she's blown away by Krohn's dedication.
"She's amazing," Lord said. "I don't know how she does it. I can't imagine doing that every day."
While Krohn's at work, she has a pet-sitter care for Kyle. Carmel Berger, who also works as a veterinary technician at Woodburn's hospital, comes once or twice a day. She's been caring for Kyle since he was a puppy. She said he's a wonderful pet and a bit of a ladies' man with the female dogs.
"The hardest thing with this disease is that the personality is still there," Berger said. "You have to try to keep him active so the muscles don't atrophy."
"Hey, sweet boy. Hey, sweet boy. Wanna go sit (outside)?"
Krohn greets Kyle, who yelps with excitement. He's her third German Shepard. The previous pair didn't have any medical problems and lived to be very old.
"They're regal (dogs)," she said. "I've loved them since Rin Tin Tin days."
Krohn, who also has two cats, is coming forward about Kyle not for sympathy, but because she wants other pet owners to know degenerative myelopathy isn't an instant death sentence and can be managed.
"It's made me want to be an advocate for dogs that are ill," she said.
"Put yourself in the dog's place," she said. "That's how you have think of it."
Krohn's not sure when Kyle will get worse, but if he's no longer happy, it'll be time for her to act. She's not ready to think about that now.
"I take it a day at a time and hope he stays like this," she said.
And despite everything, Krohn said she'd get another German Shepard.
"But," she said, "I'd get a genetic test."
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
