Gus

 

Due to Gus's condition and age he will be staying wtih Corgi Connection indefinitely. We are so lucky to have a foster mom who will keep him no matter what.

There can't be a more sweet loving boy than Gus who deserves the comfort of a soft bed, loving owners and to be spoiled rotten. Corgi Connection got Gus off a web-site where he was listed for sale. There was just something about him that spoke to me and I knew we had to get Gus out of his situation.

Gus had been living in a pen on a farm. His coat was so matted he had to be shaved in order to be cleaned up. However, that wasn't the worst of it. It was quickly noticed Gus was having some back-end issues; dragging his back feet a little or rolling them over when he walked. X-rays did not reveal any spinal injury but we suspect he has DM (Degenerative Myelopathy). DM is defined with progressive weakness and incoordination of the rear limbs are often the first signs seen in affected dogs, with progression over time to complete paralysis. Myelin is an insulating sheath around neurons in the spinal cord. One proposed cause of degenerative myelopathy is that the immune system attacks this sheath, breaking it down. This results in a loss of communication between nerves in lower body of the animal and the brain.

While we have not had a positive diagnosis, we feel Gus most likely does have DM. There is no absolute test currently for DM only genetic markers can help confirm.

Currently Gus is still very mobile. The one fortunate thing about dogs with DM is they are not necessarily in pain from the disease. Gus's only limitations are stairs. He can manage a few stairs such as those leading in to and out of a house but not much more. Slick floors such as hardwood do pose a little bit of an issue as his legs will tend to slide out from under him. However, Gus is very good about wearing some booties which not only help protect his paw from the slight drag but they also give him a little extra traction.happy gus 12-1-13

Gus's future will most likely be in a cart which has already been donated to him. How long it will be before he needs a cart is anyone's guess. Right now he loves to go for walks, explore the yard, chew on bones and just be loved. Despite his past he is house-trained and neutered. He does well with other dogs and cats and seems to really enjoy car rides!

Gus is 11 years old and we are determined to make the remaining years of his life the best he's had yet!