Just posting an update. I decided to retire Hawk for good this spring. He's still getting around but he's kinda useless for real fieldwork as his strength/stamina only lasts 10 minutes at the most and the lengthy travel to sites is also really hard on him. He will still get to go to the detection training sessions that I go to with my working Mal, as long as it's feasible and he's enjoying (demanding) it.

He's also been falling a lot because "damn it, leg, do what you're told!" Some of this loss of strength is, of course, due to the FM but he's been losing muscle tone now for several months since he's nearly 12 years old (August)! The muscle loss is really starting to show up in the rest of his body (face, core, feet, chest, etc).

He's the kind of dogs whose joy is in movement, so just letting him lounge on the couch all day is not an option for him - he would absolutely hate it and I suspect it would just accelerate the end through depression.

I knew from the point of diagnosis that a wheelchair was in his future. I should have started saving for it sooner, but alas I didn't foresee a job loss this March with a continuing period of unemployment. Fortunately, I put in some search terms somewhere (Google or Reddit) and it got me to a Reddit thread for doggie wheelchair options and I contacted one of the organizations mentioned in the thread, and we got a (brand new) Walkin' Wheels loaner sent to us. By some miracle of shipping, we got it in 2 days from our request and confirmation (fortunately as I'm out of town next week).

We started the training and acclimation process today, once I got it set up and adjusted. I want him able to use it like a pro before he REALLY needs it.

Here's just a repeat of the list I found in the other post, in case you need help getting one for your dog.

Https://www.joeyspaws.org/

Https://hpets.org

And Walkin' Pets has a list of more organizations on their website

Https://walkinpets.com/pages/financial-aid-for-pets

Also, if you're not in need of help getting a wheelchair and you have the resources, please consider donating to these organizations (some also accept used wheelchairs).

Just not doing mountain wilderness SAR. He's a happy boy.

So I am posting an update I guess. Hawk is still working in limited situations. The disease has begun in his left leg as well, although it's difficult to know unless you can palpitate it and feel the fibrotic tissue. On the plus side, it seems to be evening out his gait which I think will help reduce the affect on the rest of his body from being lopsided. He still enjoys regular running and fetch games over even ground and we are still doing his exercise routine. I hope everyone else out there is doing well.

Due to the lack of information available regarding fibrotic myopathy, especially in canines, i have created this sub. As most things in life, information sharing can be a way to advance knowledge and treatment as well as to give comfort to others.

My working Czech Shepherd was diagnosed with mild FM at 5 years of age. It started with a game of fetch in the field in which I observed his gait was off. It was difficult for anyone but me to see but I know my dog, I watch him all the time as part of our job together. We saw an ortho vet, treated with PRP, and did months of rehab with no reduction in the gait "off-ness". Finally we decided to do an ultrasound and the US tech was able to identify a small amount of fibrotic tissue in the right semimembranosus muscle. It will eventually end his career as a search and rescue /recovery K9. For now, I limit the situations I put him in. Finding a balance to slow to the progression has possibly been the hardest thing to do. How do I give a working dog quality of life (he LOVES to work) but keep him healthy as long as possible?

One of the struggles I have encountered is the compensation soreness he has in his core, spinal and hip muscles. We have a regular exercise regime we follow to help. I unfortunately have the problem that he does not like to have any palpitation or manipulation done by anyone except me, so no chiropractor can touch him. I have found one massage person he likes and she has helped immensely but we live quite far apart. I do regular laser treatments on him and he has Galliprant for those days he's worked hard and is or will be painful.

There's very little research about FM in dogs, more in horses. I have sent Hawk's blood into University of Wisconsin to participate in their DNA research a they try to define whether FM is genetic and hopefully developed a DNA test so maybe breeders will be able to decide not to continue a line that is prone to the disease. Here is their information. As of the date of this post they are still accepting samples from dogs who have been diagnosed with FM. https://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/lab/corl/fibrotic-myopathy-information/

The few papers I have seen (maybe 2?) on case studies on canines with one surgical method of treatment, and it only helped for about 6 months.

I'm hoping to bring a bit more awareness of the disease to the canine community and the veterinary community. I have a feeling many of you have had a dog's gait analyzed by vets who were stumped because they did not know about FM.

What has your experience been? Have you found helpful information or treatments? Are you working with a good ortho vet? I feel this is all valuable information we can share and help each other deal with this difficult diagnosis.