What is a diet used to feed German Shepherd dogs with degenerative myelopathy?

Our question this week was:

Have you heard of a diet that is fed to German Shepherd dogs that have degenerative myelopathy?

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Rocky S. London, England

Answer

Hi – thanks for your email. Yes, I have heard of this diet. In fact, one of our excellent authors, Dr. Arnold Plotnick wrote and article on this disease and included the diet. I'll include it here:

The following is a recipe for a homemade diet for German shepherds with degenerative myelopathy.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz. boneless pork center loin chop (boiled or baked)
• 4 oz. tofu
• 8 oz. long grain brown rice (3 oz. cooked in 6 oz. water)
• 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
• ¼ cup molasses
• 2 whole carrots (boiled, then cut up)
• 1 cup spinach
• 4 tbsp. green bell pepper (chopped and steamed)
• 4 broccoli spears (boiled, then cut up)

The above recipe makes one serving for 30 to 50 lbs of body weight. Portions may be prepared ahead of time and frozen. Just before serving, add:

• 1 tsp dry ground ginger
• 2 raw garlic cloves, crushed
• ½ tsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp bone meal

An article that might be helpful to you is Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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