Dan and I exchanged PMs. I have had a few cases and my brother's German Shepherd had it the last few years of her life. My experience has been that the progress varies in each individual but has been "slow" in most cases (years). No real treatment or cure. Management and quality of life becomes an issue, especially with a large breed dog.
Special needs animals develop a special bond with their people. There is a level of trust and love that transcends even the regular one that people develop with their dogs/cats/horses... And it goes both ways, we develop special feeling for them that makes their eventual loss even more devastating.
It takes extraordinary people to care for special needs animals, kids, older folks. When you looks at the good people can do, it really makes you appreciate the good that can be in world.
