Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a slow onset, non-painful destruction of the nerve conduction portion of the spinal cord, called axons and myelin.
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is characterised by a non-painful progressive hind limb paralysis in older dogs. Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) was previously known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy (CDRM) and is a progressive degenerative spinal cord disease.
Dogs with DM will struggle, which may be painful to watch, but they aren't experiencing any pain. This loss of strength and changes in a dog's mobility does place additional stress on a dog's body. Symptoms of DM come on slowly and are often very subtle and easily missed.
Myelopathy symptoms may include: Pain in the lower back, neck, arm or leg. Tingling, numbness or weakness. Decreased fine motor skills, balance, and coordination.
Is the condition painful? Most affected dogs do not seem painful, just very weak. If the dog appears to be painful, there may be another condition such as arthritis complicating the condition.
Treatment for Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs
Veterinarians may be able to treat some related symptoms to relieve discomfort, but a healthy diet and plenty of exercise, including walking and swimming, are the main ways to keep dogs with the condition as mobile as possible.
Degenerative cervical myelopathy is the most common spinal cord problem in people 55 years and older in the United States. If it is not treated, it usually stays the same or gets worse. There is no way to tell whether it will get worse.
How Quickly Does Degenerative Myelopathy Progress? Unfortunately, DM tends to progress very quickly. Most dogs that have been diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy will become paraplegic within six months to a year.
DM may be painless, but most dogs with severe chronic pain will display no signs. Therefore, I have also seen cases of severe hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament rupture or arthritis get mistaken for DM. Degenerative myelopathy is described as a diagnosis by exclusion.
Red flags particularly suggestive of cancer, infection, or inflammation are malaise, fever, unexplained weight loss, pain that is increasing, is unremitting, or disturbs sleep, a history of inflammatory arthritis, cancer, tuberculosis, immunosuppression, drug abuse, AIDS, or other infection.
In some rare cases, it can even affect the front legs. Degenerative myelopathy isn't a painful condition, but in its later stages tends to severely impact quality of life. Sadly, most dogs with degenerative myelopathy eventually lose control of their legs, bladder and bowels completely, and need to be put to sleep.
General behaviour: Shaking, flattened ears, low posture, aggression, grumpy temperament, panting or crying, excessive licking or scratching a specific area, reluctant to play, interact or exercise, lameness (limping), stiffness after rest, loss of appetite.
Degenerative Myelopathy can progress quickly from stage to stage. Significant mobility loss occurs within the first year of diagnosis, in most cases of DM within six months to 1 year of diagnosis before dogs become paraplegic. Complete organ failure is possible in the end stages of Degenerative Myelopathy.
The clinical signs of late-stage disease include: Complete paralysis of the hind limbs and loss of all motor function. Loss of all sensory and deep-pain reflexes. Hyporeflexia of the myotatic and withdrawal reflexes.
Myelopathy is a nerve injury in your spinal cord, which is the grouping of nerves that runs from your skull to your tailbone. The condition is caused by compression of the spinal cord, resulting in pain, loss of sensation, or loss of control of certain body parts.
Most people are able to return to a desk job within a few days to a few weeks after surgery. They may be able to return to full activities by 3 to 4 months, depending on the procedure. For some people, healing may take longer.
The average lifespan of degenerative myelopathy is around two years. It will be challenging for your dog to walk or even stand within a few months of diagnosis. Unfortunately, degenerative myelopathy carries a grave prognosis and the focus should be on providing supportive care and maintaining their quality of life.
14 Disorders that often mimic and coexist with DM include degenerative lumbosacral syndrome, intervertebral disc disease, spinal cord neoplasia and degenerative joint diseases such as hip dysplasia or cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
Spinal cord lesions caused by canine degenerative myelopathy are undetectable on standard clinical MRI limiting our ability to diagnose and monitor the disease.
“Surgery is the recommended course of management for patients with DCM, and is safe and clinically effective,” Dr. Fehlings told SpineUniverse. “Surgical intervention should ideally be done when the neurological deficits are mild, and the duration of symptoms is relatively short—this achieves the optimal outcomes.
Prevalence of 0.19%. Classic clinical and historical features of degenerative myelopathy include: Slowly progressive clinical signs. Paraparesis with an upper motor neuron (UMN) quality (i.e. spastic, long-strided gait with good muscle tone and normal pelvic limb spinal reflexes)
Average survival was 15.3 years (± interquartile range 7.5) and ranged from 0.3 to 24.9 years.
The progression of degenerative myelopathy can vary, it typically takes anywhere from 6 months to 3 years. The more advanced stages of mobility loss usually occur after the first year of diagnosis. In its final stages, degenerative myelopathy can spread to the brain stem.
Left untreated, myelopathy can get worse over time. Spinal compression can permanently damage the nerves that control essential body movements and function. You can't reverse nerve damage, so it is important to get care as soon as you notice symptoms.