Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a disease that affects the spinal cord in dogs, causing progressive muscle weakness and loss of coordination. It acts similarly to Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), in humans.
Breeding advice: If your dog is a carrier or affected
Your dog should not be bred from. Mating this dog could produce affected puppies. Producing affected puppies could have a serious impact on their health and welfare. A mating that may produce affected puppies should never knowingly be carried out.
Degenerative Myelopathy is an inherited neurologic disorder caused by a Mutation of the SOD1 gene known to be carried by Australian cattle dogs. This mutation is found in many breeds of dog, though it is not clear for Australian cattle dogs whether all dogs carrying two copies of the mutation will develop the disease.
Sadly, most dogs with degenerative myelopathy eventually lose control of their legs, bladder and bowels completely, and need to be put to sleep. The average life expectancy of a dog with degenerative myelopathy is 1-2 years from diagnosis.
This disease is not uncommon in some pure bred dogs with an overall prevalence rate of 0.19%. Although the German Shepherd Dog is the most commonly affected breed, DM has been reported in other breeds and most recently in the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (PWC).
There is no cure for DM—only supportive care.
Your primary veterinarian or neurologist can direct you to rehabilitation centers near you. Dogs that receive physical therapy can typically keep walking longer than those who do not.
Degenerative Myelopathy is not a painful condition, but it does weaken pets. 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.
What breeds are most commonly affected? A genetic mutation, SOD-1, has been identified as a major risk factor for DM. DM is considered a disease of middle-aged to older dogs including German Shepherds, German Shepherd crosses, Siberian Huskies, and Collies.
The clinical signs of mid-stage degenerative myelopathy include: Loss of tail movement. Jerky movement in the hind limbs when trying to walk.
By nature, DM is a progressive condition, which means symptoms will worsen over time. In addition, each stage of DM will affect your dog's mobility differently. For example, in its earliest stages, dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy may experience only minor changes in their gait.
The definitive therapy for DM in dogs is insulin, to replace the deficiency caused by lack of functional pancreatic beta cells. A short-acting insulin such as regular insulin has a rapid onset of action; is degraded quickly; and may be given by the intravenous, intramuscular, or subcutaneous routes.
The Basics of Australian Cattle Dog Grooming
This makes grooming a simple task – he will just need to be brushed once or twice a week to remove dead hair. For this you can use a bristle or slicker brush. He will shed his short, dense undercoat once or twice a year, which will require more brushing.
Dogs inheriting a single copy are considered carriers of DM and will not typically show signs of the disease, but can have affected puppies if bred with another carrier of the same mutation. Interestingly, DM is the canine equivalent of Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).
The disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion with incomplete penetrance, and is caused by a mutation (c. 118G>A) in the gene SOD1. Thus, two copies of the SOD1 mutation (DM/DM) confer increased risk for DM but not all DM/DM dogs across breeds will develop the disease.
Only $75 with results in 7 business days. Our Degenerative Myelopathy DNA Testing is a fast and effective way of determining whether or not your dog has the potential to develop Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), or pass it on to any offspring.
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.
Wild dogs exhibit similar behaviors, opting to sleep in small, confined areas with pack members they trust to protect against predators. When your dog sleeps right next to you, he is demonstrating trust in his “alpha” human.
The only way to prevent degenerative myelopathy in dogs is to selectively breed. Before purchasing an at-risk dog, ask the breeder to show you the results of SOD-1 gene mutation testing on the parents, proving that both carry two copies of the normal gene.
A Visit to Your Veterinarian
Your veterinarian will first test your dog for the presence of glucose and ketones in the urine. If indicated, the next step is to measure your dog's blood glucose concentration. The diagnosis only becomes definite when glucose is found both in the urine and at a high level in the blood.
Degenerative myelopathy is a particular concern in Boxers, Pembroke and Cardigan Welsh Corgis, Wire Fox Terriers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Borzoi, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retriever, Great Pyrenean Mountain Dog, Kerry Blue Terriers, Poodle, Pug, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Shetland ...
Knuckling and Dragging Paws
Because they struggle with feeling their feet, dogs in the early stages of DM will unintentionally drag their paws when they walk or knuckle over. In more advanced cases a dog that is knuckling may flip their paw upside down and walk on the top of their foot.
What is the Prognosis of Canine Degenerative Myelopathy and is There a Treatment? Unfortunately, this disease is a fatal one. Dogs will eventually progress to the point that they cannot stand up or support their own weight; by this point, the condition is likely to be very painful and hard for your dog to deal with.
How much exercise do they need? They are still very much a working breed and are extremely high energy dogs. They need over 2 hours of exercise per day and are suited to people who work outdoors or from home. As well as their daily exercise, they need lots of mental stimulation to keep them entertained.
Australian Cattle Dog Feeding
Recommended daily amount: 1.5 to 2.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.