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 ...
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.
In the early stages, DM can be misdiagnosed as hip dysplasia, discospondylitis, a spinal tumor or injury, fibrocartilaginous embolism, or myasthenia gravis.
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.
Some antioxidants that can help dogs with degenerative myelopathy are: Vitamins C, E and A. Carotenoids.
Differential Diagnosis
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.
Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs can progress quickly, especially when it reaches its final stages. Signs of late-stage DM appear to happen overnight or within a few days. Changes to be aware of during the final stages of DM: Dog is unable to bear any weight on its rear legs for any length of time.
The disease can progress quickly, often getting worse within a few months. It's common for dogs to start dragging their hind legs after being diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy. Ultimately, they will find it challenging to walk or even stand on their own.
While there is no cure for DM, you can manage the symptoms! Keeping the muscle tone in your dog's hind end is crucial for extending your pup's life, so hydrotherapy and physical therapy exercises are great. You can also get a dog wheelchair to help keep your dog active and playful!
The clinical signs of mid-stage degenerative myelopathy include: Loss of tail movement.
Degenerative myelopathy usually affects dogs older than five years of age and typically older than eight years of age. Your dog may begin to show initial clinical signs such as a non-painful and subtle weakness of one hind limb.
Controlling Pain
This means it provides pain relief for chronic and neuropathic pain and is commonly used for pain associated with degenerative joint diseases.
Folate, copper, and vitamin E deficiency also cause myelopathies. Some myelopathies can result from toxins, such as nitrous oxide or heroin. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment of both primary and metastatic tumors can cause myelopathy.
In general, DM is not a painful disease. However, having a weak hind end can put stress on other areas of a dog's body — such as the neck, shoulders and front limbs — and cause pain. DM typically comes on very gradually, so you may not see the very early onset.
Carrier (A/N)
Carriers are far less likely to develop DM, but we have confirmed DM in a few carrier dogs. They may be used carefully in breeding programs to keep their good qualities while reducing the risk of DM in future generations.
Symptoms of Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs
Affected dogs will be wobbly and may knuckle over the paws, cross the hind limbs, or stumble while walking. With progression of the condition, a severely affected dog will lose the ability to stand on or move the hind limbs.
DM is a genetically-inherited disease, so DNA testing can help you know if your dog is at risk. DDC Veterinary's DNA test for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is available for all dogs, even mixed breeds.
As pets age, their efficiency at metabolizing gabapentin can wane and side effects may reappear again, especially hind leg weakness. If this happens, we reduce the dosage.
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.
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's still much to be discovered and learn about DM and its causes. The genetic test isn't 100% foolproof, but it provides a common-sense prediction of which dogs are at risk—and the degree of risk—and which dogs aren't. The classic clinical signs of DM are: Sudden onset of clinical neurological signs without trauma.
As cervical myelopathy presents with such a variety of symptoms associated with other conditions, it can often lead to a delay in diagnosis and, sometimes, misdiagnosis in primary care. For example, sciatica can mimic certain symptoms of cervical myelopathy in the lower limb.
It causes weakness, paralysis in the back legs, and incontinence (both urinary and faecal), all of which get worse over time. 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.
Degenerative Myelopathy has a slow, insidious onset with a slow progression of weakness. It is not uncommon for the signs to progress slowly, plateau, and then start to progress again.