Degenerative myelopathy in dogs is a progressive neurological disease that affects the spinal cord. It is also more accurately termed Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy. Dogs that develop degenerative myelopathy have a genetic mutation. Symptoms can include weakness in the hind legs, loss of coordination, and loss of bladder control. 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. Unfortunately, there are no treatments available for this disease yet. However, there are many steps you can take to help your dog live longer with degenerative myelopathy.
What is degenerative myelopathy in dogs?
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive degenerative neurological disease that affects the spinal cord. This means it causes damage to nerve cells in the spine, which can result in weakness and sensory loss below the damaged area of the spinal cord. Degenerative myelopathy often starts with hind limb weakness or paralysis that gets worse over time. It's not known what causes degenerative myelopathy, but it's not contagious and doesn't result from injury to the dog.
What causes degenerative myelopathy in dogs?
A genetic mutation is considered the main source of degenerative myelopathy (DM).
How is degenerative myelopathy diagnosed?
A thorough neurological exam is the best way to diagnose degenerative myelopathy. During the exam, your veterinarian will look for symptoms that point to degenerative myelopathy, including weakness in the hind legs, loss of coordination/ataxia, and neurological deficits affecting the hind limbs. If degenerative myelopathy is suspected, your veterinarian may recommend further tests to rule out other potential causes of the symptoms. As degenerative myelopathy is a genetic disorder, there is a genetic test available to screen for the genetic mutations that cause DM (degenerative myelopathy).
How is degenerative myelopathy treated in dogs?
Unfortunately, there are no specific treatments available for degenerative myelopathy. Some medications have been suggested to slow the progress, but studies have not supported their use. Your veterinarian will recommend supportive care based on your dog's specific needs. Pets may be prescribed physical therapy, which can help keep their muscles active to maintain strength. Studies have shown that dogs that received physiotherapy had longer survival times and slower progression of the disease.
What is your dog's prognosis with degenerative myelopathy?
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. Some dogs progress faster than others but in most dogs, it progresses over a period of many weeks to months.
How does degenerative myelopathy progress?
Degenerative myelopathy is a degenerative disease, meaning it will progress over time. Symptoms can include weakness in the hind legs, loss of coordination/ataxia, and eventually paralysis of the hind limbs. Degenerative myelopathy often starts with dogs scuffing the tops of their hind paws when walking.
Is degenerative myelopathy in dogs painful?
Dogs suffering from degenerative myelopathy do not appear to be in pain, but they may show anxiety, frustration, or irritation as a result of their decreased mobility.
How can degenerative myelopathy in dogs be prevented?
Unfortunately, degenerative myelopathy cannot yet be prevented. A genetic test is available to screen for the genes responsible for degenerative myelopathy. However, it remains unclear whether breeding affected dogs with carriers will help reduce degenerative myelopathy incidence or if carriers should also be prevented from breeding to reduce degenerative myelopathy incidence.
What should you do if degenerative myelopathy affects your dog?
Degenerative myelopathy is a degenerative process and has a grave prognosis. It's important to provide your dog with supportive care to ensure they remain comfortable and as mobile as possible as degenerative myelopathy progresses. It is important to keep your dog exercised as much as possible to help prevent muscle atrophy which will exacerbate the symptoms. In addition, there are many supportive slings available to help support your dog. Finding one that fits well and is comfortable will help both you and your dog.
Degenerative myelopathy in dogs is a degenerative condition that affects the spinal cord. The average lifespan of degenerative myelopathy is two years due to the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord. It's important to provide your dog with supportive care to ensure they remain comfortable and mobile as degenerative myelopathy progresses. A genetic test is available to screen for degenerative myelopathy genes, but it remains unclear whether breeding carrier dogs will help reduce degenerative myelopathy incidence or if carriers should also be prevented from breeding. Degenerative myelopathy in dogs progresses degeneratively and results in hind limb weakness, loss of coordination/ataxia, and paralysis over time. There is no treatment available for degenerative myelopathy. Some medications may slow degenerative myelopathy's progress, but studies have not supported their use. It will be challenging for your dog to walk or even stand within a few months of degenerative myelopathy diagnosis and unfortunately, true degenerative myelopathy carries a grave prognosis.