Degenerative myopathy is an unfortunately incurable disease that can affect the spinal cord in your dog causing weakness, ataxia and eventually paralysis of the hind legs. The disease usually appears as the dog ages, usually after 8 years old, and the symptoms can gradually worsen over a period of months or even years with the final result being hind leg paraplegia.
Unfortunately this disease is due to genetics and a double mutated gene will usually lead to the dog developing the problem at some point in it’s life. A dog can also just have one copy of the gene which would make that particular dog a carrier but otherwise unaffected. This does make particular breeds of dogs such as Bernese Mountain Dogs, Corgis, Boxers, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Golden Retriever, and several others more predisposed to DM due to inbreeding, although mixed breeds can suffer also.
What are the Signs in Your Dog?
Initial signs:
- Ataxia and weakness in the legs (especially the hind).
- Dragging the feet and wearing down the top of the toe nails.
- Knuckling of the hind feet.
- Difficulty walking without support.
- Both urinary and fecal incontinence.
More advanced stages
- The dog will become completely paralysed in his hind limbs.
- Weakness can appear in the front legs.
Sadly there is no medical test for DM so diagnosis usually involves ruling out other issues such as a slipped disk or spinal tumour first. The only positive diagnosis can be obtained in a post-mortem exam.
What Actually Happens?
The disease starts out in the thoracolumbar portion of the back at the end of the rib cage. Degenerative changes occur within the spinal cord in the structures that transmit nerve impulses up and done the spine. This is why the hind limbs are affected first. The disease then works its way up the spinal cord towards the head eventually affecting the front limbs.
What Can You Do for Your Dog?
Unfortunately there is no treatment for this horrid disease and when a dog starts to show symptoms, palliative care and nursing supported by rehabilitation such as swimming, acupuncture, seeing a McTimoney Dog chiropractor for treatment and massage, and equipment such as wheelchairs and slings that increase the dogs quality of life are all that you can do. Euthanasia is the usual end and each dog and owner must decide at a time that is right for them when this heart breaking decision should occur.
The main thing people can do is to get their dogs tested for DM and breed responsibly. Its the only way to eradicate the disease.
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Areas covered in UK: Worcestershire and surrounding counties.
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