Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs - Gradual Loss of Control Over the Hind Legs
Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs - Gradual Loss of Control Over the Hind Legs
Important beforehand: Fidello is not a veterinarian. This page is meant to inform you and does not provide a diagnosis. Are you unsure about your dog's health, or do you recognise the signs described below? Always contact a veterinarian.
Degenerative myelopathy is a gradually worsening disease of the spinal cord, in which a dog slowly loses control over its hind legs. The condition usually develops in older age, is generally not painful, and currently has no cure. With the right guidance, a dog with this condition can often keep a good quality of life for quite some time.
What is degenerative myelopathy?
In degenerative myelopathy, the protective insulating layer (myelin) around the nerve fibres in the spinal cord gradually breaks down. As a result, signals between the brain and the hind legs are transmitted increasingly poorly. The condition is often compared in the veterinary literature to ALS in humans, although it is a separate, dog-specific disease. Research points to a mutation in the so-called SOD1 gene as an important risk factor, with an inheritance pattern in which a dog usually needs two copies of the altered gene variant before the risk clearly increases. Not every dog with that gene variant actually develops symptoms.
Which dogs are at risk?
Degenerative myelopathy is reported almost exclusively in adult to older dogs, usually from around eight years of age. The condition is most often described in the German Shepherd, and is also reported relatively often in, among others, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the Boxer, the Rhodesian Ridgeback, and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. Individual cases have also been reported in various other breeds. A DNA test exists for the risk gene variant, which indicates whether a dog is clear, a carrier, or at increased risk - but an increased risk on the test is not a diagnosis and no guarantee that a dog will ever develop symptoms.
Symptoms
The first signs are often subtle: a hind paw that occasionally drags along the ground, nails that wear down faster and unevenly as a result, a somewhat wobbly or unsteady hindquarters, or slipping on smooth floors. In the following months, weakness in the hind legs can gradually increase, along with a less coordinated way of walking. At a more advanced stage, a dog may no longer be able to use its hind legs, and control over the bladder and bowels can also decline. In some dogs, the weakness eventually spreads to the front legs. Degenerative myelopathy is usually described as a non-painful condition, which sets it apart from some other spinal cord problems with similar symptoms.
When to see a veterinarian?
Contact a veterinarian as soon as you notice dragging, an unsteady hindquarters, or other clumsiness in your dog's hind legs, even if it still seems mild. Several conditions can resemble one another, and some of them - such as a herniated disc - specifically call for prompt action and can sometimes be treated well. If you notice that your dog suddenly (rather than gradually) can no longer stand on its hind legs, clearly seems to be in pain, or that the decline speeds up sharply within a short time, go promptly to a veterinarian or veterinary emergency clinic: that pattern fits degenerative myelopathy less well and may point to a condition that needs urgent assessment.
How is it diagnosed?
There is no simple test that proves degenerative myelopathy with complete certainty during a dog's lifetime. A veterinarian therefore makes a presumptive diagnosis, based on a neurological examination and by ruling out other causes of the same symptoms, such as a herniated disc, a tumour, or other spinal cord diseases. Imaging such as an MRI scan is often used for this. A positive DNA test for the risk gene variant can support the suspicion, but does not confirm the diagnosis on its own, because not every dog with that gene variant develops symptoms. According to the veterinary literature, a fully conclusive diagnosis is only possible through microscopic tissue examination of the spinal cord after death.
Treatment in outline
There is currently no treatment that cures degenerative myelopathy or stops the underlying disease process. The guidance a veterinarian can offer is mainly aimed at keeping the dog mobile for as long and as comfortably as possible. Targeted rehabilitation or physiotherapy, set up and guided by a veterinarian or a qualified canine physiotherapist, is described in research as the form of support most likely to help preserve the dog's function. Which approach suits your dog is always determined by the treating veterinarian, depending among other things on breed, age, and the speed at which the condition progresses in that individual dog.
What you can do yourself
Talk to your veterinarian about a referral for canine physiotherapy or rehabilitation, and keep your dog gently active for as long as possible within that guided programme. Provide sufficient grip in the house, for example with non-slip mats on smooth floors, so slipping happens less often. A supportive harness can help a dog with weaker hindquarters get up and walk; discuss with your veterinarian or physiotherapist which aid is suitable at which stage. Keep your dog's weight under control, since excess weight puts extra strain on the hind legs. When mobility declines further, a dog wheelchair can help your dog keep moving independently for longer, and regularly checking the skin around the hindquarters is wise to catch pressure sores early. All of this provides support but does not replace veterinary guidance.
Prevention and responsible breeding
Because the risk gene variant is heritable, part of the prevention lies in responsible breeding: DNA testing of breeding dogs for the risk gene variant, and caution about pairing two dogs that are both carriers or at increased risk, especially within breeds where the condition is reported more often. For individual owners, there is no proven way to prevent degenerative myelopathy from occurring; however, being alert to early signs in a dog from an at-risk breed can help in consulting a veterinarian in good time.
Living with degenerative myelopathy
The speed at which the condition progresses varies greatly from dog to dog; the veterinary literature often mentions a period of several months to around two years from the first clear signs to significantly reduced mobility, with larger dogs generally seeming to decline faster than smaller dogs. As mobility decreases, adapting the home environment becomes more important: a stable, familiar layout, non-slip flooring, and, where useful, aids such as a ramp or a dog wheelchair. Many owners work closely with their veterinarian at this stage and, where available, a canine physiotherapist, to keep comfort and mobility in balance for as long as possible. When quality of life declines, this is a moment to discuss honestly with your veterinarian what the right next steps are.
Frequently asked questions
Is my dog in pain from degenerative myelopathy?
The condition itself is usually described as non-painful; visible pain points more towards another cause and is a reason to discuss this with your veterinarian.
Can degenerative myelopathy be cured?
No, there is no known cure; guidance is aimed at preserving mobility and comfort for as long as possible.
My dog tests positive for the risk gene variant - does that mean he will get sick?
Not necessarily: a positive test result points to an increased risk, but not every dog with that result actually develops symptoms.
How quickly does degenerative myelopathy progress?
This varies from dog to dog and seems partly related to breed size; discuss the expected course for your dog with the treating veterinarian.
Conclusion
Degenerative myelopathy is a gradually progressing, generally non-painful disease of the spinal cord that mainly affects older dogs of certain breeds and currently has no cure. Because the symptoms can resemble other, sometimes treatable conditions, prompt veterinary examination is important. With targeted guidance, adapted care at home, and, where possible, physiotherapy, an affected dog can often keep a good quality of life for quite some time.
Finally
Finally: this article does not replace a visit to the veterinarian. Fidello does not provide diagnoses and does not prescribe treatments. If in doubt, or in case of persistent symptoms or acute signs, a veterinarian is always the right next step.