What Is Degenerative Myelopathy? Symptoms and Recommended Care

Degenerative myelopathy is a hereditary disease of the nervous system. Its main symptom is weakness in the hind legs that progressively spreads, which complicates the picture.

Unfortunately, there's no treatment that cures degenerative myelopathy. But we can follow a series of recommendations to keep the affected dog's quality of life as good as possible for as long as we can. Want to know all the details about this disease?

What Is Degenerative Myelopathy?

This is a degenerative neurological disease. It affects the spinal cord and is passed down within families. It's been compared to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in humans. What degenerates is the so-called white matter of the spinal cord and the nerves.

This damages the transmission of movement commands from the brain to the limbs and the sensory information they send back to the brain. It's not a very painful disease, but pain eventually shows up in the parts of the body strained in the attempt to compensate for the immobility of the affected areas.

What Are the Symptoms of Degenerative Myelopathy?

The most common is weakness in the hind legs. This weakness progresses slowly. Paralysis and loss of sensation in these same legs can also be observed. This picture makes the dog walk unsteadily, oddly, dragging its legs, placing its feet down poorly, and falling.

The abnormal position the legs take makes the nails drag along the ground. That's why another sign that can make us suspect degenerative myelopathy is noticing the nails on the hind legs are more worn down. Since it's progressive, it can start in one hind leg, continue on the other, and progress up to the front legs.

At this stage, we'll notice generalized weakness, to the point that the dog will struggle to stay standing. Urination and defecation are affected. Incontinence appears. The disease's progression eventually causes death. Complications such as pressure sores or urinary infections can occur.

Which Dogs Get Degenerative Myelopathy?

Symptoms of this disease appear mainly in the German Shepherd. This myelopathy shows up in middle-aged dogs, generally from eight years old onward. In this breed, this type of myelopathy is the most common cause of weakness in the hind limbs.

To a lesser degree, it also affects the Siberian Husky, Belgian Shepherd, Collie, Rottweiler, Boxer, Great Dane, and, generally, large breeds. Affected dogs are both males and females. Either way, this myelopathy can appear in any other breed and in mixed-breed dogs too.

Diagnosis of Degenerative Myelopathy

The vet will reach a diagnosis of this myelopathy after ruling out other diseases that can trigger similar symptoms, such as disc herniation or tumors. Tests such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, or myelography are used.

What Is the Treatment for Degenerative Myelopathy?

Unfortunately, there's no treatment that manages to stop the degeneration. Measures can be put in place to maintain quality of life as much as possible. Drugs have been used trying to help affected dogs recover. But no improvement to the condition has been achieved. Specifically, corticosteroids and vitamin supplements have been given without success.

On the other hand, in some cases some improvement has been noted with the administration of aminocaproic acid. It can be given with food. Rehabilitation and physical therapy are also recommended to try to slow the degeneration as much as possible.

Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy

This is aimed at improving muscle tension that may appear, muscle loss, and pressure sores, as well as preserving mobility and balance as much as possible. All this is achieved with passive mobility exercises, massages, stretching, heat, hydrotherapy, or electrical stimulation.

Of course, these are techniques a specialized vet needs to perform. To help the dog walk, we can use harnesses. There are ones for the hind legs or for supporting the whole body. Some dogs will need a wheelchair to get around.

The sooner treatment begins, the better the results that can be seen. Untreated dogs die within a year. Those well cared for can extend their life expectancy up to three years.

Home Care for a Dog With Degenerative Myelopathy

Besides the exercise guidelines and tools mentioned in the previous section, these dogs need a comfortable bed or resting spot. The bed needs to be cushioned but, at the same time, firm enough.

This is essential so the dog can properly support its legs on it when getting up. If the dog drags its legs, it's a good idea to protect its feet with special dog footwear, like booties or socks.

In the most severe cases, where the dog barely moves, it's essential to change its position to prevent pressure sores from forming in the areas bearing weight. We need to make sure it eats properly, first to prevent excess weight and, later, to maintain muscle mass.

Bibliography Carlson and Giffin. 2002. Manual práctico de veterinaria canina. Madrid. Editorial el Drac.