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Canine Degenerative Myelopathy

This Canine Neurological Illness Resembles Human Multiple Sclerosis

© Jennifer Gerics

Jan 10, 2007
German Shepherd, Google Images
A chronic, degenerative disease that affects dogs is very similar to human multiple sclerosis. Both conditions destroy the myelin that covers nerves.

Overview

A fellow Suite101 health writer, Elaine Moore, told me about a neurological disorder that has stricken her dog, Buddy. It resembles multiple sclerosis in that it could be autoimmune in nature, and it also destroys the protective myelin tissue that covers the nerves. Degenerative myelopathy appears to affect older dogs and it ravages their muscle coordination, especially in the hind limbs.

Affected Breeds

Some dog breeds are more susceptible to degenerative myelopathy, including German shepherds, collies, Siberian huskies, Labrador retrievers, Belgian shepherds, and kerry blue terriers.

Symptoms/Factors:

  • older dogs (5 + years)
  • originally slow to develop and not always obvious to vet or caretaker
  • lack of coordination in the hind limbs
  • weakness in hind limbs
  • can be unilateral (one-sided) or affect both sides
  • Degenerative Myelopathy progresses to a point where a dog can no longer walk (several months to a year after onset)

Prognosis

Veterinarians test dogs for degenerative myelopathy by first ruling out other diseases. X-rays may be done. A neurological exam can determine damaged reflexes and muscle tone caused by damaged nerves. A spinal tap may be done.

There is currently no specific, conclusive treatment to stop the progression. Because dogs' lives are shorter than humans', degenerative myelopathy has a proportionally shorter course of progression. multiple sclerosis can progress slowly (although not always) over several decades, but DM tends to disable within a year. Hopefully veterinary science will develop disease-modifying drugs similar to those used for MS to slow or hault the progression of this insidious disease. The hope, like for all neurological disorders, is to find a cure.

For further reference: http://vetmedicine.about.com.

*****For more information about MS, check out the Multiple Sclerosis Suite.

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The copyright of the article Canine Degenerative Myelopathy in Neurological Illness is owned by Jennifer Gerics. Permission to republish Canine Degenerative Myelopathy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.




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