People have often written and phoned asking me to explain what to expect during all the different stages of Degenerative Myelopathy . Since there has been such interest in a description of the different stages of this disease, I thought writing an article would be helpful in educating people about what they can expect throughout the various stages of the disease.
Early stages
The early stages of Degenerative Myelopathy begin with an almost invisible weakness in the hindquarters.
DM is an underlying disease and is very easy to neglect, in its early stages, unless specifically required. Even then, DM is elusive and difficult to detect.
(I always check the back nails on a dog once a month for uneven wear, especially on the innermost nails of the hind legs, as this is an early sign for DM.)
Faza Mid
In the early and middle stages of DM, you will occasionally hear the sound of dog nails stuck to the sidewalk during a walk. This wasp will not be constant; instead, will submit periodically. The dog will start to show some difficulty getting up. If the dog stays, there may be difficulty in balancing, but it can heal on its own. If you turn the dog’s toe under this stage, the dog may still be able to adjust the foot, although the response time may be extended.
As the disease progresses further into the late middle stage, the difficulty of growing increases.
The nails start knocking more often on the pavement, until it becomes constant. As the disease progresses, the hind legs will pass under the dog’s body, while the dog, losing the sensation in the hind wings, will not know where it has actually placed its legs. Misperception of foot placement leads to suffocation and obstruction.
When the dog is in a stable position, if you move the dog from side to side, using your hands, the dog will lose balance and pass. Often, you will notice exaggerated movements, such a high rise when going up to a sitting. This is due to prioceptive functions being influenced by DM.
The tail will rarely become active and fall off. If the tail is longer, the dog’s legs will easily become tangled in it. If the dog’s feet are placed on the ground, feet down, the dog will not step on the feet, or it may be a delayed response time. The reason for this delay is due to the fact that the dog could not feel her leg; therefore, dog knuckles. A dog with a feeling in the hind legs will have a quicker / faster response in putting the foot in the right position. A dog with little or no sensation will have a slow or non-existent reflex action, placing the foot in the proper cushion position.
Advanced stages
As DM becomes more advanced, in the early stage of late stage DM, the uncontrolled sensitivity of the hind legs and tail signals that nerve impulses are going to the nose and short circuit. Kicking out with the hind legs, for no reason, will be noticed, along with the tail that seems to raise and lower, as if the dog is preparing to defecate.
Sometimes, if you tip a pillow on one foot, the other foot will respond. This is called the Response Cross Extensor. Maintaining balance during defecation becomes almost impossible. When the dog squats, it will lose its balance and fall.
As the disease process reaches its late stage, the dog will not be able to carry weight, on its own, on its hind legs. The affected dog will not be able to stand up or, once removed, will not be able to stand in an uninterrupted position without any form of support for the hind wings.
In the late stage DM, this can happen overnight or within the space of a few days. I always advise people with DM dogs not to wait until the dog comes down to have the proper equipment on hand to deal with what is most, at this point in time, inevitable. I’m not a fan of leg weight * as it can put pressure on the bladder, causing the dog to urinate.
Urinary incontinence and intestinal incontinence will inevitably occur.
What to do
Our instincts tell us to try to protect dogs feet from bleeding, due to noise. However, walking boots are NOT a good idea, due to the fact that booties interfere with foot placement and the conduction of nerve impulses. If you put boots on the feet of a DM dog, you can do more harm. A handcuffed DM dog is prone to fall more often suffering consequences such as cruciate ligament tears, knee injuries, disc injuries and further spinal injuries. You are best walking the dog on grassy surfaces using a back end harness, which will allow you to lift the hindquarters into a position for correct foot placement. Lie Bottoms Up or Hartman Harness are some of the articles that people have found to be extremely helpful. The cart can be used successfully, outdoors. There are many new lightweight carts that have been introduced to the market.
Never, and I mean never, ever, hold or try to hold a DM dog up by its tail! To do so can cause great harm to a DM dog! Holding a DM dog up, supporting it, or removing it from the tail can break the tail. Please do not do this to your dog DM. By doing so, you are putting your dog at great risk and harmful. DM is an extremely destructive disease without complicating it by ignorant and thoughtless actions. If a veterinarian suggests this as a method of transporting your DM dog or implies and encourages this as a way to deal with a DM dog, do not walk to another veterinarian, please!
There are good qualities and there are bad qualities. There are good traits with bad hearts, bad traits with good hearts, and unfortunately there are many people who are completely ignorant when it comes to DM! The back fittings were created with the goal of raising a DM dog safely! They allow you to remove the hind arms without damaging the spine, discs or tail. Please do not listen or trust anyone you suggest, “walking in the tail” a dog as a solution to movement problems!
If your dog is showing pain, it probably is not DM, unless there is a concomitant condition. DM is not painful. There is no zero pain because the nerve cells are dead.
Myelograms do not rule out DM – they rule out surgical disease. An electromyogram must be given before a myelogram can be performed. EMG results can distinguish between peripheral nerve disease, intervertebral disc and uterine disease, and polyradiculoneuropathy. It is not wrong to rule out the presence of surgical disease (DM is one of the non-surgical diseases), but it may be better to start testing for DM with less invasive tests, leaving the more serious tests for the past.
The latest in DM testing is the new DM DNA testing test, which must be shipped via the CBC vial, with a cold (non-frozen) package, overnight mail to Dr. Clemmons at the following address:
RM Clemmons, DVM, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery
SACS, College of Veterinary Medicine
Box 100126, AAC
2015 SW 16th Avenue, V2-107
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32610-0126
352.392.4700
With the CBC bottle, you must attach a $ 50 donation made to the University of Florida Foundation. In the control exam section, you should type “About Dr. Clemmons Research”.
Degenerative mystopathy is believed to be an inflammatory, autoimmune disease, where the immune system attacks the dog’s central nervous system. This attack leads to a loss of isolation around nerve fibers (myelin) and nerve fibers (axons). The animal can not walk, as the nerves in the spinal cord are destroyed. Without nerve connections, muscles cannot function. The control pathways that make muscles work are located throughout the spinal cord.
In other words, to simplify things,
DM = inflammatory autoimmune disease = central nervous system attack immune system = loss of myelin and axons = destroyed nerves in the spine = destroyed control pathways = normal muscles = dog loses ability to walk.
I hope this article has explained the different stages of Degenerative Myelopathy and provided greater insight into the correct treatment of mobility problems associated with DM.
Please note: this article is for informational purposes only. If your pet shows any signs of illness, please consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
