Spinal Cord Disease in Dogs
Spinal cord disease is also known as degenerative myelopathy. While the cause is unknown, the disease often cripples or debilitates dogs. As the spinal cord degenerates, a dog begins to lose control of various functions in its body. Spinal cord disease can affect any breed of dog and any age, though older dogs are most often affected by the condition.
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Symptoms
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Degenerative myelopathy strikes the dog's central nervous system. As it progresses, it also attacks the cervical and lumbar sections of the spine. When a dog has spinal cord disease, its muscles will begin to degenerate, and it will display an odd posture to compensate for the weakened muscles. There will also be changes in the dog's spinal reflexes. When the disease progresses, the dog will experience full or partial paralysis in its legs. Dogs with degenerative myelopathy also lose control of bowel and bladder functions.
Causes
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Veterinarians do not know the causes of degenerative myelopathy. There is some conjecture that the disease may be inherited, but there is not enough data available to fully blame a genetic link or a mutation in a gene that leads to the disease. Clinical studies are underway to find a tendency in certain breeds to develop the disease. Dogs such as German Shepherds, Poodles, Corgis, Boxers and Irish Setters appear to be more likely to develop the disease.
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Diagnosis
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When a veterinarian suspects spinal cord disease, he will do tests to rule out other conditions first. If degenerative myelopathy is still suspected after these tests, the veterinarian will likely order an MRI or computed tomography to look at the spinal cord. Sometimes these scans will reveal treatable conditions, such as compressed discs. In other cases, the veterinarian will perform a spinal tap to check the spinal fluid for inflammation. In many cases, other conditions will present themselves during this battery of testing, such as abnormal tissues growth, disk disease or other orthopedic issues.
Treatment
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The only treatment for degenerative myelopathy is supportive care. It is important for the dog to exercise, since this can slow down the weakening of its muscles. The dog's diet must also be monitored, since excess weight can add strain to an already weakened back. Veterinarians do not prescribe drugs for dogs with degenerative myelopathy, and overall prognosis is poor.
Prognosis
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Most dogs will be paralyzed for six to nine months after diagnosis. It is important to screen the dog for urinary and other infections. It is also important to have a comfortable place for the dog to rest--and to move the location often to prevent bed sores. Swimming is a good therapy, and attaching a dog to a harness and cart may help with mobility. Since skin lesions can develop, it is also important to clip the dog's hair short.
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