Understanding degenerative myelopathy in dogs

Imagine watching your dog waddle into the room and noticing that he is walking on the top of his back paw.

While you may classify it as a harmless quirk, in reality, that “knuckling” action can actually be a response to the dog’s neurological health in distress.

Dr. Joseph Mankin, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, describes the signs and suggested treatment methods of degenerative myelopathy, a neurological disease that results in hind limb weakness and paralysis.

From walking to waddling

According to Mankin, degenerative myelopathy is a condition that causes deterioration of the spinal cord and ultimately affects a dog’s ability to use its back legs.

“The exact cause is unknown, but there is evidence that a genetic mutation may predispose dogs to developing this condition,” Mankin said.

Larger dogs, in particular, are more prone to being diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy — with German shepherds, boxers, huskies, mountain dogs and Labrador retrievers being among the most common breeds with this condition.

What to look for

If you notice a pattern of odd behaviors involving the back legs, it’s time to call the veterinarian.

Dogs beginning to struggle with the diseases may experience the following:

• Difficulty rising

• Stumbling in the back end when walking

• Falling down

• Overall weakness

“This is a slowly progressive, non-painful disease process, with clinical signs worsening over several weeks to months,” Mankin said. “It may start in one back leg and progress to both, and they begin to have difficulty placing their back feet appropriately, leading to ‘knuckling’ when walking or standing.”

While Mankin explained that the disease itself is not painful, the habits a furry friend develops to compensate for the lost mobility can leave them in pain. For example, when knuckling, a dog may drag its paw over abrasive terrain, which can lead to painful wounds or cuts and missing fur. As a result, Mankin recommends talking to your veterinarian if you notice your dog knuckling.

The priority of comfort

The older your canine friends, the greater chance they have of developing degenerative myelopathy. With this in mind, it is crucial to stay aware of their mobility as they age. If you suspect your dog is suffering from this condition, Mankin suggests the following steps.

“A complete neurologic exam is the first step in diagnosing this condition,” Mankin said. “Following that, imaging with MRI is often recommended, as there are multiple other spinal cord diseases that may mimic this condition.”

Currently, there is no approved treatment or cure for degenerative myelopathy, but there are actions that can be taken to ease the condition and improve the dog’s comfortability and overall quality of life.

“Physical therapy may help maintain muscle mass and slow clinical progression,” Mankin said.

Moving around freely is a key part of any dog’s well-being. With help from your dog’s veterinary team, you can help improve their ability to get around if diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy.

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Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to vmbs-editor@tamu.edu.