DM

DM = Degenerative Myelopathy >>>>

Här kan ni se testade cardigans

Här kan ni beställa ett DM test: OFFA

DM på SLU

Här kan man läsa lite mer om DM: College of veterinary medicine

Här kan ni läsa mer om Merlin som fått diagnosen DM: Merlins blogg

Fler sidor om DM på svenska:

http://hunddna.slu.se/projekt/dm.html
http://friskafrallor.info/frallor_dm.html
http://www.diamondswolfeyes.com/sida16.html

University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine





Degenerative Myelopathy

This site is here to provide information on degenerative myelopathy for dog owners and veterinarians interested in the disease and to facilitate an investigation into the cause of the disease. For specific advise on treating and diagnosing diseases in your pet: SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN. If you are a veterinarian with a client that wishes to participate in the Degenerative Myelopathy Project, please contact us for details.What is Degenerative Myelopathy?What causes DM?How is DM diagnosed?What else can cause similar symptoms?How is DM treated?What is the Degenerative Myelopathy Project?How can I help?But my dogs don’t have DM, why do you want DNA from them?Contact us

What is Degenerative Myelopathy?Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The breeds most commonly affected include German Shepherds, Welsh Corgis, Irish Setters, and Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. The disease has an insidious onset typically around 9-11 years of age. It begins with ataxia: a loss of coordination in the hind limbs. The affected dog will wobble when walking, knuckle over or drag their feet, and may cross the feet. As the disease progresses, the limbs become weak and the dog begins to buckle at the knees and have difficulty standing. The weakness gets progressively worse until the dog is unable to walk. They may ultimately lose continence and function in the front limbs.

What causes DM?Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive disease
of older dogs resulting in weakness and paralysis.
Degeneration of the spinal cord in the middle of the back
interferes with the communcation between the brain and hind limbs.
The exact cause of DM is unknown. Genetics probably plays an important role in the disease since it is common only in certain breeds of dogs and follows a stereotyped pattern. Various infectious, immune mediated, and nutritional theories have been investigated, but no definitive cause has been found.We do know that the disease begins with the spinal cord in the thoracic (chest) area. If we look under the microscope at that area of the cord from a dog who has died from DM, we see degeneration of the white matter of the spinal cord. The white matter contains the fibers that transmit movement commands from the brain to the limbs and sensory information from the limbs to the brain. This degeneration consists of both demyelination (stripping away the insulation of these fibers) and axonal loss (loss of the fibers themselves).

How is DM diagnosed?

DM is a diagnosis of elimination. That is we look for other causes of the weakness and when we have ruled them out, we end up with a tentative diagnosis of DM. The only way to confirm that suspicion, however, is to examine the spinal cord under the microscope when a necropsy (post-mortem exam) is performed. There are characteristic degenerative changes in the spinal cord, which tell us this is DM and not some other spinal cord disease.What else can cause similar symptoms?

Further tests, such as a myelogram,
CT or MRI scan, or a spinal tap may be
necessary to rule out other causes of weakness
 

Any disease that affects the dog’s spinal cord can cause similar signs of loss of coordination and weakness. Since many of these diseases can be treated effectively, it is important to pursue the tests necessary to be sure that the dog doesn’t have one of these diseases. The most common cause of hind limb weakness is herniated intervertebral disks (slipped disks). The disks are shock-absorbers between the bones of the back. When they herniate, they can cause pressure on the spinal cord and weakness or paralysis. All of the short-legged dogs (Welsh Corgi, Dachshund, Basset Hound, etc.) are prone to slipped disks. A slipped disk can usually be detected with special X-rays of the spine (myelogram), but sometimes more advanced studies such as a CT or MRI scan are necessary. Even dogs with severely slipped disks can often be helped with surgery if diagnosed early.

Infections of the spinal cord can also cause weakness or paralysis. A spinal tap, usually taken at the time the myelogram is performed, can help detect inflammation of the spinal cord. Other diseases we consider include tumors, cysts, injuries and strokes. The combination of myelogram, spinal tap, and possibly CT or MRI allow us to diagnose most of these diseases.

How is DM treated?

There are no treatments that have been clearly shown to stop or slow the progression of the disease. There are a number of approaches that have been tried, and we continue to look for new treatments. However, the outlook for a dog with DM is still grave. Things that can improve the quality of life for the dog include good nursing care, physical therapy, pressure sore prevention, aggressive treatment of urinary infections, and sometimes carts or harnesses to improve mobility. For information about suppliers of these aids, click HERE.

What is the Degenerative Myelopathy Project?

The Degenerative Myelopathy Project is a collaboration between investigators in Veterinary Schools at four Universities: Texas A&M, Missouri, Ohio State and North Carolina State funded by the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club of America and the AKC Canine Health Foundation. Under the leadership of Dr. Joan Coates, each school brings a different set of strengths to bear on the problem. The aims of the project are to 1) characterize the disease in Pembroke Welsh Corgis, 2) test theories about the cause of the disease, 3) estimate the incidence in the breed, and 4) collect DNA and pedigree information for genetic studies.

How can I help? Share this flow chart with your veterinarian to help decide
if your dog is a candidate for the study.
 
If you own a Pembroke Welsh Corgi that has weakness or poor coordination of the hind limbs, please contact us. You should pursue tests to ensure that they do not have some treatable disease, and we can help arrange referral to a veterinary hospital where the necessary tests can be run. A flow chart for determining if your dog is a candidate to paritipate in the study is available for you to share with your veterinarian by clicking 
HERE for a Microsoft word file or HERE for a PDF file. If these test suggest that your dog has DM, then we would ask you to help with the search for the cause of this disease. You can also help by submitting blood samples for DNA analysis when requested. We use blood samples rather than cheek swabs because a larger quantity of DNA is needed for these types of studies. For information about sample handling and DNA submission forms, please see the DM Forms page

If you are a veterinarian with a patient with DM, please CONTACT US for details on how you can participate in the study.

But my dogs don’t have DM, why do you want DNA from them?

When searching for a mutation responsible for a disease, we need to look for differences between affected dogs and normal dogs. Thus unaffected dogs that are related to an affected dog are just as important as the affected dogs in the search for the gene.

THE IDENTITY OF DOGS WILL BE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL!

Contact us:

If you can help in the search for answers to this problem or have any questions about the project, please contact us. We cannot advise pet owners how to treat your pet’s illness. For that advice, you should see your veterinarian.

 See your veterinarian

Your veterinarian is the person to ask
what’s best for your pet.
 

 Your veterinarian will be your best source for advice about your pet’s health. They know your pet, what treatments have been tried in the past, what was found on examination, and your pet’s other medical problems.Be an intelligent consumer. Educate yourself about your pet’s disease and don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you don’t understand why a test is being run or a treatment recommended, your veterinarian will be able to explain why this will help your pet.Remember anyone can post anything on the Internet so there is no guarantee the information is valid unless it comes from a reputable source. Share what you learn with your veterinarian. They can help you distinguish information that may be helpful from ideas that may be useless or even dangerous for your pet’s individual needs.The information in this site is provided to help you understand the things your veterinarian will be discussing with you and may help stimulate discussion of the options available.We cannot directly advise you on how to treat your pet. If your pet is having serious problems, you may wish to ask your veterinarian to refer you to a nearby Veterinary Neurologist (a specialist in diseases of the nervous system like degenerative myelopathy). To find a Board Certified Neurologist near you, go to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine homepage and search the ”Find an ACVIM specialist near you” database. Information about the neurology service at the University of Missouri, College of Veterinary Medicine can be found at www.vmth.missouri.edu.

To ask questions about the project or to help with the search for answers to this disease, contact us:

 

Contact us If you have questions about the Degenerative Myelopathy Project or think you can help with the search for answers to this problem, please contact us. We cannot make specific recommendations for the diagnosis or treatment of your individual pet. For those recommendations, you should see your veterinarian. We can help arrange additional diagnostic test if you and your veterinarian think your dog may have degenerative myelopathy. If you have a dog with suspected Degenerative Myelopathy, we would like to discuss how you can contribute to the investigation.Dr. Coates or Dr. O’Brien can answer questions from veterinarians and help arrange for diagnostic tests. Liz Hansen will coordinate DNA sample collection. Dr. Sylvia Lueck represents the PWCCA in this project Dr. Joan Coates
University of Missouri
Phone: (573)882-7821
Fax: (573)884-5444
Email: coatesj@missouri.eduDr. Sylvia Nolan
Genetics Committee PWCCA
Phone: (360) 455-0799
Email: Trengate@MSN.comDr. Dennis O’Brien
University of Missouri
Phone: (573)882-7821
Fax: (573)884-5444
Email: OBrienD@missouri.edu Liz Hansen
University of Missouri
Phone: (573)884-3712
Email: HansenL@missouri.edu