Degenerative myelopathy in dogs
As degenerative myelopathy of dogs one summarizes a number of slow-running neurological disorders together with the destruction ( degeneration , D after VETAMIN D graduated every) of the spinal cord (Greek μύελος -. Myelos ) accompanied. These diseases are accompanied by slowly progressing movement disorders of the hindquarters and are not painful. Treatment is not very promising.
Large breed dog degenerative myelopathy
The degenerative myelopathy of large breeds of dogs is relatively common, it is particularly well known in the German Shepherd . It develops with him from the age of five. The cause is a mutation in the SOD1 gene. Large breeds are particularly badly affected by the disease: herding dogs such as the collie and the Belgian shepherd dog, as well as the Siberian husky , Hovawart , Weimaraner , Rhodesian Ridgeback . The disease is characterized by degeneration of the myelin in the chest and lumbar parts of the spinal cord. As a result, uncoordinated movements of the hindquarters, disturbed self-awareness and disturbed reflexes gradually develop . The disease is not painful.
The diagnosis is usually made according to the elimination process; it can only be considered certain after an autopsy. In particular, a herniated disc and a fibro-cartilaginous embolism (both occur acutely), cauda equina syndrome and wobbler syndrome ( X-ray , myelography ) and finally spinal cord tumors must be excluded. There may be a slight increase in protein in the spinal fluid . A magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the diagnosis, but is expensive and available only in large hospitals. Typical and important for the differentiation from other diseases, degenerative myelopathy is painless.
By physiotherapy , daily running or swimming can be attempted, the muscle wasting unstoppable. Treatment attempts were carried out with prednisolone , aminocaproic acid , N -acetylcysteine , vitamin E , vitamin C and vitamin B complex. According to a current study, none of the medications show any increased effectiveness compared to physiotherapy and could not stop the disease progression. The prognosis is therefore rather poor, but since it is not painful, the dog with a harness or wheelchair can still have a lot of quality of life and stay with his family.
Breed Specific Degenerative Myelopathies
In contrast to the degenerative myelopathy of older dogs, the breed-specific degenerative myelopathies are generally very rare. All of them cannot be treated and have a poor prognosis. In the differential diagnosis of these diseases, congenital malformations of the spinal cord ( syringomyelia , hydromyelia ) and infectious diseases ( toxoplasmosis , neosporosis , distemper ) must be taken into account.
The ataxia and myelopathy of the terrier ( hereditary ataxia ) occurs in fox terriers and Jack Russell terriers as well as Parson Russell terriers . This causes a breakdown of the white matter in the neck and chest area of the spinal cord. It develops at the age of two to six months and is accompanied by sweeping movements ( hypermetry ) of the front legs, muscle tremors and wide-legged position of the hind legs. The animals tend to fall over and can no longer get up on their own. In the Jack Russell or Parson Russell Terrier, damage to the auditory nerve also occurs with increasing deafness.
The Hound ataxia occurs in Beagle and English Foxhound on. A predominant feeding of rumen is discussed as the cause . It develops in the second to seventh year of life as a result of degeneration of the white matter in the breast marrow and the gray matter in the brain stem and manifests itself in movement disorders , spastic paresis and a reduced pannicular reflex .
The Afghanenmyelopathie is probably hereditary degeneration of the white matter ( leukodystrophy ) in the cervical and thoracic spinal cord with Afghans . It develops in the first year of life with paresis and within a few weeks develops into a complete paralysis of the four limbs ( tetraplegia ).
The degenerative myelopathy of dwarf poodle is probably innate demyelination of the spinal cord and midbrain . From the 2nd to 4th month of life, affected miniature poodles increasingly develop paresis, which can eventually lead to quadriplegia.
The Rottweiler leukoencephalomyelopathy is a presumably hereditary demyelination of the entire central nervous system , most notably in the spinal cord and brain stem, in Rottweilers . It develops as a progressive ataxia within the first three years of life. The spinal cord reflexes are retained. Affected animals can no longer get up and stand within half a year.
The Dalmatian leukodystrophy is in Dalmatians occurring genetic disease with demyelination of the white matter and shrinkage of the cerebrum with expansion of the brain ventricles . From the 3rd month of life, visual disturbances and ataxia develop. The disease quickly leads to a loss of stamina.
The fibrinoid leukodystrophy ( Alexander's Disease ) is a very infrequent disease in Labrador Retrievers , Scottish terriers and miniature poodles. The cause is not clear. The disease leads to degeneration of the astrocytes . It begins between three and six months of age with hindquarters palsy, ataxia and increasing weakness. Behavioral changes and seizures in Scottish Terriers may also occur.
The axonopathy of the Lab is an in Labrador Retrievers occurring degeneration of the white matter. It begins with hindquarters weakness as early as puppy age and develops into pronounced hypermetria with a tendency to fall over.
The Spinal Muscular Atrophy ( Stockard disease ) is a degenerative disease of the gray matter, especially motor neurons . It occurs with Rottweiler , Great Dane , Doberman , English Pointer , Epagneul Breton and Lapphund . An autosomal dominant mode of inheritance has been demonstrated in Epagneul Breton. The disease begins in puppyhood with atrophy of the back muscles, later paresis or even paralysis develop . A megaesophagus can develop in Rottweilers (see also Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Humans ).
The Necrotizing myelopathy of Kooiker dog is within the first three months of life in Kooiker dogs occurring degeneration of the white matter, especially in the cervical spinal cord. It manifests itself in increased reflexes and rapidly progressing paralysis.
The progressive degeneration of the Ibiza dog is a progressive paralysis that appears with the first attempts at walking in Ibiza puppies. It begins in the hindquarters and then extends to the forelegs. Spasticity and dysmetria also occur, and seizures are occasionally observed.
literature
- A. Tipold et al: spinal cord. In: A. Jaggy: Atlas and textbook of small animal neurology. Schlütersche 2005, ISBN 3-87706-739-5 , pp. 297-328.
- M. Kornberg: Neurological Diseases. In: PF Suter, B. Kohn (Hrsg.): Internship at the dog clinic. 10th edition. Parey, 2006, ISBN 3-8304-4141-X , pp. 1004-1063.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Tomoyuki Awano et al: Genome-wide association analysis reveals a SOD1 mutation in canine degenerative myelopathy that resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis . In: PNAS. 2009.
- ↑ Martin J. Schmidt, Martin Kramer (Ed.): MRT Atlas CNS findings in dogs and cats. Enke, Stuttgart 2015, ISBN 978-3-8304-1178-9 , p. 276.
- ^ JR Coates, FA Wininger. Canine degenerative myelopathy. In: Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2010 Sep; 40 (5), pp. 929-950.
Web links
- Degenerative Myelopathy - Disease Basics on the website of Canine Genetic Diseases Network of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Missouri (English)
