Canine health: Developing objective measures of gait abnormalities in dogs with degenerative myelopathy

• Autores: Nicolas Granger, Jacob Neeves
• Localización: Veterinary Record, ISSN-e 2042-7670, Vol. 176, Nº. 11, 2015, págs. 290-290
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • WE are conducting a research project on canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) and would ask colleagues to help by contributing affected cases (diagnosed by exclusion of compressive and inflammatory spinal cord diseases on MRI and cerebrospinal fluid analysis [CSF] plus genetic testing).

    Canine DM has an insidious onset, followed by progressive non-painful neurodegeneration of the spinal cord. It was initially described in German shepherd dogs in 1973 (Averill 1973). The disease affects both sexes, at about eight years of age and leads to pelvic limb ataxia and paresis (often asymmetric), with preserved spinal reflexes (ie, an ‘upper motor neuron’ presentation). Nowadays it is identified in several breeds, for example, corgis, boxers, cavalier King Charles spaniels, Chesapeake Bay retrievers, Rhodesian ridgebacks and pugs (Zeng and others 2014).