Dealing With Dog Spinal Cord Issues
In some breeds, problems with the spinal cord become an issue when the dog becomes older
. The dog loses control with controlling movement because of disruption or issues with nerve signals going in or out of their brains. Illnesses could also be caused by environmental or genetic factors. Dogs who have problems with their spinal cords commonly exhibit symptoms such as wobbling, loss of balance, and paralysis in one or both hind or front legs to name a few. They may also feel pain because of the illness.The most common spinal cord problem that dogs have is degenerative myelopathy. DM in dogs is the common medical term used to call problems with the dogs bone marrow and spinal cord. This illness does not seem to have a specific cause. It also remains unidentifiable while the dog is still young. Though this illness affects any breed, bigger and older dogs are most prone to developing it.
Symptoms
Degenerative Myelopathy mainly damages the central nervous system. During its early stages, the dog tends to have a difficult time controlling its hind legs. It drags its paws, causing it to file down its nails and eventually, will start affecting the dogs balance. They also have a hard time getting up, sitting or squatting. Lesions are common on the dogs spinal cord, and the neurons on their brain stems could also be damaged by the illness. Other symptoms include an inability to maintain their posture, increased figure and muscle atrophy, full or partial limb paralysis, and loss of bladder and rectal control.
Diagnosis
DM in dogs may actually be misdiagnosed as arthritis and hip dysplasia since they have more or less the same symptoms. Veterinarians need to be very careful to check all other possibilities before concluding that the problem is DM. Since DM is a genetic illness, vets and dog owners need to double check the dogs bloodline and trace if the dog had any direct sire or dame that had the illness.
Treatment
There is no treatment yet for degenerative myelopathy. Treatment is limited to easing pain, which means that prevention is key to beating this disease. Keep your dog healthy and active to minimize their chance of getting this illness. Dogs that already have the disease are usually given therapy time to keep their legs stronger. Fortunately, there are certain tools that can help the dog cope with the illness. There is a small wheelchair like device that can be used to support the dog when they cannot control their hind legs anymore. There are also special straps and leashes that can be used to help the dog walk.
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