Introduction

Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM) is an uncommon disease that can be extremely difficult to diagnose. A number of other spinal cord disorders can mimic the clinical signs of DM, such as intervertebral disk disease, myelitis, spinal cord neoplasia (cancer) and hip dysplasia, among others.

How Degenerative Myelopathy Is Diagnosed

A comprehensive neurological examination is critical to developing a tentative diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy. Affected dogs are not painful, and a skilled veterinarian can localize their spinal cord lesions to the thoracic and lumbar areas. Most veterinarians will recommend blood work (a complete blood count and serum chemistry panel) and a urinalysis; the results of these tests will typically be unremarkable if DM is the underlying cause of the dog’s condition. Another diagnostic test commonly performed is chest radiographs (x-rays), to screen for metastatic neoplasia.

Ultimately, a diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy is made by ruling out other diseases that cause progressive paralysis. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid can be taken and assessed for increased protein levels. Advanced imaging procedures can be performed to rule out other conditions.

Unfortunately, the only reliable diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy is made postmortem, by microscopic examination of the spinal cord upon the dog’s death.