Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) in dogs, characterized by progressive, non-painful hind limb weakness, is commonly mistaken for other conditions causing rear-end weakness. Key mimics include Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), arthritis, hip dysplasia, lumbosacral stenosis (cauda equina syndrome), spinal tumors, and fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE).

What can mimic degenerative myelopathy in dogs?

Peripheral nerve disease, Lumbral Sacral Stenosis, IVDD, "Discospondylitis, Spondylosis, Tick Diseases, Thyroid Problems, Cushings Disease, Wobblers, Polyradiculoneuropathy, Polymyositis, Granulomatous Meningoencephalomyelitis (GME) and spinal tumors are just a few diseases that can initially present similarly to DM.

How to tell the difference between hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy?

Hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy are both gradual onset of symptoms. Hip dysplasia is painful, degenerative myelopathy is not painful. It sounds like your dog injured himself, possibly his back. Definitely a vet visit as soon as possible.

Can degenerative myelopathy be misdiagnosed?

Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive, adult-onset spinal cord disease that causes weakness in the hind limbs and eventually leads to paralysis. Because its symptoms mimic other spinal conditions, DM is often misdiagnosed.

What can be mistaken for myelopathy?

Among genetic disorders, hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) and adrenomyeloneuropathy are perhaps the most obvious mimics. But patients with Friedreich's ataxia can present with a predominant spastic paraparesis, resembling a myelopathy.

Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs - Causes, Signs, Diagnosis and Treatment Options Explained

How to confirm degenerative myelopathy?

Diagnosis. There is no specific test to diagnose DM while a patient is living. Several tests may need to be performed to rule out other potential spinal cord diseases. Testing may include a neurological exam, blood work, X-rays, MRI or CT scan, and spinal fluid analysis.

What is a common misdiagnosis for diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is commonly misdiagnosed in adults, although data on this occurrence is limited. A study from the Diabetes Alliance for Research in England (DARE) found that 38% of type 1 diabetes patients diagnosed over age 30 were misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes and did not receive the required insulin4.

What is diabetes insipidus in dogs?

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is rare in dogs and is characterized by excessive thirst/drinking and the production of enormous volumes of extremely dilute urine. Some dogs may produce so much urine that they become incontinent (incapable of controlling their urine outflow).

What is a differential diagnosis of degenerative myelopathy in dogs?

Differential Diagnoses

Differentials for DM include other non-painful, slowly progressive T3-S2 spinal cord diseases including: Chronic intervertebral disc protrusions (Hansen type II) Degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. Other degenerative causes of spinal canal stenosis (joint and ligament hypertrophy)

What mimics hip dysplasia in dogs?

Conditions that may present similar symptoms to hip dysplasia in dogs include: Cruciate ligament injuries: Tears in the knee ligaments can cause similar hind limb lameness but are typically more sudden in onset and may affect just one leg.

How do dogs with degenerative myelopathy poop?

Bladder and bowel function are generally normal in the initial stages of DM. However, as the disease progresses to paralysis, the dog may develop urinary and fecal incontinence.

How to tell the difference between IVDD and DM?

Loss of bladder control and fecal incontinence can occur in many canine mobility conditions; IVDD and DM are no exceptions. The main difference between the two conditions is when incontinence issues begin. IVDD incontinence occurs right away when the dog first becomes paralyzed.

What are 10 warning signs of diabetes insipidus?

Symptoms of diabetes insipidus in adults include:

• Being very thirsty, often with a preference for cold water.
• Making large amounts of pale urine.
• Getting up to urinate and drink water often during the night.

What does the hypothalamus do in a dog?

Although not considered a real endocrine gland, the hypothalamus coordinates all pituitary activity by the release of a number of peptides and amines that control the secretion of hormones in the pituitary gland (also named hypophysis).

What mimics diabetes but isn't?

Diabetes affects every part of the body, causing symptoms like fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, and neuropathic pain, among others. These symptoms are not unique to diabetes: They are also common in other conditions, such as hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, and Cushing's syndrome.

What can cause a false positive for diabetes?

Here are seven common mistakes that may lead to an inaccurate blood sugar reading.

• Not washing your hands beforehand. ...
• Squeezing the blood from your finger. ...
• Storing test strips in the bathroom. ...
• Taking out more than one strip at a time. ...
• Using strips more than 6 months old. ...
• Reusing a lancet.

How to know if it's diabetes or something else?

Common symptoms of diabetes:

1. Urinating often.
2. Feeling very thirsty.
3. Feeling very hungry—even though you are eating.
4. Extreme fatigue.
5. Blurry vision.
6. Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal.
7. Weight loss—even though you are eating more (type 1)
8. Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)

How accurate is DM testing in dogs?

If your dog is negative for sod1 or is heterozygous, basically it will not experience DM (almost 100%) – rule out DM as a problem. If your dog is homozygous for sod1, it may experience DM (but it is not 100%) – DM can't be ruled-in, and the test alone should never be cause for euthanasia.

What are the first signs of DM in dogs?

Initial signs include loss of coordination (otherwise called ataxia) in the hind limbs; swaying or wobbling when walking; rear feet knuckling over or dragging; and difficulty with walking up steps, squatting to defecate, or getting into the car.

Can prednisone help dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy?

Can you treat DM? Sadly, as it is a genetic condition, there is no specific treatment for this condition. There is a lack of long-term studies for the treatment of this condition, but it seems that treatment with drugs, such as steroids, do not help to slow the disease.

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