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Degenerative Myelopathy in Corgis
Adult dogs with degenerative myelopathy (DM) have progressive ataxia and paresis of the pelvic limbs, leading to four-limb paralysis and euthanasia. Although most commonly reported in German Shepherd dogs, high disease prevalence exists in other breeds [3].
Degenerative myelopaty is uncommon in small dog breeds and cats. When cats have degenrative myelopathy, feline leukemia antigen has been found in spinal cord lesions. A similar myelopathy has been reported in two young German Shepherd dogs, but its relationship to the older dog Canine Degenerative Myelopathy is unknown.
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In a study of 21 affected Pembroke Welsh Corgis the average age of onset of pelvic limb paralysis and ataxia was 11 years. Progression of clinical signs occurred over a period of 19 months with a median age of euthanasia of 13 years [1].
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The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a breed that has been reported to develop a slowly progressive pelvic limb paralysis and ataxia (poor movement coordination) without any abnormalities in MR imaging results. This condition is sometimes called familial degenerative myelopathy (FDM) of Pembroke Welsh Corgi. This may be a similar disease but with more continuous, bilaterally symmetrical and well-defined spinal cord lesions.
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Related to Degenerative Myelopathy in Corgis
The distribution of nerve (axonal) degeneration resembles that reported in German Shepherd Dog degenerative myelopathy but differs with respect to spacial arrangement of the lesions. Although these lesion differences might reflect disease longevity, they could also indicate a form of degenerative myelopathy unique to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog [2].
More reading:
1. Veterinary Neuroanatomy and Clinical Neurology. Alexander DeLahunta, Eric Glass
2. Degenerative myelopathy in 18 Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs. March PA, Coates JR, Abyad RJ, Williams DA, O'Brien DP, Olby NJ, Keating JH, Oglesbee M. In: Vet Pathol. 2009 Mar;46(2):241-50
3. Clinical characterization of a familial degenerative myelopathy in Pembroke Welsh Corgi dogs. Coates JR, March PA, Oglesbee M, Ruaux CG, Olby NJ, Berghaus RD, O'Brien DP, Keating JH, Johnson GS, Williams DA. In: J Vet Intern Med. 2007 Nov-Dec;21(6):1323-31
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