DM: Degenerative Myelopathy

What is that?

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Degenerative Myelopathy: DM or MD  is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the thoraco-lumbar area of dogs between 8 and 10 years of age on average, causing progressive and definitive paralysis of the rear axle in 12/24 months .


Definitions:
Mutated homozygote: -/- which means that the dog is affected and that he will declare the disease and transmit it systematically 1 allele to his descendants
Mutated heterozygote: +/- meaning the dog has 1 allele. He is a Healthy carrier  and does not declare the disease. he can 50% transmit 1 allele to his descendants.
Normal homozygote: +/+ which means that the dog does not carry the mutation, it is said to be Non-carrier, so it does not pass it on to its descendants and will never declare it.

Namely : This disease affects many dog breeds and the percentage of affected dogs remains very high given that it appears late and can easily be confused with severe osteoarthritis in older dogs, with a herniated disc or even dysplasia. of the hip when genetic testing has not been done

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Livestock management :

   Using a simple buccal swab sent to the laboratory, the breeder carries out a DNA test, the DM test, which makes it possible to determine whether the dog tested is homozygous normal (healthy), heterozygous (healthy carrier) or homozygous mutated (affected).

the result, delivered in the form of a genetic certificate valid for life, makes it possible to provide guarantees in the context of a projection or to justify the sale of puppies that are not carriers or healthy carriers of Degenerative Myelopathy.

The veterinarian who observes problems of ataxia or paralysis in an old dog can implement the DM test to confirm or invalidate the diagnosis of Degenerative Myelopathy. If the dog is indeed affected, the puppies are necessarily carriers and particular attention must be paid to this line which probably presents a higher proportion of carrier dogs.

In conclusion, the breeder who knows the genetic status of his dogs does not take any risks, secures his breeding and can then select his breeding stock, adapt matings, avoid giving birth to affected puppies and limit the spread of this serious disease in breeding and in the breed.

It is therefore recommended to carry out, on the main breeders, the DNA test for Degenerative Myelopathy (DM test) which makes it possible to detect this disease with a reliability greater than 99%.
 

At Otaku American Collies, all our breeders are chosen puppies from tested parents and tested themselves  before being put into breeding, I make sure to only cross between them healthy dogs (+ /+), or healthy carriers (+/-) with healthy subjects (+/+), or an affected dog (-/-) with healthy dogs (+/+)  because, if we want to eliminate the anomaly, we can admit all the couplings which will only give descendants (+/+) or (+/-)


You will find a complete file on the Collie Online site dealing with Degenerative Myelopathy: www.collie-online.com