Intervertabral Disc Disease (IVDD) Symptoms: Paralysis in one or more limbs, Hunched back or neck with tense muscles, Muscle spasms over back or neck, lameness. Reduced Appetite and activity level, Loss of bladder control and/or bowel control.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a disorder of the spinal cord that affects dogs and is similar to (ALS) in humans known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The name refers to the degeneration of the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves and Myelopathy describes any neurological deficit of the spinal cord.

Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a disorder of the spinal cord that affects dogs and is similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a human disease that’s also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The word “degenerative” in the name refers to the degeneration of the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves. “Myelopathy” describes any neurological deficit of the spinal cord. The spinal cord contains fibers that relay movement commands from the brain to the limbs and sensory information from the limbs to the brain. DM is known now to be a genetic disorder: A genetic mutation has been identified that is a major risk factor for development of the disease.