I have conducted over 1,000 compassionate end of life euthanasias for dogs in Tucson over 25 years. So, I know thinking about euthanizing your dog is one of the most difficult thought processes you may ever have to go through in your life. After 25 years of providing compassionate and peaceful at-home euthanasia for dogs, I can tell you that I deeply empathize with what you are going through. That is why I decided to create a pet quality of life checklist you can view and/or print out,
In this blog, I will 1) help you understand the basic nature of degenerative myelopathy in dogs, 2) clarify what the typical clinical signs of degenerative myelopathy in dogs are, and 3) help you understand when you should begin to consider humane euthanasia for your dog.
Degenerative myelopathy in dogs
Degenerative myelopathy, also known as “DM”, is a progressive and untreatable disease believed to be caused by a genetic mutation found in some dogs. Some people who do not have veterinary training might call this condition “spinal myelopathy”, but this is not the term used by medical professionals. Nonetheless, you might see some people or internet-based articles discuss spinal myelopathy in dogs.
Dogs must have two copies of a specific mutated gene in order to develop this condition. Dogs with only a single mutated gene are considered carriers of this condition, and can pass this condition on to their offspring. These dogs with only one single mutated gene do not develop the condition themselves. There is now a genetic test to diagnose whether or not your dog has this disease. You can ask your veterinarian about this test. Dogs are most commonly identified as having this condition during their middle aged years. The typical age range when dogs are identified with this condition is anywhere from 4 to 14 years of age.
Twenty four dog breeds have been reported as more frequently having canine degenerative myelopathy. The following breeds are considered at risk for having degenerative myelopathy: German Shepherds, German Shepherd crosses, Siberian Huskies, Collies, Bernese Mountain dog’s, Boxers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Kerry Blue Terriers, Miniature Poodles, Nova Scotia Retrievers, Pugs, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Standard Poodles, Corgis and Wire Haired Fox Terriers.
Degenerative myelopathy (DM) in dogs is a disease which progresses and eventually affects your pet’s spinal cord. Over time, as this disease progresses it will cause loss of mobility. Eventually, this condition leads to a loss of bladder and bowel control. Canine DM has been compared to human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The clinical symptoms of DM mimic canine osteoarthritis (OA), in its early stages. Thus, it can be difficult to accurately diagnose it. As the Canine degenerative myelopathy disease progresses, it causes progressive worsening weakness and ataxia. These two symptoms in your dog make it easier to recognize it as DM, and not osteoarthritis.
Clinical signs of canine DM
The clinical signs of canine degenerative myelopathy (DM), include the following:
- paws knuckle turn over or turn under when the dog is at rest or moving, so it appears the dog is walking on their knuckles and not on their foot pads
- the top of the dog’s feet can become irritated from repeated trauma due to the aforementioned issue with malfunctioning joints
- hindquarters appear to sway even though the dog is standing still
- balance can easily be lost, especially if the dog is trying to urinate or defecate
- significant difficulty getting up from a lying down position
When to consider euthanizing
To provide compassionate veterinary support, I want you to know I deeply understand that considering euthanasia for your dog with degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a very difficult decision. This is especially true because this condition may not seem to be painful for the dog. However, many of these dogs are unable to stand up on their own because of the severity of the mobility issues. Due to the mobility issues, some pet owners will consider adding a paraplegic cart to enable their dog to get around.
Another tool dog owners will sometimes use is called the Help ‘Em Up Harness. This allows the owner to more easily help their dog stand up. Unfortunately, as this disease progresses, your dog might develop urinary and fecal incontinence or complete paralysis. This problem leads to a significant decrease in pet quality of life (QOL).
Dogs that have fecal and urinary incontinence can develop secondary problems such as a skin infection or urinary tract infection (UTI). Unfortunately, as the hind limbs begin to weaken, your dog’s front limbs become overused to compensate for the loss of hindlimb function. A lot of these dogs will then develop significant arthritis in their front legs due to the added strain. This leads to pain in the front legs combined with loss of function in your dog’s rear legs.
These issues can cause significant distress for your dog and for you. At the end stage of this disease, your dog might drag their limbs, or stumble due to generalized weakening.
How to assess whether you should euthanize your dog with degenerative myelopathy
As a seasoned local mobile vet, Make sure to stay in close contact with your regular veterinarian. Remember, you should use a quality of life checklist in order to methodically think through the quality of life your dog is experiencing. Click here to see the quality of life checklist I have developed from over three decades of practice as both a general veterinarian and an in-home euthanasia veterinarian.
When your pet can no longer get up, walk, or reposition themselves without assistance, their quality of life can decline quickly. At this point, it is critical that you look at the situation objectively. It is critical for you to talk to your veterinarian who will help you assess your dog’s quality of life so you can determine the best way forward. It is important for you to understand that there comes a time when humane euthanasia is called for because it is in the best interests of your dog.
Remember, it is critical to lean into those around you whom you feel close to, and talk t them. Here are some online resources if you need more support
If you are not sure how to find a in home pet euthanasia veterinarian, here is a list of 7 questions you can ask.