Your dog is a vital member of your family. As friends, playmates, or companions, dogs hold a special place in our lives, and we want the very best for them. However, life does not always offer the best to our beloved dogs. Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) is a serious illness that impacts nearly every aspect of your dog’s life. In many ways, it is similar to ALS, more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. DM is an autoimmune disease that causes the spinal column to deteriorate over time. There is no known cure for DM, and in fact, the only way to be 100% certain that a dog has it is to perform an autopsy after its death. However, there are signs and symptoms that can point to a diagnosis.
If your dog has been diagnosed with DM, or you are seeing early warning signs, you are no doubt experiencing intense feelings. While DM is not painful, it leads to the gradual deterioration of a dog’s major systems and reduces both its life expectancy and quality of life. Seeing a dog you love go through this can be truly heartbreaking. However, there are treatments you can choose, like Omega-3 fish oils from SeaPet, to reduce the severity of their symptoms and help them live as full a life as possible.
What is degenerative myelopathy?
In most cases, degenerative myelopathy becomes evident in middle-aged dogs. While certain breeds, like German Shepards, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs, seem to have higher risk factors for the disease, it is not limited to specific breeds. While it appears that DM is related to a mutation of the SOD-1 gene, there is still a great deal to learn about this condition. If you are considering genetic testing for your dog, it is important to know that those with two mutated copies of the SOD-1 gene are at a much higher risk. Dogs with one mutated copy and one normal copy can be carriers for DM, and those with two normal genes are considered unaffected by degenerative myelopathy.
Degenerative myelopathy symptoms
The early symptoms of DM can look much like the symptoms of other conditions, which further complicates diagnosis. For example, paw “knuckling” is when a dog walks on the backs of its paws. Similarly, they might have a tough time lifting their hind feet, so they can drag as the dog walks. This is often a symptom of osteoarthritis, so talk to your dog’s veterinarian if you have concerns. Likewise, DM also leads to muscle atrophy, which can lead to distinctive swaying when standing. As the disease progresses, a dog will lose control of bladder and bowel function, and if a dog lives long enough, it will eventually become paraplegic.
On average, a dog will lose the ability to walk somewhere between six months to two years after its first symptoms appear. Generally, this process is accelerated in larger breeds. For many owners, once symptoms progress to the point of paralysis, the most humane option is euthanasia.
How to treat degenerative myelopathy in dogs
While there is no cure for degenerative myelopathy in dogs, there are steps you can take to improve your dog’s quality of life. These treatments can slow the progression of the disease while making their day-to-day experience more comfortable. Physical therapy can slow the deterioration of muscle. By focusing on flexibility and balance, this support can slow the effects of degenerative myelopathy symptoms. Hydrotherapy can be a particularly good option as it puts less strain on the dog’s legs and spine. It also allows for greater range of motion. Likewise, some dogs respond well to acupuncture. By stimulating nerves in specific locations throughout the body, acupuncture can provide many benefits for dogs experiencing paralysis. In some cases, electropuncture, which sends small electrical signals through the needles, can provide relief. As degenerative myelopathy symptoms progress, particularly affecting the back legs, wheels can help your dog stay active for a longer time.
There are no pharmaceutical options currently available that can treat the causes of canine degenerative myelopathy. However, you might consider anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain.
As with many autoimmune diseases, nutrition can play a vital role in your dog’s ability to deal with canine degenerative myelopathy. Among the most important nutrients for all dogs are Omega-3 fatty acids. These acids can improve the functioning of a number of bodily systems, including hair and skin, the immune system, and joint health. While it is difficult to get enough Omega-3 fatty acids in a standard canine diet, supplements like Omega-3 fish oils from SeaPet make it easy for your dog to get the nutrients they need.
Omega-3 oils from SeaPet to treat degenerative myelopathy in dogs
If you are hoping to supplement your dog’s diet with Omega-3 oils, the quality of the oils you use can make a difference. SeaPet sources our oils from anchovies and sardines, which provide more than double the amount of EPA as salmon oils. EPA, as well as DHA, are essential fatty acids that promote healthy brain function, reduce inflammation, and support immune response. We hold our oils to standards of purity that are greater than those of national and international bodies. This means that you can be confident that your dog is pure Omega-3 fish oils that are free of toxins, dioxins, heavy metals (like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic), and PCBs. By molecularly distilling and cold processing these oils, we are able to ensure consistent quality and safety. There are several Omega-3 fish oils that you can choose to address the symptoms of degenerative myelopathy in your dog, so you can choose an oil with additional vitamins, such as vitamins A, D, or E.
While canine degenerative myelopathy is a destructive, challenging illness, Omega-3 fish oils from SeaPet can support as healthy and active a life as possible by reducing inflammation and improving brain function. Seeing your canine best friend struggle with degenerative myelopathy symptoms can be difficult, but effective palliative care in the form of Omega-3 fish oils from SeaPet can reduce the severity of degenerative myelopathy in dogs and help them live as full and joyful a life as possible.
Image credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/rough-collie-collie-samoyed-76395/
