Paralyzed German Shepard in his camo wheelchair in lush nature surroundings.

The Stages of Degenerative Myelopathy in Dogs

Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs is among the biggest diseases impacting pet mobility. However, an awareness of the disease and its progression can help prepare you and your pet for what's to come.

It's important to note that Degenerative Myelopathy is not painful, and at the onset, a dog's mobility will be affected slowly by DM. If your dog is experiencing pain, contact your Vet immediately. When a dog is diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy, its spinal cord is affected, which quickly impacts the rear leg strength. As the degeneration progresses later, this leg weakness will worsen. Understanding the progression of Degenerative Myelopathy is crucial to getting your dog the care and support they need.

What is Degenerative Myelopathy?

German Shepherd dog with DM runs in wheelchair

Dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy will experience progressive mobility loss over many months. DM is a spinal condition that impacts a dog's ability to walk and stand independently. As the disease progresses, dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy will lose strength in their back legs which will progress to their front legs later on. In most cases of DM, a dog usually begins to show signs between the ages of 8 and 9, although onset can start at any age.

Understanding the impact degenerative myelopathy will have on your dog is critical to giving your dog the care they need. By nature, DM is a progressive condition, which means symptoms will worsen over time. In addition, each stage of DM will affect your dog's mobility differently. For example, in its earliest stages, dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy may experience only minor changes in their gait. However, in later stages, dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy are entirely reliant on their wheelchair to continue to walk.

Early Stages of Degenerative Myelopathy

It's difficult to diagnose Degenerative Myelopathy in its earliest stages and one of the many reasons a dog may not be diagnosed with degenerative Myelopathy until the disease progresses further. The first stage is an almost invisible weakness in a dog's rear legs. The change in a dog's gait at this point is so minute and incredibly difficult to see—a more reliable to check your dog's back feet once a month. Next, look for uneven wear on your dog's rear toenails. Uneven wear on the innermost nails of the rear paws is an early tip-off of DM.

Early degenerative myelopathy symptoms can be easily confused for natural signs of aging or arthritis. DM's physical symptoms include some loss of muscle mass and slight clumsiness when walking.

Early to Mid-Stage of Degenerative Myelopathy

Hind leg support for dogs with mobility issues from DM

As DM progresses, your pet's symptoms become much more apparent and easier to see.

Mobility changes to be aware of in early to mid-stage degenerative myelopathy:

Beginning to have difficulty standing up.
Maintaining their balance is a struggle, but they can recover on their own.
Scrapping nails: On walks, listen to your dog for sounds of scraping nails. At this stage, scraping will occur periodically and will not be constant.
Dog begins to lose muscle mass in the hind end.

Your dog's response time may be delayed as well. If you turn your dog's rear paws under in this stage, they should be able to right their foot to place their paw directly under them, although there may be a longer response time. Paw pain is common in dogs with DM, and you may notice your dog begin to walk on their toes and upper paw to compensate.

Late Mid-Stage DM

A German Shepherd lakeside with degenerative myelopathy uses a dog wheelchair to live longer life

As your dog's condition worsens, it will become harder to stand up from a lying down position. The dog's awareness of paw placement or proprioception worsens. They are beginning to lose feeling in their rear paws.

Late mid-stage mobility change in dogs:

Their nails will begin to scrape more often as they walk until it becomes constant.
Stumbling or tripping due to faulty foot placement.
Significant muscle atrophy, especially in the hind end and thighs.
Exaggerated movements, such as high stepping onto curbs.
Tail movement becomes less active.
Rear legs may begin to cross as they weaken and lose sensation.
May start to have ‘accidents’ in the house.

Paw placement will worsen as your dog's DM progresses. At this stage, the dog's paws may 'knuckle under,' causing them to walk on the tops of their feet, with their toe's underneath. As a result, your dog may not be able to right its paw or have a delayed response time.

In the later stages of Degenerative Myelopathy, there will be a significant and noticeable change in a dog's coordination. Their strength and agility will experience a steep decline, and dogs commonly struggle with balance. At this point in their degenerative myelopathy progression, most dogs will require full-time use of a dog wheelchair.

Early Late-Stage of Degenerative Myelopathy

In the ending stages of DM, your dog will require your support and assistance to get around. Once a DM dog's back legs are paralyzed, they will not be able to get up, stand, or walk on their own. As a dog begins to advance into Late-Stage Degenerative Myelopathy, you will begin noticing drastic changes in its mobility.

Changes in a dog's mobility during early late-stage degenerative myelopathy:

Erratic or jerky movements in the back legs and tail
Dog can no longer control their leg movements which can result in kicks for no apparent reason
Dog can not stand or walk on its own and requires your support to avoid injury
Cross Extensor Response: touching one paw and the other paw reacts
Maintaining balance is impossible (especially when squatting)

Late Stages of Degenerative Myelopathy

Full support wheelchair for late stage Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs

Degenerative Myelopathy in dogs can progress quickly, especially when it reaches its final stages. Signs of late-stage DM appear to happen overnight or within a few days.

Changes to be aware of during the final stages of DM:

The dog is unable to bear any weight on its rear legs for any length of time
Even once lifted, the dog is unable to stay standing without support and will collapse
Urinary and bowel incontinence
Weakness begins in the shoulders, causing front end weakness.
Complete paralysis throughout the body is inevitable in late-stage DM.

Degenerative Myelopathy can progress quickly from stage to stage. Significant mobility loss occurs within the first year of diagnosis, in most cases of DM, within six months to 1 year of diagnosis before dogs become paraplegic. Complete organ failure is possible in the end stages of Degenerative Myelopathy.

Pet parents dealing with end-stage Degenerative Myelopathy need to closely consider their dog's quality of life. Seek guidance from your regular veterinarian and closely monitor your dog's symptom progression. By understanding the end stages of DM, you will better be able to prepare for the future and get a better sense of what your dog is experiencing.