pets disease

Myelopathies are degenerative diseases that strike the spinal cord and nerve fibers coursing throughout the body. These diseases involve the gradual loss of the outer, conductive coating that surrounds certain nerve fibers, called myelin. This loss impairs the fiber’s ability to transmit nerve impulses. Seen primarily in older, larger breeds of dogs, especially German shepherds, Myelopathies are characterized by muscular incoordination, weakness, and atrophy. As the nerves innervating the hind legs are affected, a turning under or dragging of the hind feet may result. In fact, the hind limb weakness exhibited by some dogs with degenerative myelopathy is often mistaken for arthritis of the hips or spondylosis deformans of the spine. However, pain is rarely a factor in this disease.
A myelopathy is tentatively diagnosed using historical findings, clinical signs, and reflex testing. Dogs afflicted with this condition will exhibit weak to absent reflex activity in their limbs. Electromyograms (EMGs) may be performed as well to evaluate electrical activity associated with the muscle tissue of the body. Unfortunately, because an exact cause of most Myelopathies, other than genetics, remains a mystery, there is no effective treatment to date. Vitamin therapy has been used in some instances to slow the progression of the disease, yet motor incapacitation is inevitable.

Seen primarily in Great Danes and Doberman pinschers, vertebral instability is characterized by instability and deformities in the vertebra of the neck region, leading to pressure on the spinal cord in that region. The condition in these breeds is hereditary in nature; however, trauma can predispose any dog to canine wobbler syndrome. Signs associated with vertebral instability include incoordination, weakness, and paralysis. Pain is rarely a feature of this disease. Diagnosis of vertebral instability is made with radiographic X rays. Treatment involves the use of anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the spinal cord inflammation. Surgical decompression of the spinal cord is also warranted in severe cases.

Paralysis can be defined as a disruption of the nervous system leading to an impairment of motor function and/or feeling to a particular region or regions of the body. This impairment can be in the form of a spasticity of the muscles in the involved region, or these muscles may become completely limp. In either case, the muscles involved are unable to function in the manner in which they were intended.
Paralysis involving the sensory portion of the nervous system can result in an increased sensitivity to pain or in a complete absence of it. Finally, paralysis resulting in the inefficient function of certain internal organs can occur as well if the nerves supplying these structures are disrupted in any way.
Any disease or disorder that traumatizes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves has the potential to cause paralysis. In dogs and cats, some of the more common causes seen by veterinarians include infectious diseases and parasites, being hit by a car, ruptured disks, and in the case of facial muscle paralysis, ear infections.
Treatment of paralysis is geared toward identifying and treating the underlying cause. If it has been caused by trauma, anti-inflammatory agents combined with drugs designed to draw fluid out of the central nervous system might help reverse signs of paralysis, yet their usefulness is dependent on the extent of the nervous injury and how quickly therapy is instituted.
Pets that have sensory paralysis in a limb might require limb amputation to prevent self-mutilation of the leg. In instances where an irreversible paralysis involves more than one limb, or involves the malfunction of internal organs, pet owners must seriously consider not only their pet’s quality of life as a paralytic but their own as well, before prolonged therapeutic or rehabilitative measures are undertaken.