Hereditary Necrotizing Myelopathy in Dogs

Breeds documented
1
Published sources
1

Overview

Progressive damage to the spinal cord interferes with a young dog's ability to move normally. In hereditary necrotizing myelopathy, areas of spinal cord tissue break down, initially causing weakness and poor coordination in the back legs. The disorder has been described in Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes and is linked to a change in the IBA57 gene. Signs worsen over time and can progress to paralysis of all four limbs.

Signs to watch for

  • Weakness in the back legs
  • Wobbly, poorly coordinated movements of the back legs
  • Later difficulty moving the front legs as well

Signs usually begin between three and 12 months of age.

When to get help Book a veterinary visit soon for new or worsening weakness and wobbliness in a young dog.

Diagnosis and tests

Vets assess the pattern of worsening weakness with a neurologic examination. Blood tests and tests for infection may help investigate other explanations, and an MRI scan may show spinal cord changes. Published cases were confirmed by examining spinal cord tissue after death, while genetic research identified an associated IBA57 variant.

Breeds with documented risk

1 breed

By breed size
  • 1 Medium

Inheritance

  • Not yet known

    None of the sources we use states how this is inherited in dogs yet.

We've gathered what published sources say about this condition, so you can talk it through with your vet. It isn't veterinary advice: you and your vet know your dog best.

Sources

  1. frontiersin.org