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Canine Arthritis And Joint
  • Home
  • ONLINE COURSE for COMPLETE GUIDE TO NATURAL HEALTH AND HOMEMADE DIET FOR DOGS
    • Testimonial For Online Course
  • Complete Guide To Natural Health and Homemade Diet For Dogs
    • Testimonials for book
  • Book Website
  • CUSTOM Supplemental Plan For Your Dog
  • Cyplexinol for Bone and Tissue Repair and Restore
  • ​The Assisi Loop
  • PROTOCOL For Canine Arthritis and Joint
  • Safe Recommended Joint Supplements >
    • Boswellia Improves Symptoms of Arthritis
    • Anti- inflammatory Herbs For Arthritis
    • Cats Claw For Arthritis
    • Devils Claw
    • Cetyl Myristoleate For Osteoarthritis In Dogs
    • Ester C For Your Dog
    • GLUCOSAMINE AND MSM
    • Hydrangea Root For Bone Spurs And Kidney Stones
    • Rosehips For Pets
    • Sea Cucumber: A Natural Arthritis Treatment
  • Recommended Daily Diet Supplements for the Arthritic Dog
  • Inactive Ingredients To Avoid
  • Ingredients In Supplements
  • Sign Up For Our Canine Arthritis Newsletter
  • ACL Injuries In Dogs >
    • Canine Cruciate Ligament (or ACL) Surgery Questions
    • How To Heal A Torn ACL Without Surgery
    • What You Need to Know After Your Dog has ACL Surgery
    • Understanding TPLO
    • Canine ACL Surgery
    • Prolotherapy In Animals
    • The Dog Meniscus
  • Acupressure For Pets
  • Acupuncture for Animals
  • Adequan
  • Aging Gracefully
  • Arthritis in Dogs- Can Magnesium Help
  • Bone Disease In Growing Dogs
  • Canine Rehabilitation After Surgery
  • Carpal Hyperextension Injury
  • Cauda Equina Syndrome In Dogs
  • CBD Oil And Your Arthritic Dog
  • Chiropractic For Your Pet
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Diskospondylitis (Spondylitis) in Dogs
  • Dont Forget Your Dogs Diet With Arthritis
  • Early Joint issues In Canines
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE) in Dogs
  • Floating Kneecaps, or Luxating Patellas
  • Helping Your Dog Stay Healthy And Pain Free
  • Hip Dysplasia in Dogs >
    • Choices In Hip Dysplasia Treatments
    • Subluxation In Your Dogs Hips
    • What Is Femoral Head Osteotomy (FHO)
    • Prolotherapy In Animals
  • How Canine Arthritis And Diet Are Connected
  • How to Give Your Dog Glucosamine Injections
  • How To Fix Slick Flooring
  • How To Install A Doggie Door And Buying The Correct Size >
  • How to Massage Your Dog
  • Hydrotherapy For Dogs
  • Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy For Pets
  • Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy
  • Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis (IMPA)
  • Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • Kratom Use by Pet Parents
  • Laser Therapy for Dogs
  • Learning How To Feel and Read Your Dogs Spine
  • LTCI & DOGS
  • Lumbosacral Spondylosis In Dogs
  • Magnetic Therapy
  • Muscle Sprains and Strains In Dogs
  • MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS
  • Moist Heat And Cold Therapy For Canines
  • NSAIDs-The Risks Involved
  • Osteoarthritis In Dogs
  • Panosteitis In Young Dogs
  • Pet Arthritis
  • Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy For Pets
  • Prevention and Preservative Free
  • Prolotherapy In Animals
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis in Dogs
  • Sacroiliac Luxation
  • Sciatica in Dogs
  • Semitendinosus and Gracilis Myopathy
  • Setting Up A Pool For Therapy For Your Dog
  • Stem Cell Therapy In Pets
  • Steps To Take To Get Your Dog Moving
  • Tesla BioHealer™ for Pets 2.0
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) For Canines
  • Transitioning To A Raw Diet >
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Vet Checks With Injuries And Arthritis
  • What Vets Dont Know Or Wont Tell You
  • Weather And Joint Issues
  • What To Do When Your Dog has Had Surgery Or Is Lame
  • Wheelchairs, Splints And Braces
  • Wobblers Syndrome
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Canine Arthritis And Joint





​MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS

By Southeast Veterinary Neurology

When a severe spinal cord injury renders a dog unable to move its legs or feel its toes, about 10-15% of dogs will go on to develop a devastating condition called myelomalacia, whether successfully treated for the initial problem or not. In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about myelomalacia in dogs.

WHAT IS MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS?
Myelomalacia in dogs is an unfortunate potential outcome of severe spinal cord injury. This fatal condition manifests as a rapid and progressive necrosis (death) of the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is a long band of nerve tissue fed by a system of blood vessels. Trauma to the spinal cord can cause injuries to these blood vessels, such as hemorrhaging and clogging. When normal blood flow to the spinal cord is interrupted, nerve tissue dies, causing the spinal cord to soften. Myelomalacia actually translates to “spinal cord softening.”
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Softening of the spinal cord starts around the site of the injury and then progresses, moving along the entire length of the spine. Myelomalacia causes permanent paralysis in dogs and proves fatal once it reaches the part of the spinal cord that supplies nerves to the diaphragm, which controls breathing.
WHAT CAUSES MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS?
Myelomalacia in dogs is not fully understood, but it is related to spinal cord trauma, usually in the form of “grade 5” intervertebral disc disease.

The spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column. The vertebral column is composed of small bones, called vertebrae, that are connected by intervertebral discs. Intervertebral discs work as shock absorbers and allow the spine to bend. They are made up of an outer fibrous ring and an inner gel-like filling.

Intervertebral disc disease occurs when an intervertebral discs gel-like filling hardens and ruptures through its outer fibrous ring, compressing the spinal cord and affecting a dog’s ability to walk. This is commonly referred to as a ruptured, herniated, or slipped disc.
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Dog being tested for myelomalacia at SEVN

Neurological symptoms caused by compression of the spinal cord are graded on a scale of 1-5. Grade 5 means a dog is unable to move or feel its legs. A dog in this condition has about a 10-15% chance of developing myelomalacia any time within a week of the initial injury, regardless of treatment.
​
Sadly, this chance increases to 25-30% in French bulldogs, which is one of the breeds most prone to intervertebral disc disease.
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WHAT ARE SIGNS OF MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS?
Myelomalacia in dogs is characterized by a progressive descending and ascending spinal cord softening following an acute spinal cord injury. A chain reaction of sorts first begins to affect the healthy spinal cord behind the injury, closer to the back legs and tail. Then, later in the progression of the disease, it moves forward along the spine toward the front legs. Eventually, myelomalacia will reach the diaphragm.

Signs of myelomalacia in dogs include:
​
  • Increasing discomfort or spinal pain
  • Loss of muscle tone and reflexes in hind limbs
  • Dilated anus
  • Hyperthermia (higher than normal body temperature)
  • Weakness or paralysis of thoracic (front) limbs
  • Respiratory effort or distress due to paralysis of respiratory muscles

Once a dog loses the ability to bear weight on its front limbs, it can lose the ability to breathe within a few days, or possibly even hours. So it is at this point that we will recommend euthanasia as the most humane thing to do.
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​HOW IS MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS DIAGNOSED?
The truth is that MRI can suggest myelomalacia in dogs, but is only correct in identifying it in some cases. Myelomalacia is a concern for any dog with a grade 5 spinal cord injury. Even with the most appropriate and aggressive medical and surgical treatments, 10-15% of dogs will still go on to develop myelomalacia within a week after the initial spinal cord trauma.

The fact that this condition cannot be accurately predicted is frustrating, to say the least. In order to provide a grade 5 dog with the best chance of walking again after a compressive injury, such as a ruptured disc, surgery must be performed right away. However, there is always a chance that myelomalacia will develop over the next few days, and sadly, humane euthanasia will be recommended for the patient anyway.

On the other hand, if we were to wait a week to see whether or not myelomalacia will occur, we would lose the time advantage that is critical to successful surgical treatment of the much larger percentage of dogs that will not develop myelomalacia.
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HOW IS MYELOMALACIA IN DOGS TREATED?
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict, prevent, or treat myelomalacia in dogs at this time.
 
It is possible that myelomalacia can start and then stop, but frankly, the most realistic scenario is that it will not stop until pet parents are ultimately faced with the decision to humanely euthanize their beloved dog. In rare cases, myelomalacia does not progress significantly after it starts, but these patients remain permanently paralyzed.
​
“Myelomalacia is tragic and unpredictable. It is absolutely heartbreaking to witness any patient suffer from this painful condition. Although we do everything possible to prevent myelomalacia from developing, sometimes our efforts are futile. When myelomalacia does not stop progressing, we become obliged to recommend a peaceful and pain-free passing for the pet,” explains Dr. Christine Senneca, Veterinary Neurologist at Southeast Veterinary Neurology.

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**Canine Arthritis And Joint is intended for informational, educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat any health condition. You should always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect your pet might have a health problem. The opinions expressed by Canine Arthritis And Joint are not to be replaced for medical care. This website and the information contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information and opinions on Canine Arthritis And Joint are not intended and cannot be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This applies to people and pets!
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