Infographic - Quick Facts on Degenerative Myelopathy and Genetic Testing

For a dog with clinical signs of DM - dogs with relatives confirmed* to have DM

• If your dog is negative for sod1 or is heterozygous, basically it will not experience DM (almost 100%) – rule out DM as a problem.
• If your dog is homozygous for sod1, it may experience DM (but it is not 100%) – DM can’t be ruled-in, and the test alone should never be cause for euthanasia.

For Breeds where use of the sod1 (or sod2) test has been promoted...

 

The facts suggest that this test is not accurate enough to label dogs as at risk and certainly not for use in breed-wide strategies. In fact, the test has sometimes been promoted in breeds where there have never been confirmed cases and where there are more significant diseases and issues to be considered in healthy breeding.

For ALL BREEDS – sod1/2 testing should NOT be used as a breed-wide strategy.  Please focus on common problems in your breed – the test will not work as you hope and will cause unintended consequences for breed health.

Elimination of animals from breeding based on sod1 (and sod2) testing may seriously damage any breed.

What is required to *confirm a diagnosis of DM? See – Dr. Bell's paper and IPFD's Summary, Correcting the confusion around degenerative myelopathy

✧ OTHER IMPORTANT Breed-specific issues ✧

Prioritizing testing for Degenerative Myelopathy can take away emphasis from other more common and severe conditions. Tests and conditions that should be considered in breeding decisions and for owners choosing a breeder or a dog.

German
Shepherd
Dog

Orthopedic evaluations (hips, elbows, spine), eye exams and temperament evaluation recommended by multiple health strategy providers. Risk for exaggerated characteristics: over-angulation, cow-hocked hindquarters with instability in hocks, arched top line cut away in loin and croup.

Boxer

Orthopedic evaluations (hips, elbows, spine), heart evaluation and thyroid testing recommended by multiple health strategy providers. Risk for irritated skin and breathing problems. Length of nose bridge in relation to skull should be (at least) 1:2; nostrils should be open.

Bernese Mountain
Dog

Orthopedic evaluations (hip, elbows) and eye exams recommended by multiple health strategy providers. Recognized health conditions that impact length and quality of life include: a high cancer rate, digestive issues (IBD, PLE, Bloat and food allergies/mal-absorption disorders) as well as reproductive issues.

Corgis

Orthopedic evaluations (hips, elbows, spine, patella), eye exams, behaviour and temperament evaluations recognized or recommended by multiple health strategy providers. Digestive issues recognized.

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Testing for Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) and eye disease recommended by multiple health strategy providers. Character and temperament evaluations are conducted.  Rhodesian dogs are affected by immunological diseases, of which allergies, atopy, hypothyroidism, and tumors are the most common.

Borzoi

Heart evaluation and thyroid testing are recommended by multiple health strategy providers.

Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Orthopedic evaluations (hips, elbows), eye exams and thyroid testing are recommended by multiple health strategy providers. 

No breeds should consider using a breed-wide breeding strategy for DM based on sod1 (or sod2) testing.  Possible use within family lines or to rule out DM in certain individual cases might be helpful.

This article is available as a PDF. Degenerative Myelopathy and Genetic Testing Infographic - IPFD.pdf