Clinical Comments:

Dyserythropoietic anaemia myopathic syndrome (DAMS) combines dyserythropoietic anaemia (a defect in the development of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the bone marrow) and myopathic syndrome (a defect in muscle fibres). In clinically affected dogs, multi-system sypmtoms can include: progressive muscle weakness, muscle pain, regurgitation, difficulty opening the mouth wide and chewing and swallowing, varying degrees of heart enlargement, fatigue and anemia. Early symptom onset of muscle atrophy, weakness, and decreased activity are seen in the first few weeks of life. Complications of the disease may include pneumonia, chronic diarrhea, seizures. In some cases, death may occur shortly after birth. In other cases, euthanasia is necessary due to severely poor health and welfare.

While observed in the breed since the early 1990s, it is considered rare. Given the welfare impact, effective use of the DNA test is recommended by breed clubs to drastically reduce risk of producing clinically affected dogs and conribute to greater understanding of the prevalence of the disease.