Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)

DM is a progressive disease of the spinal cord and has a typical onset between the ages of eight and fourteen years.  Clinical signs of the disease may include dragging the rear feet, wobbling when walking, or falling over.  The dog may find it difficult to stand and may eventually have no use of the rear legs.  Unfortunately, there is not a cure for the disease, nor are there treatments to slow the progression of DM.  DM does not cause pain to the dog.  Please note that there is a low incidence of DM in Standard Poodles at this writing.  It is advisable, however, to have breeding animals tested and to consider their DM status as one factor in making breeding decisions.  For more information on the use of the DM test in a breeding program see: http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/DM/testDM.htm.

DNA test using a cheek swab.

Anytime after a dog is three to four weeks old.

The DNA test is available from OFA at https://www.ofa.org/diseases/dna-tested-diseases/dm and will identify clear dogs (those that have two normal copies of the gene), carrier dogs (those that have one normal and one abnormal copy of the gene), and genetically affected dogs (those that carry two abnormal copies of the gene). Genetically affected dogs are at risk to develop the disease at some point as they age.  Clear and carrier dogs are very unlikely to develop DM.  Research is currently underway to determine why the age of onset of clinical disease varies in affected dogs and why some genetically affected dogs never develop DM.