Myelomalacia in Dogs: What You Need to Know

As a dog owner, you have an acute sense of how your pet is doing from day to day. Even if you aren’t intentionally monitoring the health of your dog, you’ll naturally notice when something just doesn’t seem right.

Of course, just as with humans, some conditions in dogs are more serious than others. Unfortunately, myelomalacia falls on the serious end of the spectrum, and this is a diagnosis that no dog owner ever wants to hear. This is a condition that causes permanent paralysis in dogs and is eventually fatal once it has progressed to a certain point. Let’s use the space below to take a closer look at this challenging diagnosis…

What is Myelomalacia in Dogs?

Myelomalacia is a softening of the spinal cord in a dog. Although it is a relatively rare condition, it is extremely serious when it does occur. This is a life-threatening condition that usually progresses quickly and causes the dog to lose physical capabilities along the way. There is no available cure for myelomalacia, so a dog that is diagnosed with this condition will be dealing with it for the rest of his or her life. 

It is often the case that myelomalacia will follow from a severe spinal cord injury. Specifically, if a dog goes through an acute intervertebral disc herniation – which involves part of a disc rupturing and pressing on the spinal cord – it’s possible that myelomalacia will develop in the aftermath. When that happens, there is a reduced blood supply to the spinal cord tissue, causing it to soften and, eventually, die. 

Those in that category include Corgis, Dachshunds, and any breed with an elongated spine that puts them at a higher risk of IVDD. 

Watch for These Symptoms

There are a few symptoms that you can watch for which may indicate the presence of myelomalacia. Those include the following –

• Weakness in the hind legs. This is where you may first see signs of spinal cord damage in your dog. If the dog is having trouble using its hind legs to stand, that weakness may escalate into paralysis if the underlying cause is myelomalacia. 

• Decreased muscle tone. You might notice that your dog seems to have less muscle than he or she had previously. That is a concerning sign that suggests further investigation is needed to identify the underlying cause. 

• Loss of bowel and bladder control. At some point, the advancing myelomalacia will likely impact the ability of your dog to control bowel movements. A dog that doesn’t usually have accidents in the house suddenly struggling to get outside in time to go to the bathroom is another potential warning sign. 

• Spine pain. If you notice that your dog is wincing or otherwise seems uncomfortable when you touch the spine, it’s possible that myelomalacia is to blame.

Receiving a Formal Diagnosis from Your Vet

It’s one thing to suspect that your dog is facing myelomalacia – it’s another thing to receive a formal diagnosis from a veterinarian. As the symptoms start to add up and you become more and more concerned about your pet, it’s best to visit the vet as soon as possible to discuss what you have noticed and have testing performed. 

Limited Treatment Options Are Available

As should be clear by now, there aren’t a lot of treatment options available for dogs with myelomalacia, and there is no cure. The goal in these cases is to keep the dog as comfortable as possible by managing the pain that has developed. 

It is possible that surgery can be attempted to relieve the compression in the spinal cord that is at the heart of the problem. However, this is usually only done if the myelomalacia is caught extremely early, and even then, the surgery is not always effective in stopping the advance of the disease. 

The Role of Canine Rehab for Myelomalacia

Canine rehab can play a palliative role in the care of a dog that has been diagnosed with this condition. Proper rehab can help to manage pain and preserve the quality of life for your pet for as long as possible. 

Also, as discussed above, canine rehab is an important part of responding to IVDD, which is typically the starting point for the development of myelomalacia. Along with treatment from a veterinarian, rehab can help your dog return to health from a spinal cord injury before myelomalacia has had an opportunity to set in. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Austin Canine Rehab is Here to Serve You

If you have a dog that has recently been diagnosed with myelomalacia, or if you suspect that diagnosis will soon be delivered, we are truly sorry to hear that you have reached this point with your pet. Going through any kind of illness with your dog is a difficult experience, and that’s particularly true with a condition as serious as this one. 

We welcome you to reach out today to learn more about the rehab options we can provide to help your dog remain comfortable in the days ahead. Take a moment today to get in touch and discuss your needs.