Ongoing Research For DM (Degenerative Myelopathy)

As you know, there is a DNA test out to recognize which dogs that are clear, carrier, or at risk. Even a dog at risk does not mean they will come down with the symptoms of the disease. Dr. Coates is doing further research to try and find the modifier that will identify which at risk dog will show signs of this disease but she needs our help in doing so. If anyone has a Corgi showing signs of DM or has been diagnosed as possibly having DM, Please help us in getting the answers. They are looking for postmortem spinal samples of DM dogs to try and identify the modifier. Even if you have a young vibrant Corgi, take the time to get familiar with this study and decide if this is something you would be willing to do to help the breed down the road. Contact information is provided with specific instructions for your veterinarian on what is needed. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact them. They would be more then willing to answer any questions for someone willing to help. Information and forms for sample submission

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Permalink Reply by Beth on October 9, 2009 at 10:13am

Thank you Wendy for passing this on.

If you hear that they are looking for random samples of younger dogs to gather a data base, please let me know. I would be happy to participate in a study, but so far my dogs are too young for the specific studies they've been looking for.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on October 9, 2009 at 1:54pm

DM in dogs is homologous to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) in humans, so if you contribute to progress on canine DM, you're also shedding light on an important and tragic human malady.

A standard approach in human genetic disease research, once a pathogenic mutation is found, is to try to make an animal model to study (usually in mice; our lab is trying this). Here is a naturally-occurring disease model of ALS in a species arguably much more like us than mice are. This could be important.