What is DM?
DM is the same disease in dogs as
ALS in humans. According to ALS Canada, it is a "neurodegenerative disease, those living with the disease become
progressively paralyzed due to degeneration of the upper and lower
motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord."
DM is not painful to the dogs affected but it is highly dibilitating and eventually terminal.
When looking for a puppy, it is important to assure that at least one parent is n/n or "normal." At Top of the Rock, we do not currently believe that breeding a/a or "at risk" dogs is appropriate. However, as more research is done and we gain a greater awareness of this disease, we may modify our stance to coincide with emerging scientific findings.
The genetic testing involves a single gene from each parent. That inherited gene is either "n" (meaning that the gene is normal or clear for DM) or "a" (meaning the gene is abnormal and two of these genes in a dog classifies that particular as "at risk" for getting DM).
There are three potential outcomes to the DM test.
1. The ideal is n/n. Gene from parent A is normal and gene from parent B is normal. Therefore, there is no chance that this dog will get the disease, nor will they pass on the gene for DM.
2. The n/a dog--or "carrier" will
never get DM, however, they can pass on an abnormal gene. When bred to an n/n, each puppy has a 25% chance of being a carrier and a 75% chance of being normal or clear for DM.
3. The a/a dog is considered "at risk." They carry genes from both parents for the disease. This does not mean that the dog will ever become symptomatic, but only dogs that test a/a can get the disease.