Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive neurological disease in dogs causing hind limb paralysis, requiring compassionate welfare management and timely end-of-life decisions.
Dogs with degenerative myelopathy experience progressive loss of independence and normal function that requires thoughtful welfare management. While the condition itself is not painful, the secondary welfare impacts of immobility, pressure sore development, loss of continence, and increasing dependence require intensive owner commitment. Mobility aids including wheeled carts can maintain quality of life for periods. Regular objective quality of life assessment using validated tools helps owners make compassionate end-of-life decisions before suffering becomes unavoidable.