Spinal muscular atrophy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in dogs that causes the loss of motor neurons and gradual muscle wasting, leading to severe disability with no cure.
Dogs with spinal muscular atrophy experience progressive loss of mobility and function, with all the distress that entails. As their ability to walk and move declines, they may become frustrated by their inability to engage in normal activities. The muscle wasting causes weakness and likely chronic discomfort. Care for these dogs is intensive, requiring physiotherapy, assisted mobility, and eventually complete support for daily functions. The condition is entirely preventable through genetic testing in breeding programs, but continues to occur when carriers are bred without testing. Each affected dog represents a preventable case of significant and prolonged suffering.