My French Bulldog has Degenerative Myelopathy. What Should I Do?

Degenerative Myelopathy is an incurable condition. This means that your focus is to help maintain your dog’s quality of life for as long as possible. On its own, generally DM doesn’t cause pain, so the focus is really on keeping your French Bulldog mobile.

Depending on how advanced the condition is will decide your approach. 

In the early stages, where your dog’s main symptoms are paw knuckling and scuffing, then protective shoes are advised to keep the paws from developing wounds that are painful and might get infected. Inside the home, you might consider non-slip socks to give your dog more traction if you have wooden or slippery floors, or put down rugs.

If the knuckling is getting worse, then Maximus PawsUp are shoes that are designed to address knuckling and can have significant results at reducing the knuckling while being worn.

The BIKO brace has been designed to help dogs with DM. Its aim is to keep dogs from weaving, another early stage symptom. It helps your dog move with their legs straight, rather than the legs crossing, and lessen the hindquarters from swaying.

Once the DM progresses, wheelchairs are the best solution. French bulldog wheelchairs can be found here.  Some owners use Maximus Skates with them. Keeping muscles active, even as the disease progresses.

It’s also worth making sure your dog is getting physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, and asking your vet or physiotherapist about Laser Therapy. Studies have shown Laser Therapy has positive results in some dogs with Degenerative Myelopathy. Some people also speak highly of acupuncture and canine massage therapy. Anecdotally, it’s believed that sometimes nutritional changes can help individual dogs.

As the disease progresses, and paralysis worsens, even getting your dog out for the toilet might become difficult. Consider a rear lift harness which can really help you help support your dog. Double incontinence is inevitable during the last stages of the disease. A comfortable, incontinence bed (waterproof) and washable dog incontinence pads for around the house will be very invaluable for you at this time.

Degenerative Myelopathy is emotionally taxing because, even though your dog’s unlikely to be in pain, your dog’s physical degeneration as the condition worsens can be hard to witness. The last stages can come on very suddenly, characterised by a rapid decline. As well as taking care of your dog, make sure you’re taking care of yourself emotionally.

You can read more about Degenerative Myelopathy here - Causes, Prevention and How To Help https://zoomadog.co.uk/collections/degenerative-myelopathy 

Read how other German Shepherd owners use a dog wheelchair to help their dog live an active life 

https://zoomadog.co.uk/products/french-bulldog-wheelchair