Glossary

Canine degenerative myelopathy (also known as chronic degenerative radiculomyelopathy) is a progressive disease of the spinal cord in older dogs. The disease has an onset typically between 7 and 14 years of age. It begins with a loss of coordination (ataxia) in the hind limbs. The disease is chronic and progressive, resulting in paralysis. A recessive mutation has been identified and dogs with two copies of this recessive mutation are at much higher risk of developing the disease. However, having two copies of the recessive mutant gene does not necessarily result in clinical disease.

Source of DNA Test: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/8288/dnatestsworldwide.pdf