Did you know that large dog breeds like the Great Dane are prone to various health conditions that generally affect large dogs only? One such illness is Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). DM is an incurable disease of the nerves and spinal cord, which can cause loss of mobility and numbness or loss of feeling in the legs. It is often compared to ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease in humans. DM is considered to be a fatal, chronic, progressive, degenerative disease that leads to eventual paralysis. Signs or symptoms of the disease usually appear later in life in most dogs and affects the hind limbs causing a decrease in mobility. As it progresses, the dog will lose all feeling in his legs. There is no treatment for this disease. However, some owners have found various types of physical therapy to help prolong quality of life. Talk with your veterinarian Marietta, GA for more information.