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Degenerative myelopathy is uncommon in French Bulldogs relative to IVDD, but it is worth understanding for one specific reason: it is a good breeder test.
The painless distinction
Clinically, the key discriminator from IVDD is pain. Disc disease hurts — dogs yelp, arch their backs, resist being lifted. Degenerative myelopathy does not hurt at all. A slow, painless, progressive hind limb weakness in an older dog points here; a sudden painful one points at a disc.
Why it is a breeder test
There is a straightforward, inexpensive, widely available DNA test for the SOD1 mutation. Testing both parents and avoiding carrier-to-carrier matings eliminates at-risk puppies entirely. It costs a breeder very little.
So when you ask a breeder for SOD1 results and they are unfamiliar with the test, or tell you it is unnecessary because the breed 'does not get that', you have learned something useful about how much genetic screening is actually happening — regardless of what the advertisement said.
Signs to look for
- Gradual, painless hind limb weakness
- Scuffing the back feet and wearing the nails on top
- Crossing the hind legs when turning
- Progressive loss of coordination over months
- Eventual inability to stand, later progressing to the forelimbs
- Notably, no pain at any stage
What causes it
- Mutation in the SOD1 gene, inherited recessively
- Not all at-risk genotype dogs develop clinical disease, so other factors are involved
How it is diagnosed
A diagnosis of exclusion in life. MRI rules out IVDD and other compressive disease; the SOD1 DNA test establishes genetic risk. Definitive confirmation is only possible post-mortem.
Treatment options
- No treatment halts progression
- Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to maintain muscle and mobility
- Wheeled carts to preserve quality of life
- Harnesses and non-slip flooring
- Nursing care for continence as the disease advances
Reducing the risk
- DNA test breeding stock for SOD1 and never mate carrier to carrier
- Ask to see the SOD1 results for both parents
- No environmental prevention exists
Insurance: Hereditary, and frequently excluded. Because it presents in older dogs it often arrives after policy exclusions have already accumulated. Its practical cost is ongoing supportive care and equipment rather than a single large procedure.
This is screenable. Ask the breeder for DNA test for the SOD1 mutation identifies clear, carrier and at-risk genotypes results for both parents before you commit to a puppy. See our full breeder question list.
What we would actually buy
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Long-established lifetime product with high per-condition limits. Generally more expensive, and generally less inclined to dispute large orthopaedic and neurological claims.
Best for:Owners prioritising claim reliability over price
Check current priceNo study shows a ramp prevents a disc extrusion, and the one lifestyle survey that looked (in Dachshunds) found the opposite association, almost certainly because owners of dogs with bad backs stop them jumping. A ramp is for the dog that has had an episode, is on crate rest coming off it, or is old and hesitates at the sofa. Long enough to be shallow: a metre for a sofa, more for a bed.
Best for:After a disc episode, during recovery, and for an older dog that has started to hesitate
Check current priceCommon questions
Is degenerative myelopathy painful for the dog?
No, and that is its main clinical distinction from IVDD. The degeneration affects the pathways carrying motor signals rather than pain sensation. Dogs remain bright and comfortable while progressively losing the use of their hind limbs.
Can degenerative myelopathy be prevented?
In the population, yes — DNA testing breeding stock for SOD1 and avoiding carrier-to-carrier matings prevents at-risk puppies being produced. In an already-affected dog, nothing prevents progression.
Related reading
This page is general information, not veterinary advice. If you are worried about your French Bulldog, speak to your vet.