My dog drags paw, good reflexes. Is it DM, Lyme, or other causes?

Question

We've had our otherwise healthy 10 Y.O boxer to our vet because we suspect DM due to her dragging a paw for about 5 months. He concurred but she tested positive for Lyme so we're crossing our fingers & treating for that. I've been checking her reflexes & sensitivity on that paw which are outstanding. She pulls away quick when I put my finger between her pads, etc. If DM was the the root cause of her trouble, shouldn't she have diminished feeling in that paw at the constant dragging stage? Pet's info: Dog | Boxer | Female | spayed | 10 years old | 80 lbs

Katie Sabella, DVM, CCRP · Accepted Answer

Degenerative myelopathy affects strength, proprioception (knowledge of where the body or limbs are in time and space), and motor function. It usually does not affect sensation/feeling or motor reflexes ("withdrawal"), which is what you are checking when you put your fingers between her pads. Degenerative myelopathy also usually affects both hind limbs, not just one limb, and moves progressively from the hind limbs to the fore limbs. There is a blood test your veterinarian can do to confirm it. While lyme disease can certainly cause joint pain and may potentially interfere with nerve signal conduction, it usually involves more than one limb. It makes perfect sense to treat Texxie for lyme though, especially if this is her first time testing positive. I would also be concerned for some type of disc injury to her back though. A bulging or ruptured disc can put pressure on nerve roots or the spinal cord and cause profound weakness and paralysis. This is best diagnosed by an MRI. Other possibilities include some type of embolism to her spinal cord (like a blood clot or piece of tissue that might lodge along the spinal cord and disrupt information going back and forth), an infection, or cancer. Ideally, Texxie should be screened for all of these things. In the meantime, it's very good that Texxie has sensation and reflexes in her hind limb. Keep her very still, quiet, and check in with your vet frequently if she gets worse or seems painful. Good luck and I hope Texxie gets better soon!

My dog drags paw, good reflexes. Is it DM, Lyme, or other causes?

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