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A historic perspective

In 1973, Dr. Averill first described a degenerative disease of unknown cause affecting the spinal cord in the older German Shepherd Dog.  Degenerative (progressive) myelopathy (disease of the spinal cord) is a disease of the spinal cord causing progressive weakness in the hind limbs.  Although historically associated with German Shepherd Dogs, high disease prevalence also exists in other breeds, such as Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs and Boxers.  

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