VetGen - The leader in veterinary genetic disease research and genetic disease detection services for purebred animals

Breeds Serviced

  • Cavalier King Charles
  • Goldendoodle
  • Golden Retriever

DMD-Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy is a general term for any one of a number of genetic diseases that can affect the muscles of animals adversely. The most common of these muscular diseases is DMD-Duchenne muscular dystrophy or " X-linked muscular dystrophy which is caused by a mutation in the gene for the protein dystrophyn, which is necessary to produce normal muscles. Dystrophin deficiency results in generalized skeletal and cardiac muscular weakness. Less than half of affected dogs survive beyond 6 weeks of age as cardiac and respiratory functions become compromised.

The defective gene is located in the X-chromosome therefore males are most commonly affected when they inherit this defective chromosome from their mothers.