The Most Current DM Research, Protocols & Emerging Hope

Written By Audrey Lybrand

By Simba's Story Foundation | May 2026

If your dog has been diagnosed with degenerative myelopathy (DM), the first thing most veterinarians will tell you is that there is no cure. That's true — for now. But "no cure" is not the same as "nothing you can do." In fact, what you do matters enormously. Here's where the science stands today.

What Is DM — and Why Is It So Hard to Treat?

Degenerative myelopathy is a progressive, inherited disease of the spinal cord. It begins with wobbling or weakness in the back legs, then advances to full paralysis and, eventually, affects breathing. It closely mirrors ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in humans, which is part of why researchers believe human ALS treatments may hold the key to slowing it in dogs.

There is currently no FDA-approved drug to slow DM's progression in dogs. Diagnosis is also difficult — it's typically presumptive, based on breed, age, genetic testing for the SOD1 mutation, MRI, and ruling out other causes of spinal cord disease. This makes meaningful clinical research challenging.

But the research community is not standing still.

What Actually Works Right Now: Physical Rehabilitation

This is not a consolation prize — physical rehabilitation is the single most evidence-backed intervention available, and the data is striking.

A landmark study found that DM dogs receiving intensive daily physiotherapy survived an average of 8 months, while those receiving moderate therapy survived about 4 months, and those with no therapy only 2 months. That's a 4x difference — from doing nothing versus doing something intensive.

The Underwater Treadmill: The Gold Standard

Of all the tools in a canine rehab program, the underwater treadmill (hydrotherapy) is the one most consistently recommended by neurologists and rehabilitation specialists. The buoyancy of the water reduces the load on weakened limbs while still requiring the dog to engage its muscles and move — making it possible to keep working the body even as strength declines. It's especially powerful for DM because it lets dogs stay in motion longer than land-based exercise alone allows.

If your rehabilitation facility offers it, this should be a cornerstone of your protocol.

Targeting the Muscles That Are Still Firing

One of the most important principles in DM rehab is this: work what's working. DM progresses unevenly — some muscle groups retain function longer than others. A good rehabilitation therapist will assess which muscles are still receiving nerve signals and design exercises specifically to maintain and strengthen those pathways. This isn't just about keeping your dog moving; it's about slowing the rate at which those connections are lost.

Exercises that support this approach include:

  • Supported standing and weight shifting — encourages the dog to bear weight and self-correct balance

  • Cavaletti pole walking — raises the legs in a controlled pattern, reinforcing proper limb movement

  • Stair or incline work (when appropriate) — engages the hindquarters in ways flat walking doesn't

  • Sit-to-stand repetitions — strengthens the muscles dogs use to rise, which are often among the first to weaken

Stretching and Massage: More Than Comfort

Stretching and massage are not just feel-good additions — they serve a real clinical purpose. As DM progresses, dogs compensate for hind limb weakness by overusing their front limbs and torso, which leads to muscle tightness, soreness, and secondary pain in areas that are otherwise neurologically unaffected. Regular:

  • Passive range of motion (PROM) exercises keep joints mobile and reduce stiffness

  • Gentle muscle massage improves circulation, reduces compensatory tension, and keeps your dog comfortable enough to stay active

  • Full-body stretching — particularly of the hip flexors, hamstrings, and spine — maintains flexibility as posture changes

Many families underestimate how much daily massage and stretching at home can extend a dog's comfort and willingness to stay engaged in their rehab routine.

Staying Active Between Sessions

Consistent, moderate daily walks remain important even outside formal rehab sessions. Short, frequent walks on varied terrain (grass, slight inclines) are better than one long walk. The goal is to keep the dog moving, keep the mind engaged, and keep those neural pathways firing — without pushing to the point of fatigue.

The goal, according to a large international survey of neurologists and rehabilitation professionals, is preservation and improvement of strength (99% agreement) and coordination (98% agreement). Secondary goals include managing compensatory pain and maintaining quality of daily life.

One critical caution from the research: overdoing it is worse than doing too little. Over-exercising a DM dog can accelerate disease progression. A certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT or CCRP) should design and monitor any protocol — this is not something to figure out alone.

With an intensive, well-managed rehabilitation program, some dogs have remained ambulatory significantly longer than expected. One retrospective study found that intensive rehabilitation combined with photobiomodulation (see below) extended the time between symptom onset and euthanasia to over 3 years in some cases — compared to the typical 6–12 month prognosis without intervention.

Photobiomodulation Therapy (Laser Therapy): A Promising Add-On

One of the most exciting recent findings involves photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) — commonly known as low-level laser therapy. A retrospective study out of New England compared two PBMT protocols combined with standard rehabilitation therapy and found dramatic differences in outcomes.

Dogs on the higher-intensity PBMT protocol (Protocol B) had:

  • Mean survival time of 27 months from start of treatment

  • Mean time to non-ambulatory paraparesis of nearly 21 months

Dogs on the lower-intensity protocol had a mean survival of only about 7 months, and became non-ambulatory in about 4 months.

Both groups also received twice-weekly in-clinic rehabilitation including range of motion, stretching, standing exercises, obstacle courses, and underwater treadmill work, along with home exercise protocols.

The study's authors note that PBMT is not a standalone treatment — it appears to work best as part of a multimodal rehabilitation program. The results are promising enough that many veterinary rehabilitation specialists now routinely incorporate laser therapy into DM care.

Access Is a Real Barrier — And It Matters

Clinical laser therapy sessions add up fast, and not every family has a veterinary rehabilitation center nearby. This is something we thought about deeply at Simba's Story Foundation. Consistent, frequent treatment is what drives results — and that's hard to achieve if every session requires a clinic visit.

That's why we offer an at-home therapeutic laser unit available for rent to DM families. Used as part of a protocol guided by your rehabilitation therapist, an at-home laser makes it possible to stay consistent with treatment between clinic visits — and consistency is everything with DM.

If you're interested in renting our unit or want to learn more about how to incorporate laser therapy into your dog's care plan, contact us here. We'll walk you through it.

The Drug on the Horizon: Riluzole

The most significant research development in DM treatment is currently underway through Project DM — a collaborative network of four major veterinary schools: the University of Missouri, The Ohio State University, Tufts University, and North Carolina State University.

The drug being studied is Riluzole, which is already FDA-approved to treat ALS in humans. It works by blocking the buildup of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter that, in excess, kills nerve cells. Since DM shares similar disease mechanisms with ALS, researchers believe riluzole may protect nerve cells in dogs with DM the same way it has shown benefit in human ALS patients.

The randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial commenced in December 2023 and is still actively enrolling patients at the four trial sites. Dogs in the trial receive daily doses of riluzole or placebo for one year, with neurological evaluations, bloodwork, and cerebrospinal fluid sampling at key intervals.

The primary measure of success is time to non-ambulatory status — how long it takes before a dog can no longer walk unassisted. Researchers are also tracking biomarkers to better detect and monitor disease progression, which could transform how DM is diagnosed in the future.

If riluzole proves safe and effective, it would be the first drug treatment ever approved to slow DM progression in dogs — a genuine breakthrough.

To find out if your dog qualifies for the trial, visit cure4dm.org or contact one of the four participating veterinary schools.

Assistive Equipment: Extending Quality of Life

While not a treatment for the disease itself, properly fitted assistive equipment plays a major role in extending quality and duration of ambulatory life:

  • Wheelcharts/carts — allow dogs to remain mobile after hind limb paralysis sets in

  • Harnesses and slings — support dogs during walks and transitions

  • Non-slip boots or toe grips — help dogs with proprioceptive deficits maintain footing and reduce falls

  • Orthotic braces — can support weakened limbs in some cases

These tools are not giving up — they're giving more time and more life.

What Doesn't Have Strong Evidence (Yet)

Several supplements and medications have been tried, including:

  • Epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA)

  • N-acetylcysteine (NAC)

  • Vitamins B, C, and E

  • Prednisolone

A small clinical study evaluating a protocol using these medications found that neurological signs continued to progress in all 12 dogs studied, with the researchers concluding the medications did not appear to be an attractive alternative to physiotherapy alone. These are not recommended as primary interventions based on current evidence.

Building Your Care Team

The research is consistent on one thing: DM outcomes are best when managed by a coordinated team. Consider building yours with:

  • A veterinary neurologist for accurate diagnosis (including MRI and SOD1 genetic testing)

  • A certified canine rehabilitation therapist (CCRT or CCRP) for your physical therapy protocol

  • A laser therapy provider if PBMT is available in your area

  • Your primary care vet for ongoing wellness and supportive care

  • A veterinary pain specialist if compensatory pain develops

  • A community of other DM families — the emotional support is not optional

The Bottom Line

There is no cure for DM today — but there is meaningful action. The science is clear that intensive physical rehabilitation, potentially combined with laser therapy, dramatically extends ambulatory life. A landmark drug trial is actively underway that could change everything. And the community of researchers, nonprofit organizations, and families refusing to accept the status quo is growing.

Simba taught us that every day matters. So does every step.

Want to learn more or connect with other families navigating DM? Visit simbasstoryfoundation.org or follow us on Instagram.

Sources:

  • AKC Canine Health Foundation — Project DM / Riluzole Trial (Grant 03139)

  • Miller et al., Photobiomodulation Photomed Laser Surg (2020) — PBMT Protocol Study

  • Kathmann et al., J Vet Intern Med (2006) — Physiotherapy Survival Study

  • PMC Survey of Neurologists and Rehabilitation Professionals (2023)

  • Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice — Rehabilitation Therapy for DM (2023)

  • Best Friends Animal Society — DM Care Overview

Audrey Lybrand