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Acral Mutilation
Syndrome
Common names or abbreviations:
 | idiopathic self-mutilation
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Description or definition:
| Acral mutilation syndrome, also
called idiopathic self-mutilation, involves progressive self-mutilation of
the feet and legs caused by excessive licking, biting, and chewing.
The condition is caused in some dogs by a loss of pain sensation in their
toes due to abnormal development and progressive degeneration of the
sensory neurons in the spinal cord and in peripheral nerves. The
hind legs and feet are generally the most severely affected. In
other dogs, the condition may have a behavioral rather than a
neurological basis that is similar to obsessive compulsive disorder in
humans.
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Related Terms or Conditions:
| Acral Lick Dermatitis,
also known as lick granuloma or canine neurodermatitis
involves repetitive self-licking, chewing or scratching that creates
areas of hair loss and the production of lesions. The affected
area may range in severity from a few small lesions to ulceration over
the entire surface of the limb.
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Symptoms:
| Repetitive biting and/or
licking, usually at the feet or hind legs resulting in lesions, hair
loss, ulceration, infection, and mutilation including toe loss.
Some dogs may not have any pain sensation or responsiveness to
sensitivity in the toes and sometimes up the legs.
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Diagnosis:
| Often a preliminary diagnosis is
made based on clinical symptoms. If a neurological basis for the
condition is suspected, a diagnoses can be made using nerve conduction
studies.
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Treatment:
| Wounds should be treated by a
veterinarian and depending on the severity of the mutilation, may
require amputation of a portion of a toe/foot/or leg. In cases
where the self-mutilation is behavioral, it is thought to be similar to
a form of obsessive compulsive disorder in humans. If the dog is
left alone too often without a positive energy outlet or it may lead to
the dog obsessively licking and/or chewing. In such cases,
treatment might include medication and evaluation of the dog’s
lifestyle. Behavior modification techniques may help regulate the
dog’s compulsive behavior and/or anxiety. However, it is also
important to provide the dog with a safe environment (such as a crate
and/or a restrictive collar) and frequent positive physical and mental
energy outlets. Unfortunately, there is no known treatment
for the neurological degeneration associated with some cases of acral
mutilation syndrome.
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If you suspect your dog has this
condition consult a veterinarian and a professional canine behaviorist.
Links to sites about this disease:
Links provided by:
| Jessica in Arizona |
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