The degenerative myelopathy (DM) risk modifier is a genetic variant that affects Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
This genetic mutation does not cause DM itself, but influences the onset of DM symptoms in dogs already affected by the common DM Exon 2 mutation in the SOD1 gene (DM/DM) . Symptoms in dogs that are genetically affected by DM Exon 2 typically manifest between 8 and 14 years of age, with the average age being around 11 years, however, in Pembroke Welsh Corgi, the presence of the DM risk modifier mutation (SP110) reduces the age of onset at which the disease manifests to the first two years of its age . Conversely, if a dog does not have two copies of the DM Exon 2 mutation, the SP110 variant does not impact its health.
The Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) risk modifier (SP11) has been identified in other breeds, but its influence on the age of onset has only been validated in Pembroke Welsh Corgis.
