Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS)

Acral Mutilation Syndrome
DNA test - AMS

Acral Mutilation Syndrome

Spaniel (Cocker)

Details about the disease

AMS is the self-mutilation of limb extremities linked with located insensitivity to pain

Clinical signs

Clinical signs include severe licking of footpads and paws to the point of bleeding, ulceration.  Auto-amputation of the claws, footpads, and digits through self-mutilation can also occur. Lesions (wounds) on limbs and inability to feel pain on distal limbs are also clinical signs. Age of onset ranges from 3 to 12 months.

How it is inherited

The disease is described as an autosomal recessive condition.  This means that a dog must inherit two copies of an abnormal gene (one from its mother and one from its father) before its health is affected.  A dog that inherits only one copy of the abnormal gene (from its mother or its father) will have no signs of the disease, but will be a carrier and may pass the gene on to any offspring.

In the UK this test is now listed for our breed as a recommended test along with prcd-PRA, AHRN (FN) and AON.
 


Contact Details

The Secretary, Cocker Spaniel Club of Qld Inc
Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Email : [email protected]