Acral Mutilation Syndrom (AMS)

Acral mutilation syndrome (AMS) is a neurological disease characterized by insensitivity to pain in peripheral parts of the body (limbs, fingers, toes), combined with self-mutilation. Clinical signs appear in puppies approximately four months old when they begin to lick and bite their paws. Affected dogs present an acral insensitivity to pain with, in the majority of cases, severe self-mutilations of the feet including claw loss, painless fractures, and digit amputation. The disease affects only sensory neurons as affected dogs do not exhibit signs of disorders in the autonomic nervous system, motor functions, and proprioception.

Inheritance: autosomal recessive

Mutation: upstream of GDNF gene

Genetic test: The method used for testing is extremely accurate and allows complete differentiation between affected animals, carriers, and healthy dogs. Testing can be done at any age.