Acral Mutilation Syndrome

Acral Mutilation Syndrome (AMS) can result in an insensitivity to pain and self-mutilation of the limb extremities. This can present as extreme licking of the paws and biting of the digits and claws developing from a young age (3-12 months). It is possible for a genetically at-risk dog to exhibit none of the symptoms of this syndrome.

Acral Mutilation Syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition caused by a mutation in the GDNF gene.

Plassais, J., Lagoutte, L., Correard, S., Paradis, M., Guaguère, E., Hédan, B., Pommier, A., Botherel, N., Cadiergues, M. C., Pilorge, P., Silversides, D., Bizot, M., Samuels, M., Arnan, C., Johnson, R., Hitte, C., Salbert, G., Méreau, A., Quignon, P., Derrien, T., … André, C. (2016). A Point Mutation in a lincRNA Upstream of GDNF Is Associated to a Canine Insensitivity to Pain: A Spontaneous Model for Human Sensory Neuropathies. PLoS genetics, 12(12), e1006482.

Correard, Solenne; Plassais, Jocelyn; Lagoutte, Laëtitia ; Paradis, Manon ; Guaguère, Éric ; Quignon, Pascale ; Derrien, Thomas ; André, Catherine. (2016) A spontaneous dog model for a human sensory neuropathy: identification of a mutation in the upstream region of a neurotrophic factor. Bulletin de l'Académie vétérinaire de France, 169 (3), p. 190-194