What is the disease known as CIDN?
The disease known as CIDN (Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy) is a nerve disorder that was found in the Tibetan Mastiff in the early 1980’s and diagnosed in young puppies (from 5 weeks on). This disease affected the nerve fibers that run between the spinal cord and the muscles, causing a degeneration of the protective nerve covering (myelin). This loss of insulation allowed impulses from the brain to be lost and/or misdirected, causing a failure to function, primarily in the hind limbs, but the forelimbs were also affected. Detection of this disorder was made before puppies were sold and in their new homes. At this time, there are no affected CIDN puppies being reported throughout the world, with the disease only having appeared in puppies descending from one bloodline. Although all lines were technically “suspect”, they are most likely non-affected. This fact has been verified by studies done at Cornell University, who ended their study on CIDN in the late 1980’s.
