Any degenerative disease affecting the brain and the spinal cord. Usually used as a pathoanatomical diagnosis when the etiological diagnosis is elusive.
- equine degenerative m. — an irreversible disease of young horses characterized by hypermetria of all limbs causing ataxia and falling backwards. One of the causes of enzootic equine incoordination. Demyelination is present in the medulla and spinal cord, especially the cervical and midthoracic regions.
- progressive degenerative m. — inherited disease of Brown Swiss cattle characterized by appearance at 6–8 months of age, progressive, bilateral hindlimb weakness causing a weaving gait; euthanasia inevitable after a 12–18 month course: called also weaver syndrome.
