My Baby Has Been Diagnosed With Syringomyeila

[JAL]

Hi everyone,

My dog (Cav x Shih Tzu) has been diagnosed with Syringomyeila. It is a degenerative spinal disease found in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

I would love to hear from anyone with dogs in the same situation.

I have 2 babies, 1 Shih Tzu x Cavalier - 2.5 year old called Chanel and a pure Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - 14 months called Charlotte.

Jen xx

[cavNrott]

I have 2 CKCS and live in dread of this disease. My two seem to be ok. I'm so sorry that your dog has this and hope it's not a severe case. I've only read about it and it's certainly scary. Poor little Chanel.

What treatment has your vet suggested?

I wish you the best with her and hope you will keep us updated.

[JAL]

Thanks so much for your kind words they really help

She was diagnosed on Wednesday. For 6 months she has been scratching her neck area and we had ruled out skin and ear problems and were sent to a specialist last week who did and MRI on Wednesday and found fluid sack on her spinal cord.

The symptoms are only mild at the moment and have been the same way for 7 months. I am hoping this will be it!

I never knew this disease existed and after researching over the past few days I am in shock it is not more widely known about and I can not for the life of me understand why people are allowed to breed without showing their dogs are clear of this disease.

I am devistated, my dogs are my children and tonight is the first night I haven't cried just looking at her. It is a nightmare I would never wish on anyone!

The vets have offered no solutions, there is no proven treatment and he is reluctant to treat her until her symptoms worsen as he is unsure how fast or if she will develop my symptoms. So we are looking for a good holistic vet who might help with vitamins and acupunture to atleast slow the process down.

I am now worried our other baby, Charlotte who is a PB CKCS will develop this.

Jen xx

[kymbo]

I know nothing of the disease, but wish you and Chanel all the best.

[JAL]

Thank you CavNRott.

I will spent any amount of money to help my dogs. Yes I do have the money and feel bad for those who don't. Her symptoms are only mild and how dare you say I put her to sleep. I am so angry!! I am new to this forum and I was lookign for support as I could not find a specific Australian forum and was pointed here by a friend.

My vet and the radiologist are perfectly qualified at making a diagnosis. They have told me steroids are the only treatment or an anti seizure medication. They are reluctant to do anything as her symptoms are mild. They refused to operate and said that in the USA a surgery was being performed that places a shunt to drain the fluid and said they would never advise this and I would never do this.

Chanel is not a mutt she was abandoned and we rescued her from the RSPCA. Every dog has a right to a life!!!

Like it was said she may be the first but it does not mean it doesn't exist.

[Rappie]

Not ONE Cavalier in this Country has been diagnosed with SM................Do you understand that????????? NO ONE in Victoria is capable of reading an SM scan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aust Vet J 2000;78:92-95. Chiari 1 / syringomyelia complex in a King Charles Spaniel.

Aust Vet Practitioner 2007;37(2):42-47. Chiari Type1- like malformations and syringomyelia in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

[JAL]

my photobucket is playing up so had to use an alternative.

[cavNrott]

Not ONE Cavalier in this Country has been diagnosed with SM................Do you understand that????????? NO ONE in Victoria is capable of reading an SM scan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aust Vet J 2000;78:92-95. Chiari 1 / syringomyelia complex in a King Charles Spaniel.

Aust Vet Practitioner 2007;37(2):42-47. Chiari Type1- like malformations and syringomyelia in three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this

So it has been dianosed previously in Australia. I thought so. Thanks Rappie for the information.

[Steve]

Its pretty well agreed that the mode of inheritance for this is dominant inheritance which means an abnormal gene from one parent is capable of causing disease even though the matching gene from the other parent is normal. The abnormal gene "dominates" the pair of genes. If just one parent has a dominant gene defect, EACH pup has a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder.

Please take note that this is also a noted genetic disorder in the shizt- zu and that it may be unnoticed in the parent it usually become worse in progressive generatons.

Ths is a prime example of what can happen when dogs are crossbred. Even though you may see a lessened incidence of recessive disorders [ commonly known as hybrid vigour] there's a a hell of a lot of things which will still be there because recessive genes aren't the only ones breeders have to take into consideration.

Im really sorry to hear that your dog has been diagnosed with this problem and if it were my dog I would give it Board certified Aloe Juice twice daily - Cant do any harm but may do some good.

[Jed]

So sorry to hear about your pup, JAL, syringo is not a nice thing to be faced with. Something every cavalier owner, and more particularly, breeder, fears.

I must admit, if one of mine seems to be scratching constantly, that's what I worry about. I watch them very carefully. So far, so good. I did have one girl that I often wondered about, but it never got worse, so maybe I was wrong ("neurotic" is the word) and she went to the bridge at 14 from plain old age.

To date the condition has been also reported in King Charles spaniels, Brussels griffons,Yorkshire terriers, Maltese terriers, Chihuahuas, Miniature dachshunds, Miniature/toy poodles, Bichon Frise, Pugs,Shih Tzus, Pomeranians, Staffordshire bull terriers, a Boston terrier, French bulldogs a Pekingese, a miniature Pinscher and a couple of cats.

Steve, I don't think the mode of inheritance is certain as yet, but research is being carried out to hopefully identify the gene. But what you are suggesting seems likely. Dr. Sarah Blott, a geneticist with the Genetics Department of the Animal Health Trust is part of the research team. Her particular interest is developing breeding schemes for pets. The team is attempting to identify genetic markers.

Although it seems to be a big problem in USA and UK, I am not aware that many Cavaliers in Australia have been diagnosed. Or indeed, are sufferers, although there are some. I am sure there are some undiagnosed cases, and perhaps some misdiagnosed cases.

The reason all breeding stock is not tested is because it is nearly impossible to have MRI scans carried out on dogs. There is currently a scheme in Aus. which will test Cavaliers. Apart from the dogs having clinical symptoms - in which case, one would hope they would not be bred with, there has not been any way of identifying dogs which may carry the gene until the scanner was available, but because of distance, obviously all Cavaliers will not be tested. CT and radiographs have limited value, and there is no point in using these methods to screen the population at large.

95% of CKCS with a maximum syrinx width of 0.64cm or more will have associated clinical signs. So, not an easy diagnosis, particularly as CT and radiographs have limited value, but can be used to rule out other causes. Other factors can cause the symptoms, so it is important to have an accurate diagnosis.

.

The "old" and unfashionable way of gene testing breeding stock - that is, by seeing healthy ancestors, particularly parents and grandparents, and checking as much as possible on the pedigrees, is at the moment, the only way of identifying lines which may be at risk, until scans are available for all breeding stock. The biggest problem is that the malformation may be present, without symptoms.

The symptoms may never increase. Some do, some don't. There are operation options available - so far, (as far as I am aware) only utilised overseas. Decompression, which I imagine would need to be repeated. Shunts have been tried, but without great success. 43% of cavaliers with early diagnosis survived to 9 years of age.

Management can help too - raising the food bowl, removing the collar

Cavalier Clubs world wide have combined to discover as much as possible about syringo.

JAL, there are a couple of lists for owners of dogs with syringo. If you are interested, I will post a link for you. There is also quite a lot of information on the web, particularly from the UKCKCS club. I also think the USACKCS club has a site with information on research there. There are also a couple of hysterical websites, which are probably better to avoid. The information is sussy and the presentation sensationalistic.

Oh, and I truly wouldn't worry about your pb Cavalier. If you have any doubts, ask the breeder whether there have been any problems with any dogs in the line.

Edited September 14, 2007 by Jed

[Cavandra]

I am extremely worried that Vets/Specialists are going to be diagnosing this condition in Australia. Alot of effort has gone into setting up correct screening & result reading etc in Sydney, and if Vets are going to diagnose it on their own without consulting the experts it is going to make things very hard to ever come up with a DNA marker etc........

The condition has been around since the original dogs were mated to produce what is now known as the Cavalier. There is no doubt that many dogs over the years were euthanased or lived with symptoms that were misdiagnosed as other things. I have no doubt that most scratching dogs in the future will also be misdiagnosed as having SM also !

It has taken many years for the experts to get a plan of attack on the condition, as firstly they didnt know what a "normal" Cavalier skull should look like. Secondly there is no rhyme or reason to why dogs are affected & why dogs are not affected, at first it was thought it was due to changing skull shapes, but it is not so. Affected dogs can produce non affected offspring & non affected dogs can produce affected offspring!!!

Sydney Cav Club has discounted MRI scans for $700, the dog is done, the pedigree & scan is sent to UK to Clare Rushbridge to be diagnosed and Graded, and blood & pedigree are sent to the experts in Canada, a further $60 is donated to teh Cav Club in a fund to be used later for furtehr research. The person is then given the results, and a certificate & DVD with their scans on it. Most of the Cavaliers that have been done have been Graded A (excellent) so far, with a few having Graded D (borderline).......This system has been in place for only a couple of months!

Why we dont have the volumes of dogs severely affected here or NZ is a mystery really in comparison to the problem in UK & USA....a few scratching dogs here & there can be seen , but for the thousands that are bred each year in this Country you would expect to see far more.............

I personally know a King Charles that was euthanased & included in the study, and the whole Sydney scanning set up has been brought about by a woman with Griffons who was given a grant for this study by Clare Rushbridge, and is extrememely knowledgeable about the disorder.

Your cross bred Cavaliers blood could be vital to the Canadians, as could be the scan to the UK, as it may be easier to isolate the gene from a cross bred, who knows????...........

I would strongly recommend you ask your Vet/Specialist to contact Sydney through Georgina Childs at the Specialist center at Ryde. To my knowledge "shunts" have not been used for many many years now, as they are not effective, and for this Specialist to mention this as a treatment makes me wonder if they know enough to be advising you at all......According to the experts & Sydney organisers there is no one in Australia qualified to accurately read the scans..........

[JAL]

Thanks Jed and Steve. You both seem very knowledgable on this subject and the information has helped a lot. Thank you.

Cavandra. Why are all your previous posts deleted? Why have you now come in to post a "nice" post trying to act like you care. FYI you need to read posts properly. As I said previously my vet specialist said shunts have been used but advised that he would not suggest it as they are no very successful.

I will actually contact this "Claire Rushbridge", the so called only expert in the world. I find it hard to beleive only one person can diagnose this disease.

I would appreciate if Cavandra would stop replying to this thread. Your input is nasty, uninformed and not welcome. Anyone who deletes previous posts are obviously insecure about what they have said.

Thank you to everyone for the support and the advice. I wont rest until I find answers to help my baby. In the process I hope we can help other dogs out there going through the same thing.

Jen xx

Edited September 15, 2007 by JAL

[JAL]

P.S. I have just emailed Claire Rusbridge (this is the correct spelling of her name).

[Cavandra]

Thanks Jed and Steve. You both seem very knowledgable on this subject and the information has helped a lot. Thank you.

Cavandra. Why are all your previous posts deleted? Why have you now come in to post a "nice" post trying to act like you care. FYI you need to read posts properly. As I said previously my vet specialist said shunts have been used but advised that he would not suggest it as they are no very successful.

I will actually contact this "Claire Rushbridge", the so called only expert in the world. I find it hard to beleive only one person can diagnose this disease.

I would appreciate if Cavandra would stop replying to this thread. Your input is nasty, uninformed and not welcome. Anyone who deletes previous posts are obviously insecure about what they have said.

Thank you to everyone for the support and the advice. I wont rest until I find answers to help my baby. In the process I hope we can help other dogs out there going through the same thing.

Jen xx

Not insecure whatsoever............It is not me who deleted the posts it was due to you taking such offence that the mods did it I would presume!

There is nothing "ill informed" in my posts, but I will gladly stop posting on this subject, as most Cavalier Breeders can tell you anything you want to know about CM/SM!

I have told you the deal here, Lee Piertse (Griffons) & Jeanie Montford (Cavaliers) are the cordinators in Sydney and will help you/your vets with the very involved process of customs clearances etc, and what day of the week to send blood to Canada etc........If you can not contact Clare, her offsider Penny Knowler can advise you, and Georgina Childs at the specialist center @ Ryde may also advise your Vets re procedure.

[Dogsfevr]

JAL infact every thing that cavandra has informed you is very correct & is well know amongst the cavie people who have submitted dogs or belong to the cavie list to be keeped up to date.

Alot of time & effort went into getting the testing available in Australia & the price is going down each time for the testing.

"I will actually contact this "Claire Rushbridge", the so called only expert in the world. I find it hard to beleive only one person can diagnose this disease. '

Where was it posted she is the only expert ???

This is the person who is taking up the study here in Australia to benefit the breeders as posted then the results been sent off.

" uninformed and not welcome. "

Actually what is posted is very informed & most likely welcomed by all those involved with the breed or who may learn more from what is posted.

I do feel your response was rather weird when the post is off benefit to your dog & the contacts have been given the person in austrlia specializing in this field at present ,if you care about your dog then i would be jumping for joy that someone has given you the best knowledge thats available in australia.many people havent been this lucky

[JAL]

JAL infact every thing that cavandra has informed you is very correct & is well know amongst the cavie people who have submitted dogs or belong to the cavie list to be keeped up to date.

Alot of time & effort went into getting the testing available in Australia & the price is going down each time for the testing.

"I will actually contact this "Claire Rushbridge", the so called only expert in the world. I find it hard to beleive only one person can diagnose this disease. '

Where was it posted she is the only expert ???

This is the person who is taking up the study here in Australia to benefit the breeders as posted then the results been sent off.

" uninformed and not welcome. "

Actually what is posted is very informed & most likely welcomed by all those involved with the breed or who may learn more from what is posted.

I do feel your response was rather weird when the post is off benefit to your dog & the contacts have been given the person in austrlia specializing in this field at present ,if you care about your dog then i would be jumping for joy that someone has given you the best knowledge thats available in australia.many people havent been this lucky

The fact is this person spend the better part of last night verbally bashing me.

[Jed]

Hi JAL, like Steve, Showdog and me, Cavandra is only trying to help. Clare Rushbridge is not the only expert in the world, but she is accessible, and has a lot of knowledge.

As I said in my post, dogs are often not diagnosed, or mis-diagnosed - the symptoms don't always equate to syringo. And there are not a lot of cases in Australia. As Cavandra says, plenty overseas, but not many here -for which I am enternally grateful.

As a consequence, plenty of vets in Aus know very little about it - which is not surprising, as the majority would never have seen a case.

Cavandra didn't delete her posts - posters are unable to do this, only the mods, and I have no idea why it was done. I haven't read her posts, so don't know about "verbally bashing" you up, but syringo is a huge subject, Cavandra probably knows as much about it as anyone else, and we can all learn from others posts, particularly when they have the knowledge.

[~Anne~]

JAL, I wish you all the best in your battle against this. She is lucky to have someone like you to care for her in this battle by the sounds of it.

Jed, you mention Pugs in the hit list for this condition? Do you know where I can find info on this specifically. I could try google but thought you might have quality info on hand. Thanks.

Edited September 16, 2007 by Puggles

[JAL]

Hi JAL, like Steve, Showdog and me, Cavandra is only trying to help. Clare Rushbridge is not the only expert in the world, but she is accessible, and has a lot of knowledge.

As I said in my post, dogs are often not diagnosed, or mis-diagnosed - the symptoms don't always equate to syringo. And there are not a lot of cases in Australia. As Cavandra says, plenty overseas, but not many here -for which I am enternally grateful.

As a consequence, plenty of vets in Aus know very little about it - which is not surprising, as the majority would never have seen a case.

Cavandra didn't delete her posts - posters are unable to do this, only the mods, and I have no idea why it was done. I haven't read her posts, so don't know about "verbally bashing" you up, but syringo is a huge subject, Cavandra probably knows as much about it as anyone else, and we can all learn from others posts, particularly when they have the knowledge.

Thanks. I have actually emailed Claire and also the Cav Club of NSW. ;)

JAL, I wish you all the best in your battle against this. She is lucky to have someone like you to care for her in this battle by the sounds of it. :D

Jed, you mention Pugs in the hit list for this condition? Do you know where I can find info on this specifically. I could try google but thought you might have quality info on hand. Thanks.

Thanks so much. I think she is lucky I wondered what would happen to her if she ended up with someone who couldn't afford the tests and treatment etc. But we love her to bits and will do all we can to help her and make her comfortable.