3rd SM clip on website

Ellen Crimmell has kindly given me permission to post her video of her rescue oldie Chester, who has SM and has a full range of symptoms. This is an excellent video as she narrates it and explains what he is doing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWmbF3j8zbU

I also have further links on the SM website -- to pics and an explanation about the video on her website and an explanation by her neurologist on this site:

http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/video.html

Note: Though Chester is clearly uncomfortable with aspects of his SM he is not in severe pain and this is very watchable and informative. In particular you can see the distinct sort of scratching and headrubbing he does -- symptoms many people have a hard time distinguishing from nomal behaviour.

That was much easier to watch. Yes, it's obvious he is in discomfort but not so much that he is shrieking in pain. I can see the difference in normal behavior vs sm behavior very clearly. Jake does a lot of face rubbing after eating dinner, and so does Shelby, but it is obvious to be that it is not sm related. The walking was the most informative to me. You could see the problems he had walking. Very good video and great teaching tool. And he sure is a handsome boy!

Oh dear, just watched that video and realised that my Charlie does many of the same things! He scratches himself (or rather his leg moves as if he is scratching) when we touch him in certain places, he rubs his head along the floor after dinner (almost exactly like Chester does), and he also sometimes yelps for no reason. Should I worry?! Chester's behaviour did remind me of Charlie, but then I guess some of the behaviours are the same of those of 'normal' Cavs, without SM? I don't really know how to tell the difference.

Pepsi x

If you are concerned, have a read of the full variety of symptoms here and what to eliminate first.

http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/symptoms.html

http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/whattodo.html

Many dogs of all breeds scratch with a leg when touched in certain places and are perfectly fine. You will note in Chester's case it is just one of a range of symptoms and only happens to his affected side (usually one side is more affected than another). Head rubbing is common but Chester does it is a particularly odd way.

Our vet said that dogs tend to yelp if they are sensitive near the stomach/spleen, ie if you try to pick them up near the front of the back legs first and then the front end.