Vet just called - UPDATE on MRI

Just had a call from the vet. It all goes so quick and I will talk to him again later.
Yes Ebony got CM and SM not enough to cause this back problem. I remember him saying that the syringe is very small and narrow. She has a degenerative disk grade 1 I think he said. Apparently it’s another thing Cavaliers suffer from. (I didn’t know that) He is still sending the scan of to the specialist, but I do trust his judgement in the disk diagnosis. I will be able to look at the scan myself and I might would like to send it to Clare Rusbridge for an opinion on the CM and SM. Could someone tell me how I would go about that.
We have to do 1 month cage rest with the usual painkillers and diazepam and omeprazole. She might need surgery one day but we have to wait and see.

You can contact Stone Lion surgery in Wimbledon to ask about how to arrange and pay for a second opinion -- Clare used to do these if the scan was mailed over. Try her website for contact details. There was info on second opinions there as well, not sure if it is still there but best to contact Clare directly.

I am not so sure of your vet's diagnosis. While it is true that a narrow syrinx tends to be less likely to cause pain, any syrinx can cause pain and problems. But disk problems are common in the breed and if the scan showed a disk problem that is probably the primary or the full source of pain. The pain from something like a disk could exacerbate any underlying SM pain. You will probably want to start treating the SM with a CSF inhibitor at least, to slow progression if possible, so I'd want a neurology consultation anyway and do think you are on the right track -- hence you may want to actually go see Clare rather than just email a scan, as you now have a definite CM/SM diagnosis anyway and a vet isn't really the best person to assess what is actually happening and how to treat.

Sorry to hear you are dealing with these issues Sabby, it is overwhelming to start with and hard to get it organised in your head.

I suspect that the CM/SM may be "just" incidental findings to the disk injury, and you may not have seen any symptoms without this happening. However, it would be good to get her on to something like Cimetidine [ZItac] to hopefully prevent progression.

In your situation I would be inclined to book a consultation with Clare - most vets have very limited experience in diagnosing and treating SM.

Poor Ebony is not going to be happy with an extended period of crate rest, but I'm sure you will find ways to keep her occupied - the Nina Ottosson toys might be good for when you are about for stimulation.

We're thinking of you :flwr::flwr:

Oliver was diagnosed with spondylosis (osteoarthritis of the spine affecting 3 vertebrae - bang above his syrinx!) only a couple of months before his syrinx was diagnosed, which rather complicated things. After crate rest, the spondylosis seems to cause no problems at all; I just keep an eye on him when he jumps or squeezes under a stile or similar. It's worth being really tough (as I'm sure you will be) about the crate rest, however wistful and bored they look! If you'd like to borrow our buggy, let me know - I found it very useful when Oliver started to have short periods of exercise after the crate rest, as I could push him to the park in it and then let him enjoy the grass, or take him on outings with Aled; and you're near enough to come over and fetch it.

Kate, Oliver and Aled

Thank you so much Kate. The buggy would be fantastic. I will pm you.

I am just glad we have changed our car recently. We got a Berlingo now and we have taken the back seats out. I have an Xlarge cage in there and also a locked tailgate. At least I can still take her with us when we go somewhere and she can have a toilet break and then back in the cage. I normally leave the side sliding doors open so she can watch what we are doing. I done that when she had her Patella operation and she loved it.

Sabby I am so sorry. If you decide to go to Wimbledon and you need help with transport or anything else, please let me know.

Now I am reading this post about Ebony, I am sorry she has a dengenerative disk and that the scan showed she as CM/SM, thinking of you both and I hope she recovers from her disk trouble. :flwr:

Sending speedy recovery for disk problem

The buggy sound like a great idea....people here are so generous to offer to share and help.

Sorry to hear this. I have no medical advice to give, just wanted you to konw I thinking of you and Ebony.