Karlin
17th October 2005, 12:01 PM
I am working with a rescue in Cork to help home a petite little blenheim girl. It turns out she was found wandering in a shopping centre, in obvious pain, head down, very thin, with weak hind legs.
She was brought to the vet who said he believed she had been hit by a car. She now has a slight head tilt, and the leg weakness continued for a bit but has now vanished. By all accounts she is an outgoing, adorable girl, very affectionate. She sleeps more than usual, her foster home says.
Now: she could indeed have been the victim of a road traffic acccident, which would account for all these behaviours. She could have sustained some slight brain damage which causes her head to tilt (I had a cat that had similar problems after a road traffic accident).
Alternatively she may be showing early signs of syringomyelia (for more info: http://sm.cavaliertalk.com ), in which case she likely has a more severe form of this condition and it may progress quickly or not; it might stay just as she is now and she might have a full life with no need for intervention. Whatever the case, accident or not, she might lead a perfectly normal life or she might have a shortened life.
I feel that if she has SM or has been slightly brain damaged, she is worthy of as much happy time as she can have, in a loving home. However the adopting family would need to realise the uncertainty of her condition. I can give lots of support if she has SM -- there are some medical and surgical options.
So she needs a special home that is aware that she may face some challenges -- or she may never have any further problems.
I am seeing if I can get a picture of her; I've been told her first foster family who have a cavalier said she is really small compared to theirs.
If you are interested please PM me for further information or post here.
She was brought to the vet who said he believed she had been hit by a car. She now has a slight head tilt, and the leg weakness continued for a bit but has now vanished. By all accounts she is an outgoing, adorable girl, very affectionate. She sleeps more than usual, her foster home says.
Now: she could indeed have been the victim of a road traffic acccident, which would account for all these behaviours. She could have sustained some slight brain damage which causes her head to tilt (I had a cat that had similar problems after a road traffic accident).
Alternatively she may be showing early signs of syringomyelia (for more info: http://sm.cavaliertalk.com ), in which case she likely has a more severe form of this condition and it may progress quickly or not; it might stay just as she is now and she might have a full life with no need for intervention. Whatever the case, accident or not, she might lead a perfectly normal life or she might have a shortened life.
I feel that if she has SM or has been slightly brain damaged, she is worthy of as much happy time as she can have, in a loving home. However the adopting family would need to realise the uncertainty of her condition. I can give lots of support if she has SM -- there are some medical and surgical options.
So she needs a special home that is aware that she may face some challenges -- or she may never have any further problems.
I am seeing if I can get a picture of her; I've been told her first foster family who have a cavalier said she is really small compared to theirs.
If you are interested please PM me for further information or post here.