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Charlie yelping

N

nicola

Well-known member
I have noticed over the past year or so that our ruby, Charlie, who is 2, yelps when he is picked up. He has no other signs of SM that I have observed and its not really when you touch him in a certain place that I can determine. It does happen when he is picked up, we have to be very very gentle and careful otherwise he yelps! If not picked up he does not seem in pain or distressed in any way and is a very happy, active little guy. Does this sound like possible SM?
 
nicola said:
I have noticed over the past year or so that our ruby, Charlie, who is 2, yelps when he is picked up. He has no other signs of SM that I have observed and its not really when you touch him in a certain place that I can determine. It does happen when he is picked up, we have to be very very gentle and careful otherwise he yelps! If not picked up he does not seem in pain or distressed in any way and is a very happy, active little guy. Does this sound like possible SM?
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I am sorry that you have this worry, but I think you have realised that if he yelps something must be hurting.

Yelping when picked up is a common symptom of SM, but there could be other reasons that would make him cry out. A physical examination by your vet may show up a joint or back problem.
 
OMG, do you really think he could have SM? Like I said, the only time he does this is from time to time when he is picked up. To be honest he has been doing it since he was a pup. I took him to the vet and he couldn't find anything wrong with him. He shows no other signs of SM. If we pick him up with one hand under his bottom he doesn't do it. He has NEVER done it any other time, even when we pet and stroke him or rub his back/neck. Oh dear, now I am getting very worried. The thing is our vet here in N.IReland does not seem to have much knowledge of SM. Can I ask about whether most pet insurance policies cover scans and treatment for SM? I will have to get our policy out and see but could anyone advise in the meantime about coverage from pet insurance?
 
nicola said:
OMG, do you really think he could have SM? Like I said, the only time he does this is from time to time when he is picked up. To be honest he has been doing it since he was a pup. I took him to the vet and he couldn't find anything wrong with him. He shows no other signs of SM. If we pick him up with one hand under his bottom he doesn't do it. He has NEVER done it any other time, even when we pet and stroke him or rub his back/neck. Oh dear, now I am getting very worried. The thing is our vet here in N.IReland does not seem to have much knowledge of SM. Can I ask about whether most pet insurance policies cover scans and treatment for SM? I will have to get our policy out and see but could anyone advise in the meantime about coverage from pet insurance?
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As I said there could be other explanations. If you have picked him up without supporting him properly, that may have put strain on parts on his body & caused him to yelp.

I did not wish to worry you, but you did ask the question, so it must be on your mind.

If the yelps are only occasional and can be avoided with careful handling, and your little boy is active and happy, then perhaps all you need to do is just monitor him.

It is wise for anyone with a cavalier to check they have good insurance cover.
 
I do not want to worry you, but my Blondie did the same thing for 3 years until she got diagnosed. She yelped when picked up (not always but lets say once out of 3 time) and it was absolutely the only symptom.
The vet noticed it one day, when I went in for a vaciine, and mentioned SM. (props to that vet, who just graduated vet school!!!) I read up on it and thought "she doesnt have any of the symptoms" so I kinda ignored it :bang: but I did remember the symptoms as I watched video's of dogs with SM.
And 2 years later.. the dreaded "other" symptoms started to show.
I cried for two straight days as I knew in my heart what the truth was, joined this forum (thank god) and scheduled an MRI immediately.
Now, as so wisely said in the post before, it could very well be something else. (maybe another back problem or a muscle problem..) so no need to panick.
But if she yelps, something bothers her.
Also, if it is due to SM, it doesn't mean other symptoms will necessarily pop up, or that it will progress. But as it is very, very common, I would defintely read up on SM and keep an eye out for any symptoms. (y) Also, as Margaret said, please do get insurance coverage! I only wish I had thought of it... Now when the time comes for BLondie to have her surgery, I will be paying off my credit card for a very long time.... I got insurance AFTER the fact! ( with all the costs for SM adding up, I can't imagine what I would do with a large emergency vet bill or cancer treatment or xtra surgery etc down the road )
 
Thankyou both very much. I appreciate your kind yet honest responses and I am going to swot up on SM so I can keep an eye out for other possible signs. I will definately be looking into my insurance. I believe it is a life coverage policy with Petplan. What I am actually wondering about is if once your dog has been diagnosed with something like SM can the insurers put the policy premium up when it comes time for renewal? If so then doesn't it kind of defeat the purpose of having insurance in the first place if they can jack up the policy premium at the first signs of any ongoing condition? Are there any policies that you can avoid having the policy premiums increased on renewal if a condition is diagnosed? Anyone have any recommendations or advice about insurance as this has really made me think about the type of coverage I have and might need? Thankyou all.
 
You're welcome!!!
Just make sure your plan covers conditions that are common in the breed. Other then that, I'm afraid I do not know much about premiums..
Just monitor her carefully, and when the time comes you'd like peace of mind, schedule an MRI. As a matter of fact, since you have insurance, that may not be a bad idea at all. ;)
 
Thanks again:flwr: Does anyone know if there are any reputable neurologists who do full MRI scans in Ireland?
 
It would be wise to post that in a seperate thread! U will get your answers that way as their are people on this board who know!
 
I would like to say ella never yelped but like margaret said their must be some pain. It could be something else maybe another issue like disc issue maybe? Not sure if that is the right thing but the point is there maybe something else causing this. unfortunately without having an mri or talking to a specialist you can not know for sure.

Actually petplan does cover inherited conditions. I unfortunately had VPI, but petplan helped pay for mri and even surgery

I hope that you find relief and answers but do think you should get this checked out.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
It may be something as simple as that when you pick him up without supporting his bottom, you are digging your fingers into his ribs! My Aled doesn't like having his collar grabbed (as you have to sometimes!) and yelps - but he has done this as long as I have had him from the puppy farm and may be a memory of rough handling there. When MRI'd at 2 years old (Oliver - who does have SM - was having his second mini-scan, so I got Aled scanned at the same time) he showed no signs at all of SM - no syrinx, no herniation, just mildly dilated ventricles. We all get paranoid about SM, but there are lots of other causes of yelping - Cavaliers can get disk problems or spondylosis (osteoarthritis of the spine). So yes, keep SM in mind, but don't treat it as the only cause of problems in Cavaliers. But insurance is always a good idea for Cavalier owners (or any other dog owners for that matter - even the supposedly healthier mongrels can get run over, fall down cliffs, be attacked by Staffies or catch parvo!).

Kate, Oliver and Aled
 
Hi Nicola,
You would have to go to your vet and they would arrange a scan for you.The vet college in Dublin would do it and there's mobile scanners covering certain veterinary centres North and south of the border.
Petplan are interesting.There are situations where they will increase the premium after a claim.But as the scan is the biggest cost,you would manage the rest of the treatment when compared with insurance costs.
Hopefully your cavalier is just unhappy at being picked up and there's nothing causing discomfort.
Sins
 
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