I took my youngest SM dog, Tommy, to the Royal Veterinary College on Tuesday, to see if he was suitable for their trial.
He was given a thorough examination by neurologist Kate Chandler, and, as I had suspected, was found to be not quite symptomatic enough for their pain trial ( On examination he had slight neck and back pain, but he does not show symptoms daily, yelps only occasionally, and has not limped for a few months )
Tommy thoroughly enjoyed his visit, as there were a lot of students watching ( at least they will know all about SM ) & they made a great fuss of him
I was sorry, in a way, that we could not take part in the development of a new pain drug for SM dogs, but so pleased that three years after Tommy's syrinx showed up on one of Geoff Skerritt's low cost MRIs, his SM is progressing so slowly & he does not have any significant neurological signs.
I have offered to take Matthew, my older dog, if they wish but said that I suspected he would also get a borderline score.
On the way out I met an old friend who had bought her little cavalier, who has not been scanned, but does shows SM symptoms on a daily basis, for assessment.
Hattie has regular gabapentin three times daily but her pain is not always controlled and she often has screaming fits in the early hours of the morning.
Hattie's score met the RVC criteria, & she stayed in for a MRI scan which confirmed she had a large syrinx in her neck.
Hattie will join the trial in the new year. My friend is desperately hoping that the new drug will prove to be successful.
Tommy received a Xmas card from the RVC clinical Investigation Team this morning with a bandana that says he " helped progress doggy medicine" I think he would have preferred something edible, but my Japanese Chin puppy thinks it is great fun
I would like to thank those that have already contacted the RVC and appeal to anyone with a cavalier that shows syringomyelia symptoms to consider volunteering.
If you know anyone with a cavalier with SM symptoms, please tell them about the trial.
It will cost them nothing, their dog may get a free MRI and they would be helping the dogs that are suffering now, and grim thought, those that are yet to show up with the symptoms.
Best wishes,
Margaret C