Spencer'sMom
Well-known member
Spencer was diagnosed with COMS or CM (Chiari-like malformation) today. He had his MRI on Feb. 5 and we met with the neurologist, Dr. McDonnell, this morning. After viewing the images and doing the neuro exam he said that Spencer shows early COMS but doesn’t have any evidence of syringomyelia at this time (I guess that’s good news). He said there is herniation of the cerebellum, a kink at the cerebellomedullary junction and mild hydrocephalous. Dr. McDonnell didn’t see any syrnixes on his spinal cord. He said the clinical signs are classic for COMS as well. I also brought two videos of Spencer’s scratching that I recently took. We talked about how sometimes the MRI and clinical signs do not correlate, which is what I think is going on given the intensity and frequency of his scratching.
We’re starting gabapentin tonight and I’m to call him in one month to let him know how he’s doing. He also wants us to come in for rechecks every three months unless we see any worsening of hic clinical signs- even more scratching, weakness in his back legs and/or a head tilt.
Like many others have said I’m relieved to know what’s going on but at the same time I’m heartbroken. He’s my little man and I just hate what’s going in his perfect little body. I really hope the gabapentin works. I do have a question on the dosage we were prescribed. Spencer’s to take 200mg twice a day. I searched the message board and it looks most pups who are on this take 100mg twice a day and on occasion three times a day. Does 200mg twice a day sound like too much?
Here is the scratching video (turn the sound down- it's really fuzzy) and two of the MRI images in case anyone is interested. I have 100+ more images- if you'd like to see any of them just let me know.
We’re starting gabapentin tonight and I’m to call him in one month to let him know how he’s doing. He also wants us to come in for rechecks every three months unless we see any worsening of hic clinical signs- even more scratching, weakness in his back legs and/or a head tilt.
Like many others have said I’m relieved to know what’s going on but at the same time I’m heartbroken. He’s my little man and I just hate what’s going in his perfect little body. I really hope the gabapentin works. I do have a question on the dosage we were prescribed. Spencer’s to take 200mg twice a day. I searched the message board and it looks most pups who are on this take 100mg twice a day and on occasion three times a day. Does 200mg twice a day sound like too much?
Here is the scratching video (turn the sound down- it's really fuzzy) and two of the MRI images in case anyone is interested. I have 100+ more images- if you'd like to see any of them just let me know.