*Pauline*
Well-known member
Excuse my rambling but I want to get this all off my chest. I ran out of food this morning for Dylan so I thought we'd take a walk to the pet shop to get some Chappie. I mentioned in another thread that I was very worried Dylan was air scratching while walking on his harness. I hadn't seen another dog do this before I saw the preview to the documentary shown last night.
I thought Dylan only scratched for a minute at the beginning of his walk. Wellhe scratched all the way to the vets, which I pass going to the pet shop. So I pop into the vets, very upset and holding back the tears and by some fluke, the best vet who is usually fully booked was free in an hour. We continue to the pet shop, I tell the poor lady in the pet shop the whole story. Then we went to the bank, still scratching all the time. We go to the park, still on his lead, the scratching stops. We go back to the vet as an hour has passed.
Well she saw the documentary and had lots to say about it and she told me how breeders bring their dogs in for operation after operation (not Cavaliers) and how bad the Kennel Club is etc. She expects to see many Cavaliers this week. Cavaliers are the top dog in our town, we see many of them. She checked his ears of course and they are inflamed, not infected though. She said we have to rule out everything else first. So we have drops. Funny thing was, he hasn't been scratching his ears. As I'd been to the pet shop and had his food with me, she got a book out and when through all the ingredients and quantities. She said Chappie used to be rubbish but it looks great now.
Here's the important part if you don't want to read all my rambling, read this! She told me once we rule out all other causes, she can refer him to the college hospital (I think that's what she called it) about 45 minutes from me as they are doing research and, if he qualifies, he will have an MRI for free. I think, not sure, she said treatment is free too. I was worried she wouldn't know much about SM like some vets but it was like she knew I was coming.
So he is on drops now and we go back in a week. But I know his air scratching is an SM sign, as he only does this on the lead.
Thanks everyone who supported me yesterday when I was worried as I know we are all upset at the moment.
I thought Dylan only scratched for a minute at the beginning of his walk. Wellhe scratched all the way to the vets, which I pass going to the pet shop. So I pop into the vets, very upset and holding back the tears and by some fluke, the best vet who is usually fully booked was free in an hour. We continue to the pet shop, I tell the poor lady in the pet shop the whole story. Then we went to the bank, still scratching all the time. We go to the park, still on his lead, the scratching stops. We go back to the vet as an hour has passed.
Well she saw the documentary and had lots to say about it and she told me how breeders bring their dogs in for operation after operation (not Cavaliers) and how bad the Kennel Club is etc. She expects to see many Cavaliers this week. Cavaliers are the top dog in our town, we see many of them. She checked his ears of course and they are inflamed, not infected though. She said we have to rule out everything else first. So we have drops. Funny thing was, he hasn't been scratching his ears. As I'd been to the pet shop and had his food with me, she got a book out and when through all the ingredients and quantities. She said Chappie used to be rubbish but it looks great now.
Here's the important part if you don't want to read all my rambling, read this! She told me once we rule out all other causes, she can refer him to the college hospital (I think that's what she called it) about 45 minutes from me as they are doing research and, if he qualifies, he will have an MRI for free. I think, not sure, she said treatment is free too. I was worried she wouldn't know much about SM like some vets but it was like she knew I was coming.
So he is on drops now and we go back in a week. But I know his air scratching is an SM sign, as he only does this on the lead.
Thanks everyone who supported me yesterday when I was worried as I know we are all upset at the moment.