Updated treatment sheet for CM/SM

[Karlin]

Dr Clare Rusbridge has released an updated version of her suggested treatment approaches for syringomyelia. You can download it here:

http://sm.cavaliertalk.com/treatment2008.pdf

Feel free to give this link to vets or download and print out a copy of the new version.

[*Pauline*]

Thanks Karlin. Seems the first course of action is a CSF pressure reducing drug. Maybe I should ask for one for Dylan.

[Karlin]

It might be good for him to be on one of them -- they are pretty safe. I think of it as something that at least helps a bit, even if there's no obvious direct relief. Geoff Skerritt tends to start them on frusemide but as that is a diuretic I prefer cimetidine or omeprazole. I have Leo on omeprazole but Lily can't tolerate it so she is on cimetidine. The main change to this version of the treatment diagram is adding in the other CSF inhibitors, I think.

[Cathy Moon]

The main change I noticed was adding Amantadine, which Charlie was taking.

[Karlin]

Yes I noticed that was there and a couple of other things that are named specifically -- that is very useful to know the other possible drug names.

[Cathy Moon]

The Amantadine is quite expensive; it was in a flavored liquid form from the compounding pharmacist for Charlie. I think it's used to treat Parkinson's disease in humans.