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Minnie and Jemima Harrison's Blog Spot

Sandrac

Sandrac

Well-known member
I met Jemima (Pedigree Dogs Exposed) at Discover Dogs in November and she saw a photograph which had been taken of Minnie doing Agility.

Jemima has used this photo in her blog (together with a link to Tania's fantastic Cavalier Matters web site) to highlight the problems in the cavalier breed and ends with the question:

"Anyone know any more about this, or exactly why some of the cavalier clubs are questioning the validity of the new SM screening scheme?"


http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot....p-too-far.html
 
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MINNIE and JEMIMA HARRISON'S BLOG SPOT

Sandrac said:
I met Jemima (Pedigree Dogs Exposed) at Discover Dogs in November and she saw a photograph which had been taken of Minnie doing Agility.

Jemima has used this photo in her blog (together with a link to Tania's fantastic Cavalier Matters web site) to highlight the problems in the cavalier breed and ends with the question:

"Anyone know any more about this, or exactly why some of the cavalier clubs are questioning the validity of the new SM screening scheme?"

http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com/
Click to expand...

MINNIE and JEMIMA HARRISON'S BLOG SPOT


Sandrac, can I thank you for bring Jemima Harrison's Blog to our Notice where she has mentioned Minnie and the Health Problems Afflcting our Cavaliers ,SM and MVD.

That some Cavalier Clubs are sadly not Endorsing the New KC/BVA SM SCreening Program,but as Jemima Harrison's Blog Mentions ,maybe this is not surprising when some Top Cavalier Breeders continue to use Under Age Cavaliers for Breeding from.

The Breeding Guideline Recommendations are mentioned in her Blog.

Also the Mention of a High Profile Cavalier Breeder who has used a Cavalier Stud 9 times before 1 year of age .

She would like more information about this, also why some of the Cavalier Clubs are Questioning the Validity of the SM Screening Scheme.

This Blog from Jemima Harrison makes very interesting Reading .

Bet
 
Well done Sandra - so sad that Minnie suffers with SM, but it's great that you are helping to raise awareness by contributing to Jemima's blog.


IMHO I am wary of affected dogs doing too much high excitement activity - it is hard to get a balance, they need to have a good quality of life but not if that is going to aggravate their condition.

Just something to be aware of....


I am going to put Jemima and the author of the Two little Cavaliers blog http://www.twolittlecavaliers.blogspot.com/ in touch, as they are both looking for more information about SM - the Two Little Cavaliers lady is devoting a week to SM and is looking for help

I have decided to tackle Syringomyelia (SM/CM) one of the most devastating diseases to the Cavalier breed. Syringomyelia (SM) is an extremely serious condition in which fluid-filled cavities develop within the spinal cord near the brain. It is also known as "neck scratcher's disease", because one of its common signs is scratching in the air near the neck. While the Cavalier is the breed most effected (or maybe its just that we admit it and testing has begun) other small breeds are effected as well.

The event will take place January 23 - 30th and I will be posting all the information I can get my hands on in order to help spread awareness. As a Blogger it is my responsibility tp make people aware of what is going on. Genetic diseases are something that no one wants to take on so I will but I need help. That is where you all come in. I am looking for:
  • Breeders who are currently doing MRI testing that would like to write a Guest Post
  • Owners who have dogs affected by the disease no matter what breed they are who would like to share their dog's story
  • Veterinarians (neurologists mainly)
  • Bloggers who would like to cross post the event on their blog to help spread awareness even further

If you would like to participate please email us [email protected] and let us know how you would like to help.

Our February Awareness event will be Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) quite fitting for the month of February.
 
Hello Sandra,

It is a lovely photo of Minnie.
It is hard to believe what she has gone through, bless her.

I know that some cavalier owners think that cavalier club politics have nothing to do with them as they are "just pet owners" but this PDE blog quite rightly links how the decisions of the clubs, and the actions of those that run breed clubs, will continue to influence the health of cavaliers.

If you have a SM or MVD affected dog ( or even if you don't ) please get involved. Have your say by leaving a comment on Jemima's blog or by joining in the FaceBook awareness events that is being planned for later this month.

There are some really caring breeders out there, but unfortunately they keep their heads down and allow the more unpleasant commercial breeders to be their mouthpiece.
The problem is, of course, that while uncaring breeders are those that have the ear of the Kennel Club, and they can continue to delay progress, then the health issues in the puppies that pet owners buy will continue to multiply.

While the "responsible club breeders" will not even breed according to their own club guidelines then how can the KC be expected to start tightening up on other breeders?

I actually blogged about the secrecy surrounding the decision by some regional clubs to reject the official scanning scheme a few weeks ago..........

http://www.cavaliertalk.com/forums/entry.php?153-Is-the-BVA-KC-MRI-Scheme-an-Official-Secret


*Footnote.......... There has been a couple more blogs added since Jemima wrote about Minnie, so go into http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot.com/ & then scroll down until you come to the lovely photo of a little cavalier flying over an agility jump.
 
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Minnie and jemima harrison's blog spot.

Sandrac said:
I met Jemima (Pedigree Dogs Exposed) at Discover Dogs in November and she saw a photograph which had been taken of Minnie doing Agility.

Jemima has used this photo in her blog (together with a link to Tania's fantastic Cavalier Matters web site) to highlight the problems in the cavalier breed and ends with the question:

"Anyone know any more about this, or exactly why some of the cavalier clubs are questioning the validity of the new SM screening scheme?"


http://pedigreedogsexposed.blogspot....p-too-far.html
Click to expand...

MINNIE AND JEMIMA HARRISON'S BLOG SPOT.

Just read the Following Comment from the Breeder of Minnie,

He wonders if infact SM is the Terrible Painful Disease that some would want us to Believe.

This person is a Regional CKCS CLUB HEALTH REP, also a Member of the UK CKCS CLUB COMMITTEE..

Bet
 
Bet said:
MINNIE AND JEMIMA HARRISON'S BLOG SPOT.

Just read the Following Comment from the Breeder of Minnie,

He wonders if infact SM is the Terrible Painful Disease that some would want us to Believe.

This person is a Regional CKCS CLUB HEALTH REP, also a Member of the UK CKCS CLUB COMMITTEE..

Bet
Click to expand...

You are wrong about this breeder being on the UK Club committee. He is, as you say, a regional club health representative and a committee member for the same regional club.

He is the health representative who registered three litters in the last Kennel Club Supplement, all of them sired by his own underage dogs.
It is because of people like him that all attempts to save this breed will fail.
 
I've talked to neurologists on the issue of cavaliers with SM being active and a spinal health issue is not the same as say a leg injury. The spine actually tends to maintain itself or even improve through keeping exercised -- this includes spines with syrinxes, but I'd guess it would depend on the activity. Activity also produces the seratonins that create a good feeling and can help pain naturally. I know many of us with SM dogs have noted that they actually seem to be more able and symptom free when out running and doing activities than when sitting inside on a sofa (and spine specialists do say the worst thing that can be done is to sit and do nothing). I can't imagine forcing my SM dogs to sit about doing nothing -- pain meds allow a relatively normal life and have for over half a decade for one of my SM dogs. He has not suffered any great increase in his syrinx over that time (MRId at 1 and at nearly 6).

I also think that as Nicki says there's a balance -- you want a dog to stay as active as suits and and enjoy life, not be locked away but also, not overstressed or over exercised. Pain meds are used by millions of people all the time -- including athletes, dancers and labourers -- to enable them to do work or pleasurable activity that is not necessarily worsening an underlying painful condition, simply eliminating nerve pain. As long as a neurologist -- who after all has scanned and assessed the dog -- says activity is fine, and may be what actually most gives meaning and joy in the dog's life, then follow the doctor's informed suggestions for activity levels. But I'd avoid excessive activity.

It is definitely known that bearing down and straining can cause people and dogs with SM a lot of pain - even so severe as to cause blackouts in people, for example. There is good evidence that SM dogs can be in enormous pain having litters of puppies. So surely, for the breeders concerned about activity, they really should once again be focused on scanning their own dogs to make sure they are not putting them through a potentially extra painful birth process that could worsen the dog's perhaps un-spotted SM? And of course, so that they aren't breeding as blindly as puppy farmers regarding health issues.
 
This is what the Mayo Clinic site says for human SM -- not necessarily a direct relationship, but note exercise is actually considered helpful for the condition; it is generally high impact sports that are considered a problem. I wouldn't think moderate agility would come close to being a high impact sport, nor would running or playing.

Avoid activities that may make symptoms worse
If you've been diagnosed with syringomyelia, avoid any activity that involves lifting, straining, or putting excessive force on your spine. These activities include, among others:

Playing high-impact sports, such as football and rugby
Riding roller coasters
Skydiving
Straining during a bowel movement
Excessive coughing (talk to your doctor about treatment if coughing persists)
Lifting anything that weighs more than 15 pounds

Consider physical therapy
If syringomyelia causes ongoing neurological problems that decrease your mobility and activity — such as muscle weakness, pain, fatigue or stiffness — a physical therapist may be able to create an exercise program for you that can help reduce these symptoms. Talk to your doctor about physical therapists in your area who have expertise in neurological conditions.
Click to expand...
 
Margaret C said:
I know that some cavalier owners think that cavalier club politics have nothing to do with them as they are "just pet owners" but this PDE blog quite rightly links how the decisions of the clubs, and the actions of those that run breed clubs, will continue to influence the health of cavaliers.

If you have a SM or MVD affected dog ( or even if you don't ) please get involved. Have your say by leaving a comment on Jemima's blog or by joining in the FaceBook awareness events that is being planned for later this month.

There are some really caring breeders out there, but unfortunately they keep their heads down and allow the more unpleasant commercial breeders to be their mouthpiece.
The problem is, of course, that while uncaring breeders are those that have the ear of the Kennel Club, and they can continue to delay progress, then the health issues in the puppies that pet owners buy will continue to multiply.
Click to expand...

I can't speak for the kennel club or the national clubs but I know the clubs are not just for show. There are dedicated breeders that I gladly support and got an email today from one regional club that actually has been in touch and been working hard to get the owner of animalscan to agree to lower costs of MRI for breeders.

It is exciting to see these things and I think these things should be proud of. The ones who are standing up and putting health first are so important

I find it interesting how the comments against are always anonymous


Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
Thank you SO much for posting that Karlin, it's really helpful - I've not seen it before. Definitely very useful for helping manage the condition.
 
Minnie and jemima harrison's blog spot

Margaret C said:
You are wrong about this breeder being on the UK Club committee. He is, as you say, a regional club health representative and a committee member for the same regional club.

He is the health representative who registered three litters in the last Kennel Club Supplment, all of them sired by his own underage dogs.
It is because of people like him that all attempts to save this breed will fail.
Click to expand...

MINNIE AND JEMIMA HARRISON 'S BLOG SPOT.


Sorry about my Mistake ,but what chance has the Cavalier Breed got of having a Future when some-body like this is a Health Representative ,I would have thought a Health Representative would have had to Show a better example and be following the Breeding Guideline Recommendations.

I really think that we who are trying to help the Cavaliers with their SM and MVD Problems , are Banging our Heads our Heads against a Brick Wall.

There will never be a change in the Attitudes of some Cavalier Breeders who hold Influential Positions in the Cavalier Breed.

We may as well stop trying and let the Cavaliers become an Extinct Breed ,as what will surely happen if what is happening here in Britain to-day amongst some Cavalier Breeders.

No they are not Cavalier Puppy Farmers.

What a Start this has been for 2011 for our Beloved Cavaliers , I really thought things would improve ,but the Bitter Bickering is Still Happening amongst some Cavalier Breeders .

It has been brought Home to Me, that some Cavalier Breeders have NO INTENTION of ever Changing their Views.

NEVER IN A MONTH OF SUNDAYS WILL THEY AGREE TO THE KC/BVA SCHEME of Cavaliers being MRI'd ,they will look for every Excuse under the Sun to Stop this Happening .

Bet
 
Karlin said:
I've talked to neurologists on the issue of cavaliers with SM being active and a spinal health issue is not the same as say a leg injury. The spine actually tends to maintain itself or even improve through keeping exercised -- this includes spines with syrinxes, but I'd guess it would depend on the activity. Activity also produces the seratonins that create a good feeling and can help pain naturally. I know many of us with SM dogs have noted that they actually seem to be more able and symptom free when out running and doing activities than when sitting inside on a sofa (and spine specialists do say the worst thing that can be done is to sit and do nothing). I can't imagine forcing my SM dogs to sit about doing nothing -- pain meds allow a relatively normal life and have for over half a decade for one of my SM dogs. He has not suffered any great increase in his syrinx over that time (MRId at 1 and at nearly 6).

I also think that as Nicki says there's a balance -- you want a dog to stay as active as suits and and enjoy life, not be locked away but also, not overstressed or over exercised. Pain meds are used by millions of people all the time -- including athletes, dancers and labourers -- to enable them to do work or pleasurable activity that is not necessarily worsening an underlying painful condition, simply eliminating nerve pain. As long as a neurologist -- who after all has scanned and assessed the dog -- says activity is fine, and may be what actually most gives meaning and joy in the dog's life, then follow the doctor's informed suggestions for activity levels. But I'd avoid excessive activity.

It is definitely known that bearing down and straining can cause people and dogs with SM a lot of pain - even so severe as to cause blackouts in people, for example. There is good evidence that SM dogs can be in enormous pain having litters of puppies. So surely, for the breeders concerned about activity, they really should once again be focused on scanning their own dogs to make sure they are not putting them through a potentially extra painful birth process that could worsen the dog's perhaps un-spotted SM? And of course, so that they aren't breeding as blindly a puppy farmers regarding health issues.
Click to expand...


Karlin, Thankyou for putting it into perspective. :)

I have never done competitive agility with Minnie (nor would want to after seeing some of the things that go on at competitions). We do FUN agility for an hour on Sunday mornings weather permitting and all the participants are pet dog owners who do not wish to compete. The Dog Training School where we go also do a few displays of agility, heelwork to music and rally during the summer for charities etc. and it was at one of these last September that the photograph of Minnie was taken.

At no time would I ever do anything that might in anyway compromise Minnie's condition, or against the advice of any veterinary professional.
 
Sandrac said:
Karlin, Thankyou for putting it into perspective. :)

I have never done competitive agility with Minnie (nor would want to after seeing some of the things that go on at competitions). We do FUN agility for an hour on Sunday mornings weather permitting and all the participants are pet dog owners who do not wish to compete. The Dog Training School where we go also do a few displays of agility, heelwork to music and rally during the summer for charities etc. and it was at one of these last September that the photograph of Minnie was taken.

At no time would I ever do anything that might in anyway compromise Minnie's condition, or against the advice of any veterinary professional.
Click to expand...

Could it be maybe confused and misinterpreted when you said she won an agility competition? Esther
 
Hello Sandra

Having read all the comments about your beautiful Minnie and knowing your true love and devotion for Minnie we are all in no doubt that you would ever treat your beloved Cavalier with nothing but tender care and bucket loads of love .
We are also all now fully aware that the person making ... comments elsewhere is also a Regional CKCS CLUB HEALTH REP, also a Member of the UK CKCS CLUB COMMITTEE ,what hope is there when we have these people in prominent positions and others like him also being so critical but with no knowledge of the true facts ,so please Sandra you and Minnie continue having such fun within the limitations that you are fully aware of and which others are so obviously not .
Its another case of such people making such fools of themselves for all to see and this person who with such contempt is breaking the Breeding Guideline Recommendations and who registered three litters as in the last Kennel Club Supplement, all of them sired by his own underage dogs.
Thankfully I am only a humble pet owner who neither breeds nor shows .
 
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Brian M said:
We are also all now fully aware that the person making ...comments elsewhere is also a Regional CKCS CLUB HEALTH REP, also a Member of the UK CKCS CLUB COMMITTEE ...
Click to expand...

Brian I've edited your post as we do not allow personal attacks on people

Also please note he is NOT a member of the UK CKCS CLUB COMMITTEE, as Margaret pointed out above, he is however regional club health representative and a committee member for the same regional club.
 
Humbug

I have been following with great interest a discussion sparked off by Jemima's blog about Minnie.

There are some well thought out points being made by some of the decent caring owners that this breed so needs. Unfortunately they are not being answered.

I am so disgusted with the hypocrisy being displayed by some of the breeders posting on that discussion I decided I would just point out a few salient facts.......
And before the people concerned start issuing threats ( a favourite top breeder ploy ) I would like to remind them you cannot be sued when the facts are true.

Minnie's breeder wrote on the thread in question that some might query if "SM is the terrible painful disease that some would want us to believe."
Just to set the record straight he, like all the others posting negative comments about the blog, and later about the proposed BVA/KC scheme, know they have bred affected dogs over many years.

No shame for what was done unknowingly in the past, but what sort of person is it who now maintains ( falsely as it happens ) that he knows all about SM, and will then come out with a callous and dismissive remark like that. He needs to read a few of the stories here.

There is a lot of research information published about SM. Health representatives should really try and keep up with the studies.

Another negative poster, a past regional club chairman and ex-health representative, has in the past talked, although only on pet forums, about her eleven month old SM affected puppy that was diagnosed and operated on in 2001. The puppy's sire was her own well known stud dog.

She touchingly described this little dog as " the light of my life" and fortunately the shunt was successful, but she saw this puppy suffering pain so extreme that he needed surgery before he was a year old, so what sort of breeder is she to then send a post that suggests that SM is due to the trauma of exercise?

This was by no means the only affected puppy from her line. She has known for many years of other affected dogs she has bred.

I could also talk about the SM dogs bred by the regional chairman/ health representative who complains about the extra cost of the official scheme, but finds the money to go to nearly every far flung show.

If you want to see duplicity in action go and read the posts.
 
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I am still amazed..Tania had a great comment from the view of a pet owner

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
 
MINNIE and JEMIMA HARRISON'S BLOG SPOT

Margaret C said:
I have been following with great interest a discussion sparked off by Jemima's blog about Minnie.

There are some well thought out points being made by some of the decent caring owners that this breed so needs. Unfortunately they are not being answered.

I am so disgusted with the hypocrisy being displayed by some of the breeders posting on that discussion I decided I would just point out a few salient facts.......
And before the people concerned start issuing threats ( a favourite top breeder ploy ) I would like to remind them you cannot be sued when the facts are true.

Minnie's breeder wrote on the thread in question that some might query if "SM is the terrible painful disease that some would want us to believe."
Just to set the record straight he, like all the others posting negative comments about the blog, and later about the proposed BVA/KC scheme, know they have bred affected dogs over many years.

No shame for what was done unknowingly in the past, but what sort of person is it who now maintains ( falsely as it happens ) that he knows all about SM, and will then come out with a callous and dismissive remark like that. He needs to read a few of the stories here.

There is a lot of research information published about SM. Health representatives should really try and keep up with the studies.

Another negative poster, a past regional club chairman and ex-health representative, has in the past talked, although only on pet forums, about her eleven month old SM affected puppy that was diagnosed and operated on in 2001. The puppy's sire was her own well known stud dog.

She touchingly described this little dog as " the light of my life" and fortunately the shunt was successful, but she saw this puppy suffering pain so extreme that he needed surgery before he was a year old, so what sort of breeder is she to then send a post that suggests that SM is due to the trauma of exercise?

This was by no means the only affected puppy from her line. She has known for many years of other affected dogs she has bred.

I could also talk about the SM dogs bred by the regional chairman/ health representative who complains about the extra cost of the official scheme, but finds the money to go to nearly every far flung show.

If you want to see duplicity in action go and read the posts.
Click to expand...


MINNIE and JEMIMA HARRISON'SBLOG SPOT

Could the EX HEALTH REPRESENTATIVE be the same Person, who on a Cavalier Forum , made such Disparagining Remarks about the UK CKCS CLUB'S Cardiologist ,that I resigned from that Regional Club.

Bet
 
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