Claire Rusbridge or Newmarket ?

I need a little bit of advice about where to go to see a Neurologist. I always said I would want to see Claire Rusbridge if any of my dogs had SM as I think she be the best in getting the medicine right. My only concern is that she won’t like to take someone else’s scan (also found out they only scanned half of the spine) and I am definitely not putting Harley through another anaesthetic. Also as she is so busy when you have problems with your medication how accessible is she meaning how hard is it to get to talk to her? I know there are people on the forum that have been to see her.

My other choice is Animal Health Trust in Newmarket. I don’t really know anything about them. Kate was saying that they have specialist researchers in SM. Has anybody had been there. I just want to get the medicine right.

Hi Sabby

Probaly the best person to answer you questions would be Tania ,will send a pm over now.

Hi Sabby

Firstly I have no experience of Newmarket

But I do see Clare with both of my little ones and have found her to be really great. She will take scans and read them I don't know if there is an extra fee. And it is also fairly quick to get an appointment there as well- I've never had an issue on that front.

She is only an Email away at any time or a phone call and is always on hand to advise with Meds etc.

I'll give you an example: one morning a while back I acidentally overdosed Charlie with Pregabalin, I think I posted about it too- but any way he managed to ingest 100mg of the stuff and I panicked about it (being that he is only small and doesn't normally have it at all)

Anyway with in 2 minutes I was on the phone to her getting the reassurance I needed!

Karen and Ruby said:

Hi Sabby

Firstly I have no experience of Newmarket

But I do see Clare with both of my little ones and have found her to be really great. She will take scans and read them I don't know if there is an extra fee. And it is also fairly quick to get an appointment there as well- I've never had an issue on that front.

She is only an Email away at any time or a phone call and is always on hand to advise with Meds etc.

I'll give you an example: one morning a while back I acidentally overdosed Charlie with Pregabalin, I think I posted about it too- but any way he managed to ingest 100mg of the stuff and I panicked about it (being that he is only small and doesn't normally have it at all)

Anyway with in 2 minutes I was on the phone to her getting the reassurance I needed!

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Karen

Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better. I remember you writing about the above. And thats what would worry me that someone is on hand when you need it to give advice. I just know she is so busy.

Sabby,

Minnie is under Clare's care. When we had a really bad episode last year I emailed Clare and got a reply on what to do very quickly. Also after our first consultation she had written extensively to my vet with a treatment plan and options, so when it was decided to put Minnie onto pregabalin from gabapentin it just meant a phone call to my vet to get the prescription written up. So now I just tell my vet what I need and he prescribes it. He is also seeing Minnie on a 6 monthly basis for her blood tests and he gets the results sent to Clare so that she can keep them on Minnie's record. So if you do see Clare initially, she works in very close contact with your own vet.

Minnie is now on pregabalin (lyrica), cimetidine (Zitac) and Trocoxil, and is now just as active and outgoing as she always was.

Molly was not scanned at Wimbledon. Clare Rusbridge was happy to accept a scan done elsewhere. I also know of other dogs who are now under the care of Clare Rusbridge presented to her under the same circumstances. I changed my specialist to Clare Rusbridge and I do not have any regrets. In my opinion you will not find anyone better.

I know we all want the best possible care for our dogs, but I'm a little concerned about everybody ending up with Clare (not because I have anything against her !!!). The only time I have emailed her (not about Oliver's treatment, about a more general query), her answer was sent at 10 o'clock at night - after a day spent treating patients, giving a second opinion on scans from all over the world, and the hundreds of other things she has to do (not least her own research and writing). With more and more Cavaliers being diagnosed with SM, Clare will eventually reach her human limits if everybody wants her help and opinion. She always seems very willing to help, but she still only has 24 hours in a day. As you can see from her research reports and articles, she works closely with several other neurologists, who are just as able to treat SM and - in my experience - just as willing to help by phone or email. And can always consult Clare if they need to. Which neurologist you choose is obviously your choice; I just get a little worried that we might end up 'killing the goose that lays the golden eggs'.

Kate, Oliver and Aled