Many of you will have read about this research in the SM forum here.
I have added a post there on Rod's original post, but want to also cross post it here, because we now have some blog posts explaining more about that research and the cavalier tissue collection scheme set up by Margaret, which I am delighted to say, provided all the data for the paper. This is the post:
I would like to give a special thanks here to Margaret Carter, because the research behind this paper was made possible entirely by the Cavalier Collection scheme that she started, to collect the donated bodies of our cavaliers that have passed away. This scheme enables their tissues to help a number of different research projects.
This research paper is the first to result directly from her collection project. I think it is wonderful to see such work and to understand so clearly that the donation of a cavalier, while it can be very difficult to do at a difficult time, can bring such insight. I know that for me, it really reinforced the consolation I have felt after Lucy's death in donating her to this scheme. I have her ashes back now and her little box sits on the shelf next to that of my cat Quincy, where they can both watch over everybody when we are relaxing together in the sitting room.
Margaret has made a wonderful blog post that explains how this scheme came about and how it connects to this research, here:
http://www.cavaliertalk.com/forums/......how-volunteered-pets-are-helping-the-breed.
I hope others might be encouraged to consider a donation–either of their own cavalier, when the time comes, or of the cash donation to this research. We can take donations for the collection scheme through Rupert's Fund–just indicate that you wish it to go to the collection scheme:
http://www.rupertsfund.com/Donating.html
You can read more about this actual research and what it means on Clare Rusbridge's blog, here:
http://clarerusbridge-news.blogspot.com/2011/09/histopathological-investigation-of.html
Clare noted in an e-mail that the findings may also lead to a consideration of new pain treatments, because some of the findings regarding the difference of the spinal cords in dogs with SM and dogs without SM indicate that some new avenues might be tried. So, in so many ways, this research paper has produced really valuable information that will bring new insight into how SM develops, what is actually altered and damaged inside the dogs, and potentially, perhaps some new ways of addressing the pain of affected dogs.
I have added a post there on Rod's original post, but want to also cross post it here, because we now have some blog posts explaining more about that research and the cavalier tissue collection scheme set up by Margaret, which I am delighted to say, provided all the data for the paper. This is the post:
I would like to give a special thanks here to Margaret Carter, because the research behind this paper was made possible entirely by the Cavalier Collection scheme that she started, to collect the donated bodies of our cavaliers that have passed away. This scheme enables their tissues to help a number of different research projects.
This research paper is the first to result directly from her collection project. I think it is wonderful to see such work and to understand so clearly that the donation of a cavalier, while it can be very difficult to do at a difficult time, can bring such insight. I know that for me, it really reinforced the consolation I have felt after Lucy's death in donating her to this scheme. I have her ashes back now and her little box sits on the shelf next to that of my cat Quincy, where they can both watch over everybody when we are relaxing together in the sitting room.
Margaret has made a wonderful blog post that explains how this scheme came about and how it connects to this research, here:
http://www.cavaliertalk.com/forums/......how-volunteered-pets-are-helping-the-breed.
I hope others might be encouraged to consider a donation–either of their own cavalier, when the time comes, or of the cash donation to this research. We can take donations for the collection scheme through Rupert's Fund–just indicate that you wish it to go to the collection scheme:
http://www.rupertsfund.com/Donating.html
You can read more about this actual research and what it means on Clare Rusbridge's blog, here:
http://clarerusbridge-news.blogspot.com/2011/09/histopathological-investigation-of.html
Clare noted in an e-mail that the findings may also lead to a consideration of new pain treatments, because some of the findings regarding the difference of the spinal cords in dogs with SM and dogs without SM indicate that some new avenues might be tried. So, in so many ways, this research paper has produced really valuable information that will bring new insight into how SM develops, what is actually altered and damaged inside the dogs, and potentially, perhaps some new ways of addressing the pain of affected dogs.