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Vets that have knowledge on SM in the Solihull area?

Ziggy made it through the the MRI and he is now in recovery!
Very very sadly, he has got syringomyellia. This is gutting news (even though I already kenw he had it, it just seems much more real now we have a diagnosis :( ) for us and its really rather upsetting but the priority now is making him comfortable and hoping we can have him for atleast another few months. We havent been back yet to find out more information so things might not be as bad as we think. Il keep you all updated when we pick him up at 4.
 
I'm so sorry that your suspicions were confirmed, but please don't think that SM is a death sentence. In all probability, Ziggy should be able to live a long life with SM once you get his meds sorted out. Yes, there are some very severe cases of SM in which it is more humane to end a dogs suffering, but Ziggy doesn't see to in that category. I think he'll do just fine once you find the right meds and the right dosage for him. Remember, it can take awhile to figure out if the meds are working or if you need to change or up the dosage. You have to have patience and then relax and enjoy Ziggy. Don't look at him as if he's a sick dog. Easier said than done, I know. I treated Riley, my SM dog with kid gloves for a long time, always looking for a setback or symptoms and thinking no one else could take care of her as well as I could. Well, she's 11 years old now and is doing great. She doesn't know she has SM. She will never be normal but she compensates and just keeps on going. That's what you can hope for with Ziggy. That he lives as normal a life as he can, and you love him as best you can for a long time.
 
I could not agree more with what Bev has said. I also thought it was the end of the world when my 8 years old 'man of the house' became symptomatic, but here we are some 3 years later with a very well treated dog, who lives an almost normal life and is said to be in very good condition for a dog of his age. Rebel's optimum doseage is 200-300 mgs Gabapentin daily, more if required, plus Tagamet if needed, 20 mgs Frusemide and Loxicom once daily for his arthritic pain.

It all sounds very complex at first but it's very easy to estimate on a day to day basis, especially for a greedy Cavalier who thinks his pills are the extra sweeties that are reserved especially for him.

Just as Bev so rightly says 'he doesn't now he has SM' and neither will Ziggy :wggle:so just give out the pills and try not to worry, even if it takes a while to find the best drugs and doses for him.

What a relief it must be to know for sure :D
 
Sorry, I forgot to mention what I think is a very important thing to do:

I can't remember whether you said you had discussed Ziggy's problems with his breeder, but whether he or she is interested or not, I think you should write a formal letter enclosing a copy of the official scan results, plus the heart form too, assuming that they gave you one, which you send to the breeder with a polite letter advising of the situation because you are anxious the same parents should not be mated together again because of Ziggy's condition. When each of my Cavaliers was MRId and I got yellow heart reports too, as a matter of courtesy I sent copies to the breeders of bitch and stud by signed for post so that I knew they had been received. What the breeder(s) do after that is their choice, but you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have done all you can to avoid further affected puppies being produced from a repeat mating.

I think that if everyone behaves responsibly as a result of affected or non affected dogs being examined, then the prospects of breeding healthy dogs is improved.
 
Thank you all for your kind support! :) Hes now home and hes his usual puppy like self. Luckily for the breeder, she isnt breeding anymore (She was just an independent breeder who bred from home. It wasnt a puppy farm or anything like that) but if we do get in touch again I shal definitely just let her know as she was otherwise a very very good breeder.

@Love My Cavs & ByFloSin, Thank you for the reassurance both. Its nice that the neurologist also said the same. She said to us it was much more likely that something else would carry him off which I feel a lot more at ease about. We were given 6 weeks supply of Gabapentin at 100mg 3 times a day and we were told to report back to them over the phone and then go for a follow up appointment in January. So Im much much happier about this now I know more where I am! I was awfully worried it was going to be a downward slope constantly (which it still could be, but the specialist reckons that in his case theres quite a bit more life in him yet.) so we are thrilled to have some treatment on the table for himt o have.

How will we know when they start to work? Will he stop licking his paws or will we see a decrease of these symptoms?

Again, thank you all very much for your support and reassurance
:hug:

 
Oliver was diagnosed with CM/SM at 6, started showing more (still mild) symptoms at 8, but is now 12 and still only on 100mg x 4 of gabapentin. He leads a normal life, except that he is getting old and a bit unsteady on his feet, but can still enjoy a 2 mile walk off lead. Gabapentin should make a difference quite quickly, except that it may make Ziggy a bit sleepy for a week or two. It's usual to also start CM/SM dogs on a diuretic such as Zitac (omeprazole) or similar, to reduce the build up of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain - something you may want to discuss at your January visit. But it's normal to have to tweak medication over a few months (for example, some dogs do fine on x3 a day, whereas Oliver does better on x4), and from time to time during later life - CM/SM is a progressive disease, but progression can be really slow with some dogs, so :xfngr: Ziggy is one of those and you will have him with you for many more years.

Even if Ziggy's breeder no longer breeds, she may want to contact other people with puppies she has bred who share one or both of Ziggy's parents, so that they can be on the alert and perhaps get their dogs scanned. If she is likely to still belong to either the Cavalier Club or the Midland Cavalier Club, I might be able to track her down in the membership lists - if you think it's worth hunting, send me a private message (via the 'Notifications' menu at the top of this page) with her name and I'll see if I can help.

:hug:

Kate, Oliver and Aled
 
Hi kate! Thanks for all the info! I will definitely for sure discuss the possibility of Zitac with the vet. We have noticed (like you mentioned) he is definitely very very tired *but* this isnt actually getting in the way of his improvements that much. This morning bless him, he could only open one eye and wag his tail slightly (im pretty sure this was fatigue from yesterday ontop of the meds hes on) but however, right now he is fantastic! I havent seen him this spritely in a long long time. His paws are dry! He hasnt obsessively licked his paws although he has licked them slightly (like for seconds at a time) but not for long long sessions which is amazing. He looks in himself more contented and much much more comfortable. I cant tell you how much it means to me to see an improvement in him even though! Hes so much more settled.. He is right now as I write this he is lying accross my lap. Not sure how he expects me to write this with him sitting on me!
ZNRwVOt.jpg


He has perked up so much. He has even taken up much more interest in sniffing whats in all the nooks and crannies of the house! We'l keep you posted on everything else
 
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It's so good to see this. I saw a similar change when Rebel started his medication with Frusemide, then again when he progressed and graduated to Gabapentin, then Tagamet.

It is only in the most extreme cases that the defect appreciably shortens the lifespan, so please carry on enjoying life with Ziggy for years and years to come.

I am so glad and relieved that Ziggy has been properly diagnosed and responding to the appropriate treatment. Let us know more when you have the follow up appointment in January please. Meanwhile enjoy an extra special Christmas and give that boy some very special hugs from his Auntie Flo.
 
Absolutely will do, Flo!
I too am relived that we have a proper diagnosis and that we are on the path of treatment of which is working. You certainly havent seen the last of us! Il keep you all posted with all the further progress and stuff and Il see what I can do about helping people in a similar situation here.

He took himself to bed and has settled for the 2nd night so far on his meds which is far better than before we started as he was very bad in the night. (hed just get up and not able to settle)

I have been keeping a close eye on his symptoms today and I only managed to find 2 (and im not sure if the second one I witnessed was just normal behavior or SM) today, whereas before it was about 5 or 6. He still licks his paws (I have seen him do it about 3 times today whereas before youd simply loose count) but no where near as much as he did and when he does its for no longer than a few seconds and he stops and settles and thats the end of it.

Sending hugs Ziggs way! :) We are very much looking forward now to enjoying a Christmas without the worry of it not being treated so so much! Anyway, Il keep everyone posted on Ziggys progress.
 
Ziggy has had a much better morning than yesterday which is good. He jumped up into bed with me this morning and slept with me for about 40 minutes or so which is nice. (before it would have been a quick hello if at all and then hed jump off to lie in a cool place) Been very good all morning but he did just do that face rubbing thing and now hes in the kitchen obsessively licking his paws. But Im pretty sure I heard somewhere that the storms can still make them bad (medication or not) which it is pretty bad at the moment. Hes still better than without the medication though which is still brilliant! Il have to learn how to read the pressure readings so we can gauge whats what with it all.

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Eak! Sure enough,here comes the storm! Getting rather dark and stormy out there. Hes not happy bless him but fingers crossed its just the storm!
Also! What about grooming? Can he still go to the groomers? We like to keep his fur extra short when its the summer because we dont like him getting hot. Are we best off just leaving it for his claws and paws?
 
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Groomers seem to be OK (mine never go anyway!), but with them and with vets, you need to tell them to be careful around Ziggy's neck, as that can be a painful area. So no vaccinations or other injections in the back of the neck or along the spine, and at the groomers, no stringing up with a collar. If you don't already walk Ziggy on a harness, it's a good idea to get him one - again, avoiding pressure in the neck area and possible damage to the syrinx.

You can get an App of air pressure for your mobile, but not having a fancy phone, I just use the BBC online weather centre (google BBC and then click on weather, then enter your town). This gives you hourly information about the weather and has one line (at the bottom) that gives the air pressure, so that you can see how it's going to change over the course of a day and for the following 2 days. Normal air pressure is 1010 millibars; it tends to be sudden big jumps up or down that cause the problem with CM/SM dogs - last week, for example, the pressure went up and down by 20-30 millibars on several days, which is a huge leap. The syrinx in the spinal cord and dilated ventricles in the brain both create internal pressure, and if there is then an intensification of pressure from outside as well, you can see why many dogs get uncomfortable. If you can see Ziggy getting affected by air pressure, it helps to give an extra gabapentin - something to OK with your neurologist in January. It helps to make a note of when Ziggy seems uncomfortable and the accompanying air pressure, so that you can show the neurologist the apparent connection.

So glad the gabapentin is making a real difference.

Kate, Oliver and Aled

PS Have just checked tomorrow's weather, which is going to be wet and windy - in my area (Coventry) the air pressure is dropping 33 millibars between 6 am and the following midnight, so don't be surprised if Ziggy is a bit uncomfortable. It's not a sudden relapse, and once the pressure evens out again he should feel better.
 
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Ziggy just had a really really bad pain episode. Im now used to what his episodes are like but this one was a bit different to the norm. I lifted him onto the bed and he all of a sudden had this huge head tilt started to run toward my mom and he was shaking and then he violently scratched his ears really badly for about 15 seconds. He then stopped and was shaking quite badly and looked horrified :( . He was licking his lips a lot and he had a slight head tilt still... Hes now settled down and hes licking his paws quite badly. He just 12 minutes or so ago had his Gabapentin... The air pressure is currently 1002 MB and a few hours ago it was about 996 ( i think). We are really quite shaken up by this because we have seen him bad before but this is new.

It was really disturbing to watch and ofcorse (it always happens in the situations where you REALLY need it) I couldnt find my phone to record the episode. Hes now really agitated and still licking his paws.

Is this normal? I know its normal for them to be bad when the air pressure is changing like it is but surely having pain episodes this bad isnt normal? Maybe it is and im being paranoid, just thought id check.
 
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This must have been really frightening for you. I'm not very expert on severe pain in dogs with CM/SM because neither of mine has ever had that sort of pain. But don't assume that it is necessarily caused by SM - it could be something else, like an ear problem. Oliver was scratching like mad last week and didn't like having his ear touched - turned out he'd got a sharp grass seed in his ear (in December, I ask you!). Then he was yelping with an anal gland infection... He's fine now, which is more than can be said for my finances!

Immediately after the new year, when most people are likely to be back at work, I would ring your neurologist and tell him/her about this episode (not sure who you are seeing!). He/she may be able to give you an earlier appointment, or suggest you increase Ziggy's gabapentin, or suggest it's not SM related at all - if you're seeing Sebastien, he's very good about talking things through on the phone if you need help.

Kate, Oliver and Aled
 
This must have been really frightening for you. I'm not very expert on severe pain in dogs with CM/SM because neither of mine has ever had that sort of pain. But don't assume that it is necessarily caused by SM - it could be something else, like an ear problem. Oliver was scratching like mad last week and didn't like having his ear touched - turned out he'd got a sharp grass seed in his ear (in December, I ask you!). Then he was yelping with an anal gland infection... He's fine now, which is more than can be said for my finances!

Immediately after the new year, when most people are likely to be back at work, I would ring your neurologist and tell him/her about this episode (not sure who you are seeing!). He/she may be able to give you an earlier appointment, or suggest you increase Ziggy's gabapentin, or suggest it's not SM related at all - if you're seeing Sebastien, he's very good about talking things through on the phone if you need help.

Kate, Oliver and Aled

Hi Kate! We are currently seeing Stephanie at the moment. I asked my Mom for more details on the episode because I frantically dashed out the room to find my phone. (which was right next to me on the table... Funny what panic does to you, eh?)
She said the following:
Severe head tilt
Lost sense of direction (As soon as his head started to tilt it was almost like he was stumbling to a random direction which I did witness)
Both back legs went a bit funny
Scared look
In panic (Which he definitely was)
Licking lips (sickness)
Slight head tremor after the episode
Shaking after the episode
He then settled down and then started violently licking his paws

I compared this pain episode to all the others I have in my diary and this is definitely the worst one. Is there a possibility this might not be related to his CM/SM?
 
Sounds a little like an episode of what's often called Vestibular Syndrome. A couple of my own bred dogs had episodes something like this. It's some sort of disturbance in the brain, which often happens just the once, then never again, or it can recur. I should check in with Stephanie on the 'phone, who will tell you if Ziggy needs to have the appointment brought forward.

I know how alarming episodes like this can be, but try to remember that Ziggy will have had no idea that anything happened and if it is VS, any residual effects should clear up within a day or two.

I think your description of the episode is very lucid and observational, so don't worry too much about being unable to find the camera. Words can paint as big a picture sometimes and I think you have done very well with yours.
 
Hi Flo! After his episode the other night nothing of the sort recurred which is good. Yesterday he was quite good and didn't have too much of a problem sm wise but today he is really bad. He's manically manically licking his paws and he's already had his gabapentin. I just went into the kitchen and there he was licking his paws and crying a bit. ( he's stopped now but that is something new providing that was related which I'm pretty sure it was) Luckily the neurologist will be giving us a ring on tues/wed so we can discuss what's what and the outcome is medication wise.

Anyway, thanks again Flo for all that information, it's looking like that's what is was the other night which is good to know.
 
I wondered about a vestibular episode as well - Oliver had one earlier this year and it was very much as you describe. The vestibular coil is the innermost part of the ear and helps to control balance, which is why their back legs go all wobbly. I rested Oliver in his crate for a few hours and then he was fine and has had nothing similar since, though some dogs can apparently take much longer to recover.

I'm glad you'll be able to speak to Stephanie - Ziggy is on a very low dose of gabapentin, so she may suggest increasing it, or he may be one of those dogs like my Oliver who do better having it four times a day instead of three. It's normal for the medicines to need tweaking for a few months until you find the particular combination and dosage that suits your dog. Some dogs do better on Lyrica - a more refined form of gabapentin.

:hug:

Kate, Oliver and Aled
 
I wondered about a vestibular episode as well - Oliver had one earlier this year and it was very much as you describe. The vestibular coil is the innermost part of the ear and helps to control balance, which is why their back legs go all wobbly. I rested Oliver in his crate for a few hours and then he was fine and has had nothing similar since, though some dogs can apparently take much longer to recover.

I'm glad you'll be able to speak to Stephanie - Ziggy is on a very low dose of gabapentin, so she may suggest increasing it, or he may be one of those dogs like my Oliver who do better having it four times a day instead of three. It's normal for the medicines to need tweaking for a few months until you find the particular combination and dosage that suits your dog. Some dogs do better on Lyrica - a more refined form of gabapentin.

:hug:

Kate, Oliver and Aled

I do apologise for the late reply, Kate! Been busy with one thing and another this new year. It sounds just like what you describe and like you said thank god he hasnt had any since.

Ziggy had a very very good Xmas and a reasonably comfortable new year. Although the past 2 days have been very very bad. Yesterday he was just going manic beyond manic on his paws 24/7 and was lying in the freezing cold conservatory which he just never ever has done or does. He was just very unsettled and just generally unwell really. Today we have just got back and he was waiting for us at the door (as usual) and he went to stretch as we opened the door and his back legs just slipped (they dont usually) and he just fell over. He got up again and was jumping up at us and collapsing onto his legs to lick his paws again. He was being really manic for food too.. He was constantly asking and this is way off his feeding time as he is usually fed at about 3PM at the very earliest. He kept jumping up at me in a very manic way (dont get me wrong, he gets excited when its near his food time but hes never that manic) asking for food which is something he never does at this time.

His eyes are also really red and he cant walk for a few seconds without licking his paws (although its getting a bit better now). We gave him a hand full of kibble to calm him down which has helped quite a bit.

Stephanie is in the middle of an appointment right now but shel be ringing us back later this afternoon so Il let you know how everything is. Thanks again for all your support :)
 
Hiya....so sorry to read this, please let us know how he is and what your vet says when she rings back....

Gentle hugs to Ziggi from us here
 
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