Syringomyelia/Chiari Malformation

[Georgia's Mommy]

Hey Deb,

I'm sick with a nasty virus. Sorry I didn't respond sooner. I'll PM my contact info.

Kelly

[Tobysmom3]

Kelly, that cartoon of precious Georgia is wonderful. Good luck.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Kelly, no worries! I hope you feel better soon. Elliot and I both had the stomach flu just before school started this year and oh my, that was unpleasant.

I did receive your PM and responded.

[Georgia's Mommy]

Thank you Toby's Mom!!

Just checking in with everyone. Hoping all is well is both human and canine lives! Georgia continues to be well. A little bump the past two days. We're due for a hurricane and nasty weather and I swear the barometric pressure gets to her every time. My poor girl is head banging a lot. I've upped her gabapentin (typical procedure for the flare from the neuro). I continue to believe that acupuncture has been her miracle combined with her Eastern Medicine. I never would have imagined this would be our life with Georgia. She brings joy into my home....so I will always strive to bring comfort and joy into her life. Georgia is going to be featured on her holistic vet's website. I'll attach a link when it's posted.

Best wishes everyone!

Kelly & Georgia

[Sharlyn]

Just joined so no pictues yet, have two 11mo. old unrelated chihuahuas, male, applehead n fm. more deer like. My little guy has just been diagnosted w/caudal occipital malformation syndrome w/syringomyelia, cervical scoliosis and head tilt based on history, symptoms and evaluation by neurologist experienced w/sm. Has not had MRI due to high cost $3,000 in my area coupled w/his not being a good anesthetic canidate in present condition. Ft Wayne In. the closest vet doing mini MRIs targeting the most common area for chari-like formations will be an option. No longer a cksc problem cm/sm is showing up in several small breeds with appleshaped heads although still realitivily rare. Breeders often r unaware that sm is in their lines, symptomless carriers and breeding dogs w/late onset r not being diagnosted untill after several litters if ever. Symptoms are deceiving in that without the connection to sm they can be chalked off as normal behavior, personality traits but nothing alarming. Because of this my little guy went w/out treatment until resently when he VERY suddenly became twisted, almost snake like, head to one side, in obvious pain unable to walk. Spent many months researching everything about the breed, was well informed (so I thought) before purchasing our little ones. The small scale breeder was nolonger showing, breeding for mostly for temperment and had several serving as therapy dogs this was no puppy mill. My heart breaks for all the sweet devoted little ones suffering from this devistating disease. Lets get the word out there .... symptoms your pup displayed,meds and side effects, diet, vets experienced w/sm, reasonable mirs. ...Thanks I needed that!

[Georgia's Mommy]

Sharlyn,

I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I know there are several breeds that have CM/SM. My Georgia was also not from a puppy mill. I think it is a growing problem. My dog has been doing very well. She takes a lot of medication but after a year (and yes, it took that long to get her under control), she is a happy and relatively healthy dog. Georgia takes Gapabentin (100mg 3x a day), priolosec 20 mg, 2x a day, and she takes Rimadyl for hip displaysia. She also has Tramadol for pain. I also have her seeing a holistic vet who administers acupuncture and herbs. I believe this has been my saving grace for Georgia. It is expensive which is a big draw back. Read through these logs. It helped me tremendously in dealing with my dog's CM/SM. My neuro told me that I didn't have to have the MRI to get her on medication b/c it was obvious she had it. I did the MRI and am still paying it off.

I wish you lots of luck! Keep us posted.

[Georgia's Mommy]

I came on to post some silliness and saw Sharlyn's post. I remember all too well how devastating this disease is. Took me back quite a bit. I now feel like I can share some silliness and for a long time, I couldn't. You all know how much I love to take pictures of my Georgie girl. I entered her in two contests. TMZ.com and People Magazine Pet's online. She didn't win but today a girl from my hometown emailed me to ask if Georgia was on TV last night. What???!!! I checked and Georgia was indeed featured on the gossip TV show TMZ TV. It's goofy and silly and Georgia isn't featured until 1:32 seconds. If you would like to watch enjoy. It's under an actress Angelique Cabral. You have to have a sense of humor b/c it is ridiculous.

http://www.tmz.com/videos/0_hmel3xuf

She is also in People Magazine. Scroll to #15. I'm attaching the screen capture.
http://www.people.com/people/package/ga ... 41,00.html

I missed her on TV last night. I had no idea she was going to be on. I entered to win some prizes. She came in 29th (I didn't even know people were voting). She didn't win anything on People Magazine either but it did mention she is a CKCS with a neurological disease. I was edited a lot

Enjoy!

[manitwo]

It was lovely to see beautiful GEORGIA on People Magazine.You must have felt very proud of her.My prayers go out to her and all the other little Cavs suffering from this terrible illness Shirley,Mimi and Badge..

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Kelly, I have to admit that I feel like a proud "Auntie" that Georgia made it to TMZ and in People!!!! I think she is indeed "Wonder Woman" and you know I love that photo. Congratulations!!! "Our" little girl is famous.

Sharlyn, if you take a moment and read through this entire thread, you will find that the discussions are about the disease, and not just Cavaliers. Since I'm the one who started this thread four years ago, and since I have a Cavalier, naturally a lot of people with Cavaliers have visited and contributed.

There are also contributions from people living with Chiari as well as many other dogs, of various breeds (mostly anything very tiny, or "teacup") who all need to find the same answers.

An MRI is a crucial diagnostic tool for your dog. I do realize it is expensive, but there are places that do them for a reasonable cost, or if one is fortunate enough, as I was, there are often ongoing studies which again mitigate the cost of an MRI. Oliver has had two, and it only cost me $600.00.

He did NOT have any surgery, nor would he as it is extremely expensive with very little guaranteed outcome. Originally he started on the Gabapentin but did terribly on it. It took us about a year or so, to find the right balance of medication for him. Yes, it is very expensive. Last summer, he was diagnosed with Heart Disease (common in Cavaliers as well) and I spend approximately $300.00 every six weeks on his medication alone. He has been living with this illness, or has been diagnosed with it, for the past four years.

Oliver will be 9 in December, God willing. When I started this thread, there was very little information available on the internet. Many, many wonderful people have contributed articles and new findings over time, so this is a great "one stop shop" to garner a lot of information, as well as find links to other information.

SM can't be properly diagnosed without an MRI. Oliver also has a "head tilt". I'm sorry that your little dog was recently diagnosed, but please don't lose hope. You need to see a Canine Neurologist, and find a way to have that MRI. I don't remember if you said where you live. I'm in southern Ontario, Canada. If there is a University near you (within 100 miles) that specializes in Veterinary Medicine, or Medicine even, you may be able to obtain an MRI there at a much reduced rate, when the time is right.

Best wishes to you, and by all means, please do not feel that this is a "Cavalier" thread. I just happen to have 2 of them, and the SM/CM has become more well known within this breed of late. You are most welcome here.

[Georgia's Mommy]

Georgia and I are in the direct path of Hurricane Sandy (Philadelphia). She's been a gem and actually did her business already. I'm worried about potty breaks but we'll clean up all messes indoor as it happens. Hoping everyone in the path of this storm is safe. I'm sure I'll be loosing power and most likely will not have any for days. Just praying the roof/skylight stay put!!

Stay safe! Georgia and I (& Lola, the cat) are quite prepared!

Here is Georgia out with me on a potty run. She is being such a good sport. Me, not so much!!

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Oh Kelly, do stay safe and sound!!!! We're going to just receive high winds and rain, but nothing like you're supposed to have.

Georgia looks lovely in her pink raincoat! I love a good tongue shot. ♥ Batten down the hatches angel, and fill up buckets of water, or the tub at least, in case somehow you lose running water. I hope you have flashlights, batteries, and medications. Please check in as soon as you are able so we know you are alright!!!

♥ Bless!!!!

[Tobysmom3]

Georgia looks so cute in her pink raincoat. But obviously she is a looker in anything. Congrats on the TMZ and People. How could they resist. Hope you made it thru Hurricane Sandy. It is just raining today here in MD. In Western MD they had a blizzard. How weird is this weather. I was wondering if all the Cavs were ok w/these barometric changes.

[Sharlyn]

Sorry, tried to make post few days ago guess I messed up n forgot to press submit. I'll try again. My guy was taken to the top rated animal hospital in our area for an emergency evaluation at 1st signs of scoliosis, n head tilt. 2nd vet visit was to vet board certified in neurology ,Diplomate ACVIM (neurology) from the American College of Vet.Medicine. 3rd visit for second opinion, vet. more experienced with this problem board certified in Neurology & Neurosurgery. From what I've been told an mri given after medication has been started could make it difficult to obtain a definitive diagnosis, also that he is not a good anesthetic candidate at this time. Information on sugery is not incouraging but if meds cannot control pain will consider as last resort.Still looking for reasonable mris in area, closest one Ft.Wayne In. is 4.5 hrs away n travel is very difficult for myguy He was given a steroid injection and iv fluids, is on Prednisolone 0.4mL x 2, omeprazole 2.5mg x 1 and gabapentin 30mg x3.
Knew this site was for all w/sm n was very HaPpY to find it, not easy. Guess 1st. post was more about my frustration n guilt ,I am the responsibile party here though I had researched chihuahuas, their care, health issues ect. I had not read about cm/sm n had no idea that my little one was having symptoms n been in pain for quite awhile. Im a reader surfted the web for countless hrs. so I am assuming that unless u have a ckcs u r most likely as uninformed as I was. Question is, can something be done about this? Most signs of sm are not considered symptoms by owners, so we are not looking up syringomyelia on the net n most neighborhood vets have never seen a case. Quite obvious this site is full of MAJOR amimal lovers so im asking how we can get more information out there n possibiy prevent this from happening again n again. Ideas

[Georgia's Mommy]

Sharlyn,

I thought I did my homework, too. When Georgia started with symptoms, my vet was treating it as allergies. I had a cousin dying from leukemia so my free time was spent going back and forth between Philly & Seattle. Poor Georgia waited months until I had my head on straight enough to figure it out. My vet didn't even suggest it. Thankfully, I live near Pennsylvania Vet Hospital. I also swear by my holistic vet. Acupuncture and laser therapy has been a miracle.

I enter all these silly contests and always include that Georgia has SM/CM. No one ever picks up on it. I keep thinking that blogging about it will help. My neighbor's dog had degenerative myelopathy. The saddest thing I had ever seen. Basically the canine version of ALS (Lou Gherig's disease). Horrible. I think Vet's need it more on their radar. When I go to Penn Vet the waiting room is filled with Cavaliers.

Deb....We survived unscathed! Lots of clean up but no damage and the power wasn't out for too long. Many I know were not so lucky

Georgia didn't have a care in the world. She snored so loud I could barely hear the wind! hahaha.....oh to have her life.
Kelly

[RayC]

I know this may not be the right thread for this but I just wanted to send good wishes and blessings to all my North American friends I've met and followed in here. May you get back to 'normal' as soon as possible without too much damage or harm and may all your furry friends not suffer too much trauma. It's hard for us in the UK to imagine what you're going through - news broadcasts just give us the bare facts - they can't give us the true picture of what it's like to be in the middle of such conditions.

Bless you all

Ray