Monday, August 23, 2010

Syringomyelia (SM) Diagnosis and Treatment in Cavaliers

Most owners of Cavaliers are aware that Syringomyelia (SM) is a very persvasive problem in our Cavaliers.  It's a very serious and debilitating disease that is much more common in Cavaliers than in most other breeds.  There is a wealth of information online about SM and every Cavalier owner (and prospective owner) owes it to their self and to their dog, to understand this condition, it's symptoms and the treatment and prognosis for SM.

Simply speaking, SM is a condition where the Cavalier's skull is too small to accommodate all of the brain's cerebellum.  This creates a lot of pain for the dog and is characterized by sensitivity in the neck area, including an urge to scratch at the neck and shoulders.  As the disease progresses, there is increasing pain around the head, neck, and shoulders.  It's is an extremely painful disease.

A few dogs on our forum (http://www.cavaliercorner.net) are living with SM.  It's an extremely painful disease for the dog.  Some members are finding some help by using Lyrica to manage the pain when traditional medications are no longer effective. Some dogs also undergo decompression surgery to attempt to alleviate the problem by relieving the pressure of the brain inside the skull.

This short video provides some basic information on SM, what it is, and how it's treated.  It's a good starting point for understanding the disease.  We urge you to also check out Cavalierhealth.com to further educate yourself on this horrible disease afflicting our Cavaliers.





* Please consult your veterinarian if you think your dog may suffer from SM.  The information on this video and this blog is not intended to replace the expertise of your veterinarian and is merely a starting point for learning more about this disease.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails