Cavalier King Charles Spaniel scratching
Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is scratching itself and you have already gone through an odyssey of skin exams and treatments that have remained unsuccessful? Find the root cause of the symptoms in this breed of dog in your head. This is not a pipe dream, but a structural change in the animal's brain.
Chiari-like malformation (CM)
A disease called "Chiari-like malformation (CM)" has been described in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel since the late 1990s. This resembles the Chiari malformation in humans. The cerebellum does not lie completely in the posterior fossa, as is normal, but part of it passes through the large occipital opening. Almost all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have these changes. According to current knowledge, it is a hereditary disease. The gene pool is limited in this breed, which is why the inbreeding rate is high. However, not all animals show symptoms. This happens more often in certain breeding lines
Syringomyelia (SM)
This change is a consequence of the upstream cerebellum. This presses on the central canal in the spinal cord, in which the spinal fluid flows. Similar to a water hose that you hold closed, the spinal cord water backs up at the constriction. Fluid-filled cavities develop in the spinal cord. The accumulation of fluid in the spinal cord irritates the nerve fibers. This causes pain and discomfort in your dog. Are affected
dogs between the ages of six months and two years.These symptoms are there
- As an expression of the discomfort, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels show attack-like scratching attacks in the neck and shoulder area. This is a "sham scratching" in which the skin is not touched.
- The animals show sudden crying out, as a result of pain or when touched in the sense of hypersensitivity reactions (hyperesthesia).
- Head nerve failure can occur. Evidence of this are squinting and decreased reflexes.
- Movement disorders manifest themselves in an uncoordinated movement (ataxia) up to paralysis.
- Some dogs show curvature of the spine (scoliosis).
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies come in four different colors. The small …
Therapy options from CM / SM
- If you suspect that your dog has a Chiari-like malformation, the diagnosis is confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging. This can be done in a veterinary clinic by a small animal neurologist. Not many veterinarians have experience with these conditions as they are common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels but rare in other breeds. A relevant research center in Germany is the Giessen University Hospital.
- If the suspicion is confirmed, therapy depends on the severity of the symptoms. If you scratch lightly, you can wait. If the scratching is more severe and pain occurs, the vet will prescribe your dog a medication for neuropathic pain. If your dog shows severe pain or paralysis, surgery can help. The surgeon removes the piece of skull bone that is constricting the cerebellum.
A Chiari-like malformation also occurs in other small breeds such as Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas or Miniature Poodles. However, this is rare while almost every Cavalier King Charles Spaniel exhibits these cerebellar changes. There is still a lot to improve in terms of breeding for this breed. Reputable breeders are well on their way by having their breeding animals examined for a Chiari-like malformation.
The content of the pages of www.helpster.de was created with the greatest care and to the best of our knowledge and belief. However, no guarantee can be given for the correctness and completeness. For this reason, any liability for possible damage in connection with the use of the information offered is excluded. Information and articles must under no circumstances be viewed as a substitute for professional advice and / or treatment by trained and recognized doctors. The content of www.helpster.de cannot and must not be used to make independent diagnoses or to start treatments.
