My friends Dog is a Cavalier and he is 20 months old last week everytime you touched him he scearmed and walked very slowly took him to there vets could not find anything wroug with him gave him some tablets to take the pain away anyway last night picked him up under the chest and he screamed a bit could it be a trapped nerve, he is slower then he normally is and drinking and eating are fine. They are taking him to another vets tonight He is not his normal lively self any advice would be welcome cannot say anymore has i have not seen him

Oh dear these could be signs of Syringohydromyelia

Symptoms:The earliest visual symptom is that of neck & shoulder discomfort. It happens most frequently when the dog is excited or on a lead. In a very young puppy there is a reluctance to lead training, a puppy will cry out when the lead is tugged, as this action causes pain and discomfort. The term "scratching" at the shoulders is often used. As the pup becomes a little older, it will develope an odd gait as it often tries to "scratch" whilst on a lead. The dog will often cry out in pain either for no apparent reason, particularly if excited, if it has been touched or after changes in its head position. As the condition deteriorates further, the animal developes neck twisting and limb weakness. It is very distinctive and once you have seen a dog with this condition it is unmistakable.

The vets may well not know anything about SHM & the only way to have it confirmed is by MRI scan, there is now a screening scheme being run by Geoff Skerritt BVSc DipECVN CBiol MIBiol FRCVS, RCVS( & European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology)Cranmore Veterinary Referral Services
Chestergates Referral Hospital, Chestergates, Chester, CH1 6LT.Tel: 01244 853 823

Have a look at theCavalier site here & the Cavalier Club

It must be mentioned to the vet & if they do not know about SHM they should contact Mr Sherritt for advice & information

SHM is very serious however many breeders(especially some of the top kennels & pet breeders)are happy to ignore the matter & keep their heads in the sand & are in denial that their dogs could be affected when they produce puppies with SHM

Thanks moonmaiden my friend is taking him to chester for the test if he has got it,what are the chances that his littermates have it to.I am his breeder & i did not know anything about the illness at the time. His heart is healthy &eyesight is normal.I want to do everything i can to make sure it does not happen again.

agree with moonmaiden......... I only read the first line and alarms bells started ringing...

Just thought you would like to know that it is not Syringohydromyelia. Went to see him at the weekend you can touch him & he does not murmur at all, he is just like his normal self thank god.

was the scan clear?? ....great news if so :)

Yes it was Inca thank you for asking, will i have to have his litter sister scaned as i am thinking of having her mated all the other tests are clear.