
Syringohydromyelia to give it it's correct name is a malformation of the skull that occurs in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels & Labrador Retrievers to name just two breeds
The malformation means that the cerebellum(brain)herninates(sp)into the space that the spinal cord ends the skull & stops the flow of the cerbral fluid out of the skull, this causes pressure to build up in the venticles of the brain
There are a few symptoms some are scratching at the shoulder, crying in pain when touched(especially in the head & neck area) & a noticable head tilt however dogs can have SHM with no symptoms at all(like my boy)they can have all or one or more of the symptoms as well
If you go to this
site & click on the breed info & then health issues there are several articles(including articles by the researcher who is investigating the genetic inheritance Claire Rushbridge)
The
only way to know if your dog has or does not have SHM is by MRI scan of the brain & upper spinal cord & Cavaliers especially should
not be bred from if they have SHM or have not been MRI scanned