I had this email sent to me from Margaret Carter who was involved in the Cavalier King Charles campaign as featured on the pedigree dogs exposed programme which was on TV some time ago. The campaign is to hopefully rid Cavaliers of the terrible condition of Syringomyelia. Thiis is the copy of the email and the links are at the bottom:



Please sign the petition if you can.


Thanks folks......

Hello,

You have all emailled me at some time about cavaliers, or the film Pedigree Dogs Exposed.

I am sending you the following information in case you want to show support to a band of cavalier pet owners ..............

Syringomyelia ( SM ) is a very painful inherited condition that is showing up in more and more cavaliers.

At the national Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club AGM the committee proposed a motion that would add the Syringomyelia breeding recommendations to the Club's code of ethics.
The proposal was originally passed, but then the SM recommendations were removed by a counter proposal, from some top breeders, later in the meeting.

The code of ethics is not mandatory, but this would be a way of indicating that responsible breeders were expected to health test their breeding stock for SM before they were bred from.

There is a petition being signed by Club members asking the Committee to take steps to reinstate the SM recommendations as soon as possible.
Some pet owners felt they would also like to show their support and so started their own petition.............
http://board.cavaliertalk.com/showthread.php?t=30055


The cavalier pet owners petition is here..........
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewf...ZDNkNC1hUXc6MA

Perhaps you could consider signing?

Many thanks
Margaret Carter.

Signed, Can't beleive they ruleso ut the gudelines!

Do you have to be a CKCS owner?

Not sure Lotti but my friends have filled it in and not put anything in the dog bit at the bottom. I cant see it hurting to fill it in anyway.

go for it.......

Signed I own Two Cavaliers so happy to sign it, its a horrendous disease, thankyou Gemima

Very old post I know, but ive searched and searched, anyone out there...11 months backwards and forwards to my vets yes 11 months of trying this and that of no help then I find the article on syringomyelia in cavvies..pixie has been scratch scratch since i resued her a year ago.. apparently according to the rescue she was indeed kept for BREEDING ONLY right up to her being around 5/6 years old...no social contact no nothing// od what i would like to do to these people! im trying to be really calm here! back street breeders...greedy heartless people, and now im certain pixie has this, at 8 I dont want to put her through the operation, she has no sores to her body, its just awful on excersise we have to stop a million times for that itch! can anyone help/// I just need to know can I control it any other way? my vet said to be honest having an M R I scan is not only costly ( i know) its probaby just going to confirm it, she was a timid litle thing when she came, she didnt know what people were...she didnt fuss or anything, ive now got her to be a dog! she enjoys what life she has, she has come round to being a dog... I just so desperately need to try to help her with this so anything at all please..

Has the vet said she definately has sm, it is a dreradful disease, but does usually affect dogs when they are much younger, and if shes been scratching for nearly a year I would have thought with SM she would be really ill and much worse by now, I do think you need to be speaking to your vet for some answers, and SM is not just an itch, it really does need investigating properly, to help this little one.

Im no expert if I were you I would contact one of the breed clubs and ask their advise they are usually very good and some one will have a great knowledge of this disease and be able to help you.

She sound a sweet little thing and shouldn't have to put up with this if she can be helped, she obviously has a much better life since coming to live with you.

my vet has tried every med probably to be tried and thats the reason he said she is showing all the signs of this, as you say its not just an itch..you cant even walk her without stopping ever few seconds! also, when the rescue gave her over to me she came with a bottle of medicated shampoo for her SKIN PROBLEM!! thats why we have been treating her for this it was only reading through these posts and more detailed articles that i began to research this horrid thing in cavvies, vets say that to have a scan would obviously rule it either in or out but at her age they dont want to do this and surgery if it is wouldnt be a great idea because of her age...no doubt its also due to the costs! Ive got her on evening primrose oil. omega 3 and ive also changed her diet...anti allergy food, im willing to try anything thats not harmfull and just rule out any allergies!