I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She has an iching...

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Answer by mybravechad
Submitted on 1/9/2004
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There is a very serious illness in the cavalier breed that even some vets don't know about. Please look at www.ourchad.20m.com My beautiful tri colour boy was put to sleep last year just before his 3rd birthday. it is called Syringomyelia (arnold chiari). a malformation at the back of the skull causes hind brain herniation and fluid can build up in the spinal cord. The symptoms are OBSESSIVE SCRATCHING around the head and neck areas, sensitivity around the neck and head areas, yelping, pain etc. These symptoms can be made worse when the dog is excited or on the lead. PLEASE look at www.ourchad.20m.com I have set up a support group which you can access from the website. My mission is to inform as many people as possible about the illness. Thousands of Cavaliers are suffering and don't get diagnosed. Thanks.....Angela.

Answer by cavowner
Submitted on 6/4/2004
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Wait a minute. Isn't suspecting syringomyelia (a very serious illness) jumping the gun a bit? If, as rebnanny says, medication stopped the itching, wouldn't that indicate it is NOT syringomyelia? Was the medication Temiril-P? My dog has allergies and was on that briefly and I had the same experienc - stopped the itching, but I did not like the way it made him act. His itching (which consists mainly of his scratching his mouth, sides, and licking the bottom of his paws) is kept under control with the following: 1)Solid Gold dog food (lamb, barley, fish mix - no wheat, no corn) 2)Hydroxyzine 3x a day (much better than the Termiral -P) 3)Bathe with Dermal-Soothe shampoo & conditioner both of which I leave on for 7 to 10 min. 4)Air-purifier to reduce pollen & mold. All of this has not eliminated the problem, but has greatly reduced it.

Answer by mybravechad
Submitted on 8/21/2004
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They say Syringomyelia (SM) is not a big problem in the cavalier king charles spaniel breed. Well how come that in my support group, out of the 265 members there are only about 5 members with another breed of dog affected. The rest are cavalier owners. I've had 2 cavaliers myself. My first one had to be put to sleep because he was so ill with the condition (just short of his third birthday) and my second cavalier who is 5 years old also has the condition. IT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM! The trouble is, we have figures for the heart trouble showing the high incidence but no figures for this illness is available (yet). Just as the heart trouble was swept under the mat until the figures came out, this illness is also being somewhat played down. I'm getting several emails per week from people with affected cavaliers. More and more cases are being seen now. If cavaliers are given steroids for itching due to allergies then yes the itching stops. Steroids are also prescribed for syringomyelia and therefore could stop the itching for this illness too. Please join the syringomyelia support group for more info on symptoms if you suspect your cavalier may have this dreadful illness. You can access it by going to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ArnoldChiari_dogs/

Answer by Maddy
Submitted on 1/28/2007
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I am very interested in all your comments and advice. I have two CKCS, one aged 8 and the other 4. The oldest has had problems with itchy skin, and takes daily steroids and is shampood with Coatex. Recently the younger one has been scratching one ear furiously. Strangley the older one also started scratching one ear. Both have been treated by our vet for every conceivable parasite under the sun, but the scratching continues. The oldest really damaged his ear, with a secondary infection and gross oedema. We have upped his steroids and he is now on antibiotics, but the scratching continues. Just as a note, we have 3 cats as well. Any further advice would be grately appreciated.

Answer by JS
Submitted on 4/27/2007
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I have a question and may not be submitting this correctly. I just got a CKCS about 4-6 weeks ago. I also have a 6 yr old Yorkie. I love the CKCS as I was looking for a very affectionate dog. Now I am totally depressed because I have just read about SM. I had read about the mitral valve problem before I got her but had not read about SM. She is 3 1/2 months old and has been doing the scratching thing - not all the time but enough I noticed. Also she has yelped a couple of times when I've picked her up under her front legs or other times when I didn't think she should have. What advice can you give me? She is only about 4 months old. I can not afford expensive treatment but I love her dearly.

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Question by rebnanny
Submitted on 11/7/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Breed-FAQ
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I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She has an iching problem. She iches so bad that her hair comes out. We had her to the vet. She was on medication for a month.It did stop the iching. I didn't like the way it made her act. She is off the medication and back to iching. Please help. I can't bare to see her suffer. Thanks aburger

Answer by jill
Submitted on 11/22/2003
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My CKCS just had his 11th birthday. When he was younger he had a lot of itchy skin problems too. My Vet told me that he could easily be allergic to his dog food & so I should only feed him a Lamb Meal & Rice Formula Dry food by IAMS (the red bag). He's never had the itches since.

Answer by Cavlady
Submitted on 1/8/2004
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Possible that your Cavalier is NOT allergic to anything, but has a hereditary illness called 'SM' for short. One of the symptoms is that the dog will scratch lots and lots. Below is a link for you to read more about this illness. http://www.ava.com.au/content/avj/0002/00020092.pdf Hope this information helps!

Answer by Marvin
Submitted on 2/12/2004
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She may be suffering from hypothyroidism. It is very common in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. If she scratches only her neck and back of her head, then she could have syringomyelia. This genetic disorder has become very widespread among Cavaliers. It is in every bloodline and is become an epidemic.

Answer by Abby
Submitted on 3/13/2004
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Hi rebnanny. I am a veterinarian in the United States. Up until a year ago I would have thought your dog had allergies or a primary skin problem. Now, after having three cases this year of dogs like yours, I feel she may have syringomyelia. Please review the following web page for more information: http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/syringo/syringo.html The web page has information by a veterinarian in the UK that is doing a lot of work on this disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. I wish you and your pet all the best.

Answer by kgingrich
Submitted on 3/17/2004
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My Cavalier suffers from severe itching also and has for some time. I recommend you have your vet refer you to a veterinary dermatologist. My dog is not allergic to food but the ordinary pollens and dust mites any human might be allergic to. He receives regular allergy injections and sometimes an antihistimine and as a result is much more comfortable.

Answer by Aga
Submitted on 6/23/2004
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Do any of you with Cavaliers with SM, have any experience with dog-massage therapy ? During my practice, I have encountered 1 Cavalier which we assume may have SM, and I don't know whether I should keep on massaging or not. Grateful for all replies !

Answer by Pam
Submitted on 7/11/2004
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My cavalier is 14 weeks old. She extremely playful and eats and sleeps well. One thing she does several times a day is she has a wheeze like there is something caught in her throat. She had a very bad cold with lost of congestiona and was put on an antiobiotic. The cogestions and cold seems to have cleared up but the wheeze is bizzare. It will clear up after a few minutes andit doesn't wake her but has anyone had this. I changed her crate pad, things she chews on, only give her dry food, etc. Any advice. thanks.

Answer by Lyn50
Submitted on 7/21/2004
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Need some suggestions on a Cavalier with beginning skin problem at 8 months old. In season now. Hair loss is around the tail area.

Answer by Pam
Submitted on 8/27/2004
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My cavalier itched a lot around her back and tail area. I put her onto Hills Science Diet for Sensitive skin and she is just fine now. Before that she had bitten herself so much that much of the hair was lost, but now it is beautiful again. Hope this helps some of you.

Answer by jame1924
Submitted on 8/28/2004
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My cavalier had wheezing as a puppy too, the vet suggested giving Robotussin for cough(made for people)once a day. It worked, and he hasn't had problems since, he is now 5.

Answer by californiaMOM
Submitted on 1/2/2005
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My Cavalier is 2 year now. Last year he was suffering an iching problem. I took him to see vet and shampooed him once a week and treated with all sorts of medicine and didn't work. But! Amazingly, believe or not, after I used an anti-flea and antiseptic shampoo, he stopped iching all at once! Now he is as healthy as ever!

Answer by Jen
Submitted on 1/26/2005
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Pam, My 3 year old tri colored cav does this as well, and our vet and the breeder we purchased her from said it is a reverse sneeze. It's as serious as a hiccup, although it sounds terrible when it happens. Check out www.purinaone.com under health library for an excellent description/explanation.

Answer by sbringa
Submitted on 7/31/2005
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My cavalier itched like crazy. I thought it was simply dry skin and my vet confirmed my suspicion. But it never went completely away until I took my dog to the accupuncturist. Tao Tan took one look at him and broke out the needles. My cavalier hates the therapy but loves not itching anymore. But it is not easy to find an accupuncturist specializing in animal care. Good luck

Answer by Marvin
Submitted on 8/4/2005
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I found a website that has a very thorough discussion of SM. It is http://www.cavalierhealth.org

Answer by hollyberry
Submitted on 11/22/2005
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I have a 2 yr old Cavalier with a very different problem... Within the past year he has urinated in his sleep twice. We've been trying to determine if this is behaviorial or medical. He displays no signs of an obvious UTI's, no s/s of pain, no other health problems noted - avg ht and wt, nice shiny coat, great activity level, regular bm's. Has anyone ever heard of this?

Answer by Kristy
Submitted on 2/2/2006
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Anybody here tried a All Natural BARF diet? I've heard wonderful stories on how it clears up those itch problems ;)

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Answer by stephz
Submitted on 11/20/2005
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how long do they live and can you feed them a pacific food to make them live longer

Answer by Ellie
Submitted on 1/10/2006
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hi, i have had my cavalier for 3 - 4 years and recently he has had to fits within the last week we took him to the vets and they said there wasnt anything they could see wrong after taking a blood test but we're worried it might happen again. Any suggestions what it is or what is casuing it?

Answer by Jimmy
Submitted on 2/11/2006
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the password

Answer by Jess144
Submitted on 5/8/2006
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My Cavalier has been itching like crazy ever since we brought him home. We switched him to a lamb and rice diet but he doesnt seem to be getting better, he itchies around his tail area also.

Answer by cavmom
Submitted on 8/1/2006
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I desperately need help!!!!!!!!!!! I have two CKCS puppies (11 weeks) a tri-color and a Blenheim. They are both losing their hair with little sign of regrowth. It started on the tricolor and the vet thought it was a black hair alopecia. Now my Blenheim is starting to lose her hair and I don't know what to do. The vet gave me a special shampoo and antibiotics, but that doesn't seem to make it any better. Both are losing their hair on their bodies and not their heads. My husband is considering returning them to the breeder. I NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer by kloey
Submitted on 10/30/2006
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I have a three month old KC CS who has dry dull hair on his torso which pulls out easily. He does not itch that often but has dandruff. I've given him a bath with dandruff shampoo as suggested and he is getting Royal Canine Puppy Food with no wheat or corn in it but the hair isn't much better and I've decided to have my vet give him a blood test tomorrow for possible thyroid problems. Vet says they usually don't test puppies for this but after everything I've read I can't see waiting until he is older and the problem is worse. Anyone had the same problem and if so what did you do?

Answer by babushka
Submitted on 1/7/2007
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My cavalier also has the wheezing noise. The day we bought her we thought she had a cold. When she stretches her neck out it almost seems as though she is struggling to breath - like there is not enough air passage. The other thing too is she does itch her neck and head all the time. First thing she does when she wakes up is scratch her neck. She has no pain or sensitivity though.

Answer by Shocked
Submitted on 2/1/2007
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DO NOT go to www.ourchad.20m.com , it is a porn sight! Shame on you "mybravechad" for tricking people who are not interested in your trash!

Answer by John L.
Submitted on 3/19/2007
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Has anyone's Cavalier been diagnosed with Syringomyelia? Was there a remidy if found early? Concerned......... Please reply

Answer by sam
Submitted on 3/23/2007
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my king charles is 2 years old.He scraches a bit but when he was younger he lost a patch of hair on his back,that cleared up after a while.But now he is loosing hair on his paws and he keeps licking them its been like that for ages and its not clearing up yet.I brought im to the vet and he said its just an infection.What could i do to make him better.

Answer by Bea
Submitted on 6/20/2007
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I have a 1 year old King Charles Cavalier -Blenheim. He scratches his nose and mouth and ears until they bleed. I have had all the tests done on him and the only allergy is house dust or house mite. Sometimes he cries and scratches so frantically I think he is having a fit. Please can anyone help? He is currently on Atopica capsules and I am trying Aloe Vera jelly also.