Syringomyelia

Overview

Fluid-filled cavities form within the spinal cord, usually because the skull is too small for the brain it contains and the flow of cerebrospinal fluid is obstructed. It is painful — often severely so — and it is over-represented in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to a degree that has become a defining welfare issue for the breed, with the Griffon Bruxellois and other small brachycephalic toys also affected. The characteristic sign is a dog scratching at its neck, on one side, without touching it. Diagnosis requires MRI. Management is by medication classes that reduce fluid production and pain, chosen by the veterinarian, and sometimes surgery; it can rarely be cured. This is a condition that should be discussed frankly with any breeder of a Cavalier before purchase, and MRI-screened breeding stock is the only real answer to it.

What you would notice

• Scratching at the neck or shoulder, often without making contact ('air scratching')
• Scratching that is worse when excited, when walking, or when the collar is touched
• Yelping or crying for no apparent reason, particularly at night
• Sensitivity around the head, neck, and ears
• Weakness, or an unwillingness to jump or use stairs

Predisposed breeds

Brussels Griffon

Belgium

Cavachon (Cavalier × Bichon Frise)

United States, 1990s

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

England

Griffon Belge

Belgium; rough-coated black or black-and-tan small

Petit Brabancon

Belgium; the smooth-coated variety of the Belgian

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com)
• MSD Veterinary Manual (msdvetmanual.com)

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