Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia in small dogs signs
By Hechler, Ashley C & Moore, Sarah A·Published in Topics in companion animal medicine·2018·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Understanding and Treating Chiari-like Malformation and Syringomyelia in Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 5-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was diagnosed with Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM), conditions that can cause severe pain and neurological issues. The dog showed signs that were often mistaken for other problems, which delayed treatment. While advanced imaging is the best way to confirm the diagnosis, many cases are treated based on symptoms alone. Treatment focuses on managing pain, either with medications or surgery, but many dogs continue to show worsening symptoms despite treatment. Fortunately, most affected dogs still enjoy a good quality of life according to their owners.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel CM treatment · dog syringomyelia symptoms · managing pain in dogs with Chiari-like malformation
Abstract
Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) are common and debilitating conditions in toy and small breed dogs. CM, considered ubiquitous in the cavalier King Charles spaniel (CKCS) population, results in abnormal cerebrospinal fluid dynamics which can lead to the development of SM. The clinical signs associated with CM/SM are frequently confused with other otologic and dermatologic conditions, which may delay appropriate treatment. A definitive diagnosis of CM/SM requires advanced imaging; however, due to expense associated with this, many cases are managed presumptively and symptomatically for the condition. The primary goal of treatment is to manage neuropathic pain and neurologic deficits through pharmaceutical or surgical approaches. Current literature suggests that most CM/SM-affected dogs have progression of their clinical signs in spite of medical or surgical management; however, most maintain a good quality of life based on owner assessments. Lack of correlation between structural markers of disease and clinician and owner-derived measures of neuropathic pain highlight the need for more robust, quantitative measures of pain in this common veterinary disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29793722/