Isabelle, a Blenheim Cavalier, started scratching when on lead around 18 months of age, especially when excited. Three vets suggested she had allergies. Occasionally, she would yelp when we "picked her up wrong." We thought the scratching might be a nervous twitch, rather than allergies.
Isabelle scratched "air guitar" style when her lead was attached as she was leaving her breeder's home after being bred. The breeder immediately recognized the symptom and was shocked. She wondered why we had not mentioned "neck scratcher's disease" and said it was now too late since she had just been bred.
After Internet research, I realized that Isabelle likely had syringomyelia. It was hard to study; tears filled my eyes. I was terrified about the puppies and worried that the pregnancy might harm Isabelle. I joined the UK Arnold Chiari in Dogs Yahoo group for support and advice.
Pregnant with 6 puppies, Isabelle visited Dr. Curtis Dewey on Long Island, NY. He suspected syringomyelia, and after the puppies were born, her MRI showed 1 moderate syrinx (cavity) with excess fluid around the spinal cord due to the Chiari malformation. We opted for surgery to "freeze-dry" her disease. Our goal was to prevent or delay disease progression. Nerve damage is irreversible; for us, success meant "no progression" versus "return to normal".
Isabelle had decompression surgery on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2004. Dr. Dewey's extra step of marsupializing the meninges is meant to reduce the chance of scar tissue refilling the newly created space. Isabelle returned home 3 days post-op with no pain medicine or pain. After a few days, she wanted to play with her puppies because she felt good; in fact, the most difficult part of surgery was keeping her very quiet for 8 weeks post-op.
Nearly one year post-surgery, Isabelle continues to do very well. She plays, runs, wrestles, and is an incredibly happy dog. Her six puppies are wonderful and so far, show no signs of disease. However, they are at risk for SM, so we monitor them closely. We will opt for early surgery if symptoms appear.
Isabelle's scratching continues, but it is controlled on Neurontin which she will likely take for life. The scratching is paraesthesia and is not painful; it feels likes ants are crawling on her skin. She has yelped a few times since surgery, but only when a major weather front is moving in. On these rare occasions, she remains quiet for a few hours and then is back to playing by mid-morning. Like humans with migraines, weather seems to give her a mild headache.
There is hope for dogs with Syringomyelia. We expect Isabelle to live a pain-free long and happy life.