Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Itching

icheekymonkey

beachbeth wrote: »

Does she scoot (wipe) her bum along the floor too? I ask because I have got Cavaliers and they are very prone to a build up in their anal glands. This causes irritation and can cause them to bite at their rear ends and to scoot along the floor.

The anal glands are just inside the anus and get filled with a revolting black fluid. If they have a high fibre diet this usually gets flushed out when they go to the loo. However, I have to actually squeeze it out of my dogs to get rid of it for them.:o (I wear disposable gloves and then bleach the area that it squirts out of!)

To find out though you need to take the dog to the vets so that he can rule out any skin irritation cause and he can also express the anal glands for you and show you how to do it if need be.

Yes, she has done the scooting thing in the past and have always thought it was to do with worming! She once had her glands done at the vets and he showed me how to do it but sorry just can't . She actually only had them done at the end of November when she went to the doggy salon.

foreign_correspondent

icheekymonkey wrote: »

Thanks for the info Slimcilla - she is fed on Bakers Meaty Chunks mixed with Bakers Complete (small bite).

Before you all shout at me I know this is not the best dog food but believe me, I have tried it all.

When we got her she was on Pedigree Chum puppy food and the vet told us to stop this as was rubbish and give her Eukanuba which we then spent a fortune on and she ate for about 3 days!!! We then proceeded down the very expensive route of James Wellbeloved, Science Plan (from the vets) and other higher costing brands - all of which she refused to eat.

I know the best ones taste bland because they have no additives and fat to make them smell nice (at least to the dog) but at least she eats this one.

.. the bakers could well be a likely suspect here - a vet check up is in order as the frst line of action, but if he does not have a diagnosis then try swapping her food - it does not have to be a posh or expensive one, just a more natural one without any colours.

Bakers is full of colours, and as with some people these things will bother some dogs and not others.. I would try a different cheapo brand with less junk in it. I feed wagg which does not have any colours, I have no idea about pedigree, but if she ate it ok, check the ingredients and if it has no colours it may be worth swapping back to that.

Wheat also bothers some dogs, but not others, so this may also be a culprit - if swapping to something without colours has no offect it may be worth trying a rice based food later on.

beachbeth

lilibeth wrote: »

Hopefully it is nothing serious. But if it was my dog I would be wanting the vet to check double check and check again. If a definite diagnosis can be made and the dog treated then fabulous. If not I would be insisting on a referral to a neurologist and possibly an MRI thereafter to rule out Syringomyelia.

The OP stated that her dog was scratching at her back end - NOT a symptom of Syringomyelia. The trouble with recent tv programmes and newspaper articles is that hysteria has been generated regarding this condition and people think that most Cavaliers have it. Well, I have 5 Cavaliers and none of them have it. It isn't as common as is made out. Yes, there are breeders out there that don't scan for it and don't care but there are also breeders who do (I know of two in my own area). Plus, do you know how much these scans cost!!!:eek: You wouldn't pay for such a scan unless your vet diagnosed SM.

beachbeth

icheekymonkey wrote: »

Yes, she has done the scooting thing in the past and have always thought it was to do with worming! She once had her glands done at the vets and he showed me how to do it but sorry just can't . She actually only had them done at the end of November when she went to the doggy salon.

No, it isn't worms that causes this. This is a popular myth! Some Cavaliers do suffer badly with their glands and it still could be her anal glands that are bothering her, even though you had them done in November. Your veterinary nurse can do it for you cheaper than paying the vet. However, as you aren't certain that this is the cause I think a trip to the vet is the only way forward here.

suki1964

Wondering how you got on at the vet?

lilibeth

beachbeth wrote: »

The OP stated that her dog was scratching at her back end - NOT a symptom of Syringomyelia. The trouble with recent tv programmes and newspaper articles is that hysteria has been generated regarding this condition and people think that most Cavaliers have it. Well, I have 5 Cavaliers and none of them have it. It isn't as common as is made out. Yes, there are breeders out there that don't scan for it and don't care but there are also breeders who do (I know of two in my own area). Plus, do you know how much these scans cost!!!:eek: You wouldn't pay for such a scan unless your vet diagnosed SM.

No she didn't she said her waist.
And it is not exclusively head /neck itching. Funny because I remember one of the dogs shown did exactly what the op described and started out by scratching its waist.
So you identify peoples concern and disgust at the Cavalier Club who actually kicked out the lady who raised concerns about this awful condition as hysteria. People trying to raise awareness about something that will WIPE OUT this breed if nothing is done.
People exposing what the Cavalier Club and the breeders covered up and tried to keep quiet for so long.
Still I suppose the people who have been exposed are feeling rather embarrassed so just label everyone who brings it up hysterical
As to the cost I couldn't give a stuff lack of money is not a good enough excuse to not behave responsibly.

And there are breeders who have it confirmed and breed from them anyway. Like the winner of the Cav section at Crufts for example.

And how do you know they don't have it, unless you have seen an mri of each dogs head you cannot be certain.

Not that common hey really?

Yes you are right and the experts are wrong.:rolleyes:

Syringomyelia is rare in most breeds but has become widespread in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, with international research samples in the past few years consistently showing nearly all (90%+) cavaliers have the malformation and that between 30-70% have syrinxes, though most dogs with syrinxes are not symptomatic.

And as to only having an MRI after it is diagnosed???????????
I think you'll find it is done when it is 'suspected' the MRI then confirms it.
And because it is often asymptomatic researchers have made guidelines these include MRI's for all dogs used for breeding to assess the level of malformation and syrinxes. In order that you can carefully match up a pair for breeding and have a better chance of clear puppies.

This is the ONLY way to have a chance of rescuing this breed.

icheekymonkey

Took my dog to the vets yesterday and there is nothing there at all!! More than likely an allergy so have to make sure she is not having anything different than her normal diet and see how she goes. If she is still the same in a couple of weeks, to take her back. She also had her anal glands emptied whilst she was there.

Took her to the doggy salon today too so she has had a good wash, been clipped and trimmed and had her nails and teeth done.

She does seem to have almost stopped doing it over the last couple of days and have only seen her nibbling a couple of times so hopefully will have solved itself.