Congratulations Grand Champions Bliss and Newton on your puppies!

Home
Puppies!
Health
  • Our Health Protocol
  • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
  • Puppy Health
  • Training
  • Hips, Patellas, & SM
Products We Love
OUR GIRLS
  • Our Girls Overview Page
  • GCH "Miss Kitty"
  • Brigitte
  • Gigi
  • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
Champions
Service Dog Information
Cavalier Blog
FAQ
Cavalier Club Links
Puppy Owner Group
Fun for Kids of All Ages!
What is a Good Breeder?
Blank
Gallery
Winners Blog
Puppies
Aranel Hamilton
Home
Puppies!
Health
  • Our Health Protocol
  • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
  • Puppy Health
  • Training
  • Hips, Patellas, & SM
Products We Love
OUR GIRLS
  • Our Girls Overview Page
  • GCH "Miss Kitty"
  • Brigitte
  • Gigi
  • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
Champions
Service Dog Information
Cavalier Blog
FAQ
Cavalier Club Links
Puppy Owner Group
Fun for Kids of All Ages!
What is a Good Breeder?
Blank
Gallery
Winners Blog
Puppies
Aranel Hamilton
More
  • Home
  • Puppies!
  • Health
    • Our Health Protocol
    • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
    • Puppy Health
    • Training
    • Hips, Patellas, & SM
  • Products We Love
  • OUR GIRLS
    • Our Girls Overview Page
    • GCH "Miss Kitty"
    • Brigitte
    • Gigi
    • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
  • Champions
  • Service Dog Information
  • Cavalier Blog
  • FAQ
  • Cavalier Club Links
  • Puppy Owner Group
  • Fun for Kids of All Ages!
  • What is a Good Breeder?
  • Blank
  • Gallery
  • Winners Blog
  • Puppies
  • Aranel Hamilton
  • Sign In

  • My Account
  • Signed in as:

  • filler@godaddy.com


  • My Account
  • Sign out

Signed in as:

filler@godaddy.com

  • Home
  • Puppies!
  • Health
    • Our Health Protocol
    • ENS (Early Neuro Stim)
    • Puppy Health
    • Training
    • Hips, Patellas, & SM
  • Products We Love
  • OUR GIRLS
    • Our Girls Overview Page
    • GCH "Miss Kitty"
    • Brigitte
    • Gigi
    • GCH Legacy Chenin Blanc
  • Champions
  • Service Dog Information
  • Cavalier Blog
  • FAQ
  • Cavalier Club Links
  • Puppy Owner Group
  • Fun for Kids of All Ages!
  • What is a Good Breeder?
  • Blank
  • Gallery
  • Winners Blog
  • Puppies
  • Aranel Hamilton

Account


  • My Account
  • Sign out


  • Sign In
  • My Account

Syringomyelia (SM)

Introduction

Syringomyelia, commonly known as SM, can be confirmed by MRI. The current issue is that neurologists have not yet come to a clear definition of the term 'clear' assigned to certain cavaliers, given that most cavaliers have some degree of skull malformation. According to The Healthy Cavalier website, "The late onset of clinical signs and the number of asymptomatic dogs adds to the  complexity of the condition. Not enough is known about long term progression to ascertain the optimum age young dogs should be screened  for the disease."


Research is not static when it comes to SM. The condition, as well as the veterinary medical health trials, demand evolution with a goal of achieving accurate and consistent results that will eventually lead to a universal testing protocol for breeding.   As of today, there are different protocols recommended in the UK, Switzerland, the Netherlands and more. 


Recent studies suggests that in the vast majority of cases the syrinx starts in the upper cervical spinal cord so if this is included then  scanning of the entire cord (more expensive) may not ultimately be  necessary. Any 'normal' dog without the occipital malformation which makes the skull small has a genetic advantage and should be used for breeding. The following breeding recommendations are made using current information and in response to breeder requests for guidelines. It has  yet to be proven if this guide is appropriate. The aim of these recommendations is to reduce the incidence of symptomatic syringomyelia in the breed not to create litters of puppies guaranteed not to have SM as the chance of producing an affected dog cannot be predicted without knowing the inheritance. It is recommended that the offspring of any mating is also MRI screened before breeding. As the incidence of syringomyelia is so high in the breed there will be severe depletion of  the gene pool if only clear dogs are used (i.e. other problems will develop). Therefore until the genetic defect is determined it is  recommended that dogs with syringomyelia be used if they are valuable in another genetic sense e.g. good heart. The general principle of these guidelines is that dogs with code A are more desirable to use than B, etc but that dogs with a higher letter code may still be used in some limited circumstance. 


For extensive information, you can follow this link to a Cavalier Health website I prefer to access: http://www.cavalierhealth.org/smprotocol.htm#Rusbridge_Syringomyelia



SM Veterinary Research Downloads

12 years of chiari-like malformation and syringomyelia scanning in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (pdf)Download

Hip Dysplasia Gallery of Example X-Rays


    Copyright © 2025 Evera True Cavalier King Charles Spaniels - All Rights Reserved.

    Powered by

    • Puppies!
    • Products We Love
    • Boys Overview
    • FAQ
    • Puppy Owner Group
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • What is a Good Breeder?
    • Trupanion Health Ins

    This website uses cookies.

    We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

    DeclineAccept

    Carrot Snuffle Mat

    I had the new carrot snuffle mat delivered this week to test its appeal and durability.  I could be happier with this purchase.  For less than $30, this toy is providing hours of fun for our dogs—young and old.  I put one treat below each carrot, but varied the flavors to provide extra stimulation.   I definitely recommend this interactive toy from Fookens. A link is included here.  Disclaime:  We make a few pennies if you purchase through this Amazon Associate link.

    Get Yours