SYRINGOMYELIA (SM) is where the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain and the spinal cord is altered or blocked so that cavities develop, called syrinxes. These cavaties/syrinxes filled with the cerebrospinal fluid can cause damage to the spinal cord and function of the nervous system. A syrinx can develop as young as 3 months or more slowly over a period of years. There is no cure, the condition can be managed through medical intervention with high strength analgesics or corticosteroids for pain management and medication to reduce cerebrospinal fluid production

CHIARI-LIKE MALFORMATION (CM) is a malformation or mismatch between the skull size and brain size. In CM the skull is too small and the brain is too big, which leads to the brain being squashed and pushed out the back of the dog’s skull (foramen magnum) into the vertebral canal. This obstructs the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in and out of the brain. CM can be extremely painful and surgery may be an option to relieve pain and suffering and improve the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Chiari-like malformation is a birth defect where the dog is born with the condition.

Symptoms can vary from dog to dog and not all dogs exhibit all of the same symptoms. Though symptoms may be  unnoticeable in some dogs other dogs are quite affected but vary in the way the outward symptoms show.  Dogs are usually diagnosed upwards from the age of 6 months. Due to the progressive nature of the condition symptoms may not show themselves until around the age of three or four years or even later as a dog ages and matures. Some badly affected dogs exhibit symptoms from a very young age.

Symptoms include pain or sensitivity to touch around the neck region including ears and shoulders. Scratching in the air without body contact or scratching around the regions of neck, shoulders, head, face and ears .Biting hind quarters or chewing front paws. Sudden yelping or crying out for no obvious reason. Limb weakness, particularly hind legs. Rubbing of eyes, ears, face on to the ground or rubbing on to  paws. Slowing down of movement or reluctance to walk due to pain. Reluctance or hesitation to jump on to furniture or climb stairs. Random screaming because of pain which may lead to aggressive behaviour particularly to other dogs. Curving of the spine leading to scoliosis. Seizures.

All symptoms need thorough investigations by an expert (neurologist ) to rule out other causes. Some symptoms are common to other diseases and conditions. A MRI scan is the only conclusive way of confirming a diagnosis of syringomyelia and chiari-like malformation.