FRIENDS OF LOLA SHARING STORIES AND PHOTOS OF THERE BELOVED AND ADORED COMPANIONS

 


Our pug Winston never really had the typical SM symptoms. He didn't air scratch, he didn't shake his head, he didn't and still doesn't yelp. He does scratch when he has his harness on and when it comes off, but that's all he does these days. Winston is a wonder in that he doesn't realize that he's different. He is the way he's always been. He just wants to love and be loved and it doesn't matter that he can't stay on his feet at times and that our house has rugs everywhere so he won't slip. He's our boy and we love him. Cathy

Sadly Winston died May 2011

 

I would like to share my story about my dog Ellie who is a cavoodle (cavalier/poodle). Ellie was diagnosed with CM/SM in March 2011 and underwent surgery in April 2011. She only started to exhibit symptoms at age 3 1/2. Ellie was purchased from a lady called Karen Crowley who lives in Gravesend, Kent. Her mother was a ruby cavalier called Flicka and her father a toy apricot poodle called Toby. I am not aware off their pedigree names. Ellie is now 4 and has had her 4wk check after surgery. She is still taking Gabapentine but we are hoping she will eventually be drug free.

Since Ellie was diagnosed I’ve discovered 2 other ladies who bought dogs from Karen who also have the same disease. Sue

 

Our 10-year old pomeranian, his name is King Louie, was diagnosed last August with chiari-like malformation and fluid sack (SM) in spinal chord. Thank you in advanced for just reading this and listening to us. We were never blessed with 2-legged children so our pomaranians (we have 6) are all that we have and they are our children. I wish I could show everyone pictures of King Louie. He is a very special little boy. Right now we are just keeping him very comfortable. He's not over weight so when he does get up to move around or go to bathroom he wobbles a lot because of the chiari-like malformation. Dottie

 

  The Affenpinscher is a very special breed and one that I am passionate about. I found out that Poppy, who was bred by me had been diagnosed with Syringomyelia and so took the decision to have her parents and sister scanned. Unfortunately it was also found in her Mother and Sister but not her Father. I had previously lost 2 dogs with what was then thought to be brain/spinal cord tumours but now I know better. Who knows how much pain and suffering the dogs went through. I never want it to happen to anyone else and so I will not breed again until I have scanned all my dogs for the disease. I whole-heartedly support research into this terrible disease and I hope that everyone else who owns a breed that is at risk will do the same. Jessica, Darkle Affenpinschers.

 

Griffons are my passion, they have such delightful faces and love keeping eye contact so that you can almost imagine what they are thinking (I expect they say the same about us!). They can be difficult, but then so can I. It doesn't matter whether they are show quality or a puppy farm rescue, Griffons are the only dogs I would want to share my life with. Cynthia

 

Molly and Dougall - We took a year to decide a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel would be the right breed to share our lives with. Despite researching the breed, both of our dogs, both from different breeders have devastating health problems. Syringomyelia, Chiari Malformation, Luxating Patellas and Hip Dysplasia. Both Molly and Dougall, are the most wonderful pets we have had the pleasure to own, they are sweet and gentle. From the moment they entered our house they entered our hearts. It fills us with sadness when we look into their big beautiful soulful eyes knowing this horrendous disease (cm/sm) will take them away from us at an early age. Tania

Bennie seemed fine except for his excessively long tongue, until he was about a year old. One day he stiffened up as I held him, only the left leg...like a cramp. I rubbed it and thought it might be a cramp. Slowly it started to happen more and more, soon a head tilt was added and then a back leg thump and crying. As we went from one Vet to another trying to figure out what it was and what to do. I started to do my own research because I wasn't getting any answers. That brought us go to Dr Jason Berg at Oradell Hospital in NJ. He watch Bennie walk into the room, examined him and did some test and started telling me what was wrong by saying "I'm sorry................I don't remember much else I was crying too hard. Today Bennie just turned 6 yrs old this month and has been doing well. He is a happy boy, his tongue sticks out all the time, he has a collection of stuffed monkeys and loves to play "no rules fetch" he is with me always. Bennie has two Maltese brothers Louie and Duncan and an older silky terrier sister named Sophie. I hope he stays healthy for a long, long time. Laura

 

Becky a King Charles Spaniel joined our family age 7 months , she was a very nervous dog & did not have a good temperament but she bonded with me straight away & would let me do anything without a fuss. When she was around 5 she started acting very strangely , she refused to come to me or sit on my knee and instead would stop a few feet away and stare sadly at me. She had always slept on my bed but started sleeping downstairs. She also started biting her stomach raw & dug her bed obsessively until she had holes in it, as time went on she started rubbing her face on the walls & stopping to scratch when on the lead so we tripped over her. SM was not mentioned until she was 11 when she went lame on her front leg , By then my devoted little dog was long gone , she had not sat on my knee or allowed me to stroke her for a long time & had started to have horrible pain episodes. I finally convinced a vet to give her gabapentin and for the next 3 days I had the old Becky back, I could stroke her and she would sit on my lap. Unfortunately between doses of the medication she was in agony & after one very bad attack we had to let her go. Her life would have been so much different without SM perhaps she would not have been so nervous and grumpy if she had felt well . She had been a menace , She barked too much , I had climbed down cliffs and through mud & Ice to rescue her when she had gone hunting & she terrorised the other dogs by leaving biscuit traps for them then hiding round the corner. But she was MY menace & I loved her, walks where just not as interesting without her to get into trouble. Angela

I live with Rosie, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I have family close by but my day to day life revolves around my dog. Best of all are our walks in the Gloucestershire countryside, snuggling up close on the sofa and sleeping together at night. She makes me laugh and gives me joy, keeps me fit and boosts my confidence. Rosie had surgery for SM in 2007 and needs to take medication for the rest of her life. I think she must get headaches sometimes but to look at her you wouldn't think there was anything wrong. I keep my fingers crossed that she will have a good quality of life for a few more years to come. Carol

 

 

 

My dog Oliver was diagnosed at UGA Vet school about 1 yr ago. He was having mystery pains and I finally found the symptoms online that led me to the Brussels Griffon study being done there and the (free) MRI's. I was shocked that he had this, yet learned that a great percentage do (from those that were studied). His breeder never would get in touch with me when I sent her information and later called. He has been on Gabepentin due to very restless nights when he licks and grooms his hind quarters. It was better but right now getting more frequent. Just want to know if any are choosing surgery and what the future holds for him. He will be 4 in Sept. and still appears healthy yet does show a slight weakness on back left side that was pointed out by UGA vets. Carol

Ella is a 4 year old Blenheim Cavalier who has brought much joy to my life. She enjoys going to the Dog Bar and playing with other dogs and chasing after balls. At least she did, but I remember the day I threw the ball and she just sat there. I knew there was something wrong. When she was about 2 years old, things just seemed a little off. She seemed to scratch more than normal so I took her to her veterinarian which said she had allergies. Then I noticed she walked up the stairs funny. I read the book by Sandi Smith For the Love of Ollie, so I had been aware of Syringomyelia and knew a little bit about the symptoms. When Ella would not chase the ball and was shaking her head constantly, I made her veterinarian recommend an MRI. No one thought there was anything wrong so when her MRI came back as severe Syringomyelia, a lot of people were shocked.
Ella had decompression surgery soon after and even though she continues to take medication but Ella is doing great! She is chasing balls along with any bird or other animal she can find. There are bad days but I try not to think about any pain she has and focus on all the good days she has been able to have that I did not think was possible. I thank Ollie for bringing awareness to this condition before it had progressed any further, Anne.

Sadly Ella died 2nd May 2011