I was reading another thread with a poor poster whose dog is suffering with this condition.

On the premise that all learning is good, I had a look at the website link of the leading researcher of SM and Chiari malformation.

I am curious, because on another thread, I was roundly criticised for 'falling for' the 'hype' that this condition is caused by the brain being too large for the skull, and told most categorically that this was not the cause. Having just looked at the first few pages on this researchers site, I find this:

Chiari-like malformation (CM) is the most common cause of foramen magnum obstruction and syringomyelia in the dog. CM is a condition characterised by mismatch in size between the brain (too big) and the skull (too small). There is not enough room for the brain and the back part (cerebellum and medulla) is pushed out the FM

So, without wishing to cause an argument leading research 'does' attribute this condition to brain/skull ratio?

Worth repeating that this is the latest research paper:
"to address this problem by evaluating the caudal fossa dimensions
of large and small breed dogs, including the CKCS and investigating
skull radiograph dimensions in a new breed affected by
CLM, the Griffon Bruxellois (GB), respectively. It appears that
the CKCS actually may have a caudal fossa which is suitable for
the size of the breed, but have too much parenchyma when compared
to a similar sized dog; truly a situation where bigger is not
better!
For the purposes
of guiding breeding programs, we need a better marker than
size and we await a genetic awakening.
Journal of Small Animal Practice * Vol 50 * August 2009 * © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association"

Together with Steve Dean in Dog World Sept 09
"It is this study that raises the most interesting questions as it would seem that CKCS skull cavities are not so proportionately different from other breeds of dog but it is possible that the volumes of the brain itself may be relatively larger, especially that of the cerebellum.
This is a fascinating development because instead of the problem being associated with a small skull it is possible that the problem relates to the relative size of the brain itself.
So if syringomyelia proves not be related to the genetics of skull size (something that intuitively never seemed to ring true for the CKCS) but is related more to the volume of the brain within the skull, is this the reason why a portion of the cerebellum protrudes into the foramen magnum at the back of the head (this is the orifice at the back of the skull through which the spinal cord exits to pass down the spine), thus impeding the flow of cerebrospinal fluid?"

Quoting the latest scientific work but I'm sure Clare Rusbridge will inform you of where she is in her own research which, I believe, was last published in 2008 .

Doesn't this really amount to the same thing? That the size of the brain (too much parenchyma) is too large for the skull that encapsulates it - for whatever reason?

I have also read from some research studies that the caudal fossa is more of a comparitive size to that of larger dog.

Surely then a larger skull would be the most obvious answer to accommodate the brain without herniation? I do hope some breakthrough occurs for this dreadful disease. I really don't like the sound of 'we await a genetic awakening' - not when such a painful condition will continue to manifest itself.  How a genetic awakening may solve this problem I don't know. Genetically reduce the volume of the brain itself, so that no change need to be made to the shape/size of the skull?

> I really don't like the sound of 'we await a genetic awakening' - not when such a painful condition will continue to manifest itself. 

You are not alone, no breeder of cavaliers wants to have dogs in pain either, (with the exception of the back yard breeders and puppy farmers of course). To this end they are working very closely with a research team, who have made some interesting developments in understanding this problem. It is solely through the cavalier club members sending foetal tissues to the research team that this has been possible. Everyone quotes Clare Rusbridge but the team working on the foetal tissue research are finding some interesting facts and if they had not got the funding from the Cavalier Club and Cavalier breeders they would not be making the progress they are.

Does anyone know if crossbreeds can get Syringomyelia? I'm asking because I had a cavalier/bichon cross puppy in today for grooming and her owner said one of the reasons she got a crossbreed and not a pure bred cavalier is because of the "brain disease" they get which a cavalier cross wouldn't.I didn't say anything as I didn't know.But if the cavalier sire is affected could it not be passed on?

> Does anyone know if crossbreeds can get Syringomyelia?

Yes.

There is a Shih Tzu x CKCS in Australia which has been diagnosed by MRI.
DNA has been sent to Montreal to assist research.

There can always be one-offs in any breed but, because of the Cavalier parent, this poor little dog has been included in the Cavalier/Griffon research.

People get it too, so I am told by a researcher working on this. Like many problems dogs have you will find identical ones in people but they are often called by a different name. The chairi malformation in dogs is the same in people.

You say 'everyone quotes Clare Rusbridge...'  I have met her and consulted her with my dog, albeit with a different condition, but she is the most caring, knowledgeable vet i have ever met.  She cares about the animals she treats and goes 'that extra mile' to diagnose and treat.  She has even e-mailed me when she was away from the surgery on holiday.  I would have absolutely no hesitation in telling anyone dealing with Syringomelia to contact her.

I was not meaning that she was not recognised in her field of research and a caring vet, but she is only one researcher working on this condition, and none of the others gets a mention since Clare was on that programme on TV. I was hoping that by mentioning other researchers that people like yourself who are obviously interested in the research on syringomyelia might like to try to find out more about what other researchers are doing, and the results they are getting. Apart from Clare how many other researchers have you spoken to or read about or supported their work in some capacity? I think you would find that all the researchers are very kind, very caring and certainly go the 'extra mile'.