CVM Offers CM Screening for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Brussels Griffons

The Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital at Auburn University is now offering a Chiari-like malformation (CM) screening package to owners and breeders of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Brussels Griffons. Referrals are not required and limited appointments will be offered on Thursdays only. To schedule a CM screening, call the Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital front desk at 334-844-4690.

CM, a malformation of the skull, is a common cause of syringomyelia (SM) in dogs. The Auburn University CM screenings will identify dogs with CM or the likelihood of developing SM. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Brussels Griffons with CM/SM are not recommended for breeding.

To qualify for the CM screening package the dogs must be at least one year old and asymptomatic (showing no signs of CM/SM). Pre-anesthetic testing (blood work and thoracic radiographs) must be done by a veterinarian elsewhere within two weeks of the CM screening appointment at Auburn University.

The CM screening package includes:

• Physical and neurologic examination by the neurology/neurosurgery service
• General anesthesia
• MRI of the head/neck
• Two CD copies of the MRI images
• Breeding advice based on a previously published grading scheme from the British Veterinary Association

Cost of the CM/SM screening package is $750.

The CM screening appointment may be rescheduled in case of hospital emergencies during the Auburn neurology/neurosurgery regular service. If the CM screening needs to be rescheduled, owners/breeders will be notified by hospital staff by the afternoon prior to the original appointment.

During the screenings fur will be shaved for an IV catheter. The dogs will be discharged the same day, unless it is deemed medically necessary to admit to the hospital for further treatment. Dogs with clinical signs of SM (including neck pain on examination) will not be eligible for this screening procedure and asked to make an appointment for a diagnostic work-up, if desired.

Auburn University’s veterinary hospital is a teaching hospital, so students, interns, and residents may be involved in the screening and treatment of dogs.  All students, interns and residents involved in the CM screenings will be overseen by a board-certified neurologist.

The Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital at Auburn University is located at 1220 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849. To learn more about the Wilford and Kate Bailey Small Animal Teaching Hospital at Auburn University, visit www.vetmed.auburn.edu. Please contact Drs. John Hathcock or Jill Narak at 334-844-4690 for more information about this screening package.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Apr 21 2014. Filed under Featured, Health & Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.