Pet care: What if King Charles is your dog with neck pain?

Q: I have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is 9. Recently, over the last two weeks, he developed an involuntary, what I would call, muscle spasm. I can see it in his upper body and through his back when he is sitting and when he is lying down. He doesn’t appear to be in distress. I am not sure what to do.

Dr. Nichol: This is worrisome. There are several possible causes for neck and back pain in small dogs, but your boy’s genetics may be an important clue. Nearly 100% of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have some degree of abnormal alignment of their head and the vertebrae in their necks. Called Chiari-like malformation syndrome, this defect can result in fluid accumulation in the spinal cord near the base of the skull. When this complication, syringomyelia, occurs, we see neck pain often with muscle spasms, an abnormal gait, and in some cases non-contact scratching at their heads. Gradually advancing damage to the spinal cord just behind the head can trigger a variety of neurological symptoms. Some dogs become paralyzed. It can happen fast.

Ask your veterinarian to take X-rays of your dog’s head/neck. If the images are suspicious for Chiari-like malformation, the little guy can be referred to a neurologist for an MRI scan to confirm the diagnosis. Some cases do OK with rest and anti-inflammatory medications. Special feeding practices like putting the bowl on an elevated surface can reduce a dog’s need to flex its neck in order to eat. If your boy’s condition is more serious and the damage to his cervical spinal cord is severe, he may do best with surgery.

There are other conditions commonly seen in small dogs that may be responsible. A herniated disc or an infection of in your dog’s vertebrae could cause similar symptoms. Act quickly; you don’t want your fine boy to get worse. Dr. Brofman and Dr. Stallings are excellent veterinary neurologists at the Thrive Pet HealthCare Specialists hospital in Albuquerque. They have the skills and equipment to help.

For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com

• .