Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of NSW

The NSW Cavalier Club aims to provide up-to-date information on Health Issues for all Cavalier owners, and potential owners, on these pages.

Cavaliers are generally a happy healthy breed of dog. However, as with many other breeds, there are genetic problems.

The Club actively encourages its members to test their Cavaliers for heart and eye problems by organising Health Check Clinics through out the year.

The Club also actively supports research into MVD and syringomyelia, and raises funds to support research into these problems.

These are problems within the breed, however the impression should not be given that all Cavaliers have these conditions. They do not.

These are conditions which reputable breeders are aware of, and those intending to purchase a puppy are recommended to buy from breeders who are prepared to discuss and advise on these concerns.

Unfortunately this cannot guarantee that dogs will be free from problems, but you will be buying from someone who is doing their best to produce healthy stock.

Heart Murmurs

Unfortunately some Cavaliers develop a heart murmur by the time they reach 6 years of age and may need to go on medication if it becomes severe. They can usually live quite happy and healthy lives and often reach 14 years of age, although the average life expectancy is around 12 years. Many never need any medication. Occurence of this condition is being monitored and breeders are being encouraged to screen stock carefully. Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) is an inherited disease.

The Cavalier Club of NSW arrange regular heart clinics (as do many other Cavalier Clubs in Australia and overseas) for breeders to be able to have their breeding stock and older dogs screened by Veterinary cardiologist specialists. These specialists are able to detect even minor mumurs (Grade 1), certificates are issued with the results noted of the findings. A clear heart certificate issued is always wonderful news for breeders. Whilst these clinics are not compulsory only by testing our breeding stock during their lifetime can we determine at what age heart murmur develops and use this information hopefully to reduce the incidence of MVD. We encourage breeders to use older dogs with clear hearts in their breeding program as much as possible.

The Club maintains a register of Cavaliers who are certified 'Heart Clear' over the age of five. The Heart Registry can be accessed here.

Inherited Eye Defects

The two most serious eye defects affecting Cavaliers are Cataracts and Retinal Dysplasia.

A Cataract is the loss of the normal transparency of the lens of the eye. Sometimes they start out as small posts on the lens and suddenly grow larger. As the Cataract grows in size the dog will have difficulty seeing and eventually may go blind. Cataracts can be operated on when they have fully developed and can be quite costly. There is also an inherited form which can be present from birth. These cataracts do not progress and do not lead to blindness.

Retinal Dysplasia comes in 3 different forms. Retinal Folds which are malformations of the retina of the eye. Often puppies have folds which look like tiny squiggles on the retina, or they may have folds which can disappear as they age and are no longer apparent over 1 year or so. Cavaliers with Retinal folds can be Certified Eye Clear.

Geographic Dysplasia is a malformation of the retina similar to the folds but are larger in size. This is a more severe form of retinal dysplasia and all affected animals cannot be bred from or Certified Eye Clear.

Retinal Detachment is the most severe form and can lead to blindness in some breeds. Affected animals are not to be bred from and cannot be Certified Eye Clear.

The Cavalier Club of NSW also hold eye clinics and we encourage all breeders to attend.

Syringomyelia

The following article on Syringomyelia was originally written by Jenny Brice for the CKCS Club of SA, and is reproduced here with their kind permission.

Syringomyelia is condition which can occur in Cavaliers (and other breeds). In recent months it has received a lot of world wide attention and publicity in the media and on the internet. Along with the facts, a lot of misinformation has been published and broadcast, and has caused a lot of unnecessary worry and panic amongst pet owners. This has been aggravated by the fact that many Vets have not had any previous experience with Syringomyelia and are also learning about it. Some reports are suggesting that the problem is very common in Cavaliers but breeders who have been closely involved with the breed for many years know that this is not so.

Syringomyelia (SM) is an extremely serious condition in which fluid-filled cavities develop within the spinal cord near the brain. It occurs in humans as well as in dogs. In dogs affected with SM it is thought that a malformation in the back half of the skull may allow a small part of the brain to protrude through a hole, thus blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid down the spinal cord and causing the SM condition. It is believed to be an inherited condition.

Symptoms

The majority of dogs affected by SM will show symptoms between 6 months and 3 years of age but symptoms can develop at any age.

Symptoms of SM can vary widely but severe pain is the most important clinical sign. The first sign is often a hyper-sensitivity in the dog's neck area, which gives it an uncontrollable urge to scratch excessively at or near its neck and shoulders. The dog may also seem to be overly sensitive to being touched around the head, neck and shoulders. Symptoms can progress until the dog experiences severe pain around its head, neck, and shoulders, causing it to yelp or scream.

In severe cases of SM a portion of the dog's spinal cord is destroyed, and the resulting pain may cause the affected dog to contort its neck and even sleep and eat only with its head held high. The dog's legs may become progressively weaker, making walking increasingly difficult.
Progression of the disease is variable. Not all dogs with SM have clinical signs and some may never show any signs, depending on the severity of the condition.

Diagnosis

The only accurate way of diagnosing SM is through the use of magnetic resonance image (MRI) scanning. This is an extremely costly procedure and there are very few MRI scanners available for use with animals. An MRI image will allow a veterinary neurologist to study the spine and diagnose the presence of any abnormality which might obstruct the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid.

Treatment

Treatment options for SM are very limited and they do not cure the problem. Drugs can help to reduce the pain and symptoms but they cannot reduce the deterioration, and long term use of many of these drugs is not advisable.

Surgery to allow the cerebrospinal fluid to flow normally may be necessary to reduce the pain and deterioration. However, such surgeries are expensive and technically difficult and they are not always successful. Following surgery many dogs still show signs of pain and others have a recurrence of the problem.

Foot Note

Scratching at the neck and shoulders and sensitivity in this area are also symptoms of other, more common ailments, including ear infections, ear mites and other ear problems, skin conditions and allergies, problems with the teeth, fleas, and spinal or disk problems.

If you have any concerns about your Cavalier please contact your Cavalier’s breeder or one of the committee members.

Slipping Patellas

This condition is described in various ways e.g. slipping patella, patella luxation, slipping stiffle, or stifle dysplasia and it is the hind legs that are affected. The patella, or kneecap, is a small bone which runs in a groove and moves up and down as the leg is straightened or bent. Dislocation occurs when the patella slips out of the groove. The dislocation can be corrected temporarily by manipulation but often recurs. A more permanent solution is possible by corrective surgery. The defect is said to be hereditary, therefore stock with this defect should not be used for breeding.

Further Health Information

For further information about health issues concerning the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel please browse some of the links on our Links page.