What are we doing for the health of our dogs?
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We all have a common goal: we all want to breed happy and especially healthy Cavaliers. Breeding means responsibility, and we - the breeders of the CCD e.V. - are aware of this responsibility and we want to live this as well. This includes to detect problems - that can occur in dogs of each breed or not breed - and if necessary to monitor them by appropriate investigations and to exclude affected dogs from breeding.
As you can bring to your mind easily this is not an easy task and calls for prudence and expertise. But we will try our best in line with our four-legged friends. In the following part we give you a short overview of diseases that are monitored by the breeders, what are the requirements in terms of these diseases in our kennel club and what we do in advance personally at Château noblesse. Our philosophy: Forewarned is forearmed.

CCD = Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Germany, member of the FCI / VDH
 

1. Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)

This is a "leakage" of the heart valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle. With each heartbeat blood is pumped from the lungs into the left atrium and the left ventricle. Then the mitral valve must close the way between the atrium and the ventricel, so that in the second action, the heart can pump the blood from the ventricel into the body circulation. When there is a MVD the valve is no longer fully closed, allowing some blood to flow back into the atrium and thus some of the blood is lost for the body circulation when pumping out from the ventricel.
The most common cause is an Mitral valve endocardosis where the edges of the valve become more thick, thus shortening and now no longer able to cover the full opening. Another possible cause is the degeneration of the cordae tendininae, who are responsible for the opening and closing and have to ensure that the valves are in a horizontal level when closed. Only in this position the maximum length can be achieved and the opening will be completely sealed. MVD is the most common heart disease that can be found in dogs. The prevalence increases with age, approximately 10% of all 5-8 years old dogs, approximately 25% of all 9-12-years old dogs and 35% of all dogs over 13 years are affected.  In Cavaliers, the onset of this disease is much earlier in the life of the dog. It has been reported that, once diagnosed, mitral valve disease is much more rapid in Cavaliers than in other breeds. The kennelclubs within the VDH are already working for years to combat this disease, with initial successes. Thus, the percentage of affected Cavaliers in younger age could be significantly reduced. But we are aware that there is still a long and hard way to go for us and that we have to continue to work hard to reduce this disease that is common in the Cavaliers.

Breeding Requirements in our kennel club (VDH-CCD):
All dogs which are used for breeding must be regularly checked for MVD by auscultation and / or cardiac ultrasound. Dogs need to be checked once in a calendar year, bitches max. 4-6 weeks before a planned mating. The result of this heart check must be written in a special heart passport that was developed by the CCD and that has to been send to the kennelclub before each mating. In addition this heart passports are given to all puppies registered in the CCD to get also a feedback from pet-owners and therwith to get the unique opportunity to assess breeding lines with respect to their heart health and then to be able to avoid risky matings.
 

2. Patella-Luxation (PL)

The kneecap (lat. Patella) is normally lying in a groove in the center of the stifle (knee joint) of the upper leg bone. In case of a PL the kneecap is "slipping" out of this groove and during crossing the cartilage surface of the groove-ridge is rub off and thus causes pain, arthritis and lameness. Affected animals show sometimes a characteristic hopping to the leg, in which the patella is luxated. When the patella is slipped back into its groove, the leg is again used normally.

Breeding Requirements in our kennel club (VDH-CCD):
Each dog must be checked of PL before used for breeding (Minimum age: 12 months). Only Cavaliers without any condition of PL are allowed for breeding.
 

3. Syringomyelia (SM)

This disease is not a "new" disease, even though it has come in discussion recently by new scientific findings. Previously, often referred to be only an individual "tic", we now know that SM - or also called Arnold Chiari - is a formation of fluid filled cavities in the spinal cord due to a disorder of the brain circulation fluid. Affected dogs show sometimes a sensitivity in the neck area and an typical scratching at the ear usually on one side without finding ear problems when checked. The problem in the detection of the disease is caused by the diversity of the symptoms - they range from the described typical scratching to non-specific lameness or to a curved posture. The knowledge of the origin and inheritance of this disorder is still incomplete, but with today's data it is assumed that about 3-5 % of all Cavaliers develop more or less pronounced symptoms in their life.

Breeding Requirements in our kennel club (VDH-CCD):
Dogs with neurological abnormalities of all kind of sorts are excluded from breeding. The data of all cases confirmed by a veterinarian are collected and the information is sended to the breeding guards. Only in this way we can avoid known risky matings.
 

4. Eye diseases

In contrast to the three above-mentioned diseases Eye diseases, especially hereditary Retinadysplasie and cataract, seems to play a minor role in the Cavaliers. Even if a check is not mandatory in our kennel club, so we have personally decided to check all our stud dogs for eye diseases and our bitches as randim sampling as well. Only with that easy examination done by a specialist we can ensure that we realize when there might occur a problem in our stock in future. The results of the voluntary eye examination are send directly by the vet to the kennel club, the findings are reported in the papers of all offspring. Therefore only highly qualified eye specialist appointed by the VDH are allowed to do this check.
 

5. Hip Dysplasia (HD)

This especially in heavyweight races occurring malformation of the hip causes an abnormal mobility of the hip head in the corresponding socket. In the following this causes arthritis and pain and different levels of lameness. Comprehensive years of investigations in Germany have shown that Hip Dysplasia is not our main problem in the Cavaliers, however a further observation seems to be necessary. Although the checkup of Hip Dysplasia is not mandatory in our kennel club, the results of the voluntary examinations are reported in the pedigrees of the offspring and shell encourage to do the checkup. Dogs with moderate and severe HD will be immediately excluded from breeding.
 

We hope to have been given you a small overview of our efforts around the health of our beloved Cavaliere. Even if we are not oracles, and we cannot look into the future, we can try to give our puppies the best possible conditions for a long and healthy life. Let's work together !

Tanja Schumann
Cavaliers du château noblesse