This Press release was issued on 5th September 2008

Following concerns raised recently regarding the health of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, the Kennel Club would like to address the real facts surrounding this charming and popular breed and the work which is ongoing on its behalf.

First and foremost, the incidence of the disease Syringomyelia is very much in dispute. However, this is ultimately of no great consequence and it is not delaying the many positive actions being taken to address the problems by the Cavalier breed clubs, the Kennel Club Charitable Trust and the Kennel Club itself. Large amounts of time, effort and money continue to be invested to establish the precise modes of inheritance of both Syringomyelia and the heart condition Mitral Valve Disease that also affects some Cavaliers.

The objective is to design sensible, practical and successful breeding strategies which will enable Cavalier breeders to ensure the future prosperity of the breed. One of the approaches being investigated would use a technique called ‘Estimated Breeding Values’, which is a tool that has been developed by scientists and has proved successful in the breeding of livestock. Another way of speeding up such work is for more Cavaliers to be MRI scanned for Syringomyelia, and the Kennel Club, the Animal Health Trust and the Cavalier clubs are looking into whether effective screening programmes can be developed to enable this. Similar work is being done to develop effective screening for Mitral Valve Disease.

Caroline Kisko, speaking on behalf of the Kennel Club, said, “The science surrounding these problems is not simple, but the work is in hand which hopefully will enable breeders to solve the problems which the vast majority of them recognised and took in hand some years ago. Only through the careful use of the available science can the problems of Cavaliers be ultimately resolved.”

Lesley Jupp, Chairman of The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, said, “The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club has conducted extensive work for the past 20 years, in the endeavour to combat health issues within the breed. Cavalier breeders now have the golden opportunity to be the first to take advantage of the EBV scheme being developed at the Animal Heath Trust. The scheme has the support of all Cavalier breed clubs and I am sure that, with a united front, substantial progress can be achieved in dealing with our health problems.” For a full list of the health initiatives undertaken by The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, please visit the Kennel Club’s website on pedigree dog health, www.doggenetichealth.org.

To read more of the Kennel Clubs Plans Following the Broadcast of Passionate Productions Programme - Pedigree Dogs Exposed see http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2033/23/5/3

Questions about Pedigree dogs raised by the BBC Programme 'Pedigree Dogs Exposed' see http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2002/23/5/3

The April 2008 issue of the Kennel Club Gazette contained an article on Cavalier Health read it here

The Kennel Club conducted its own health survey in 2006 in connection with the British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. It showed that neurological conditions including syringomyelia were the cause of death in just 2.8% of CKCS to see the report on the KC web site click here..