Chairi Malformation and Syringomeylia

By Ingrid

Hi, I live in the Netherlands and over here there is a big discussion going on about a breedingstop. There are 2 organisations that want a breedingstop for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Because they say that 98% worldwide the cavalier has CM and Syringomeylia. Now I'm against a breedingstop because, you gonna push the cavalier in a black breeding circuit. Where there is no controle over. I'm for a very strickt breedingproces, were is MRIscan a must. Bad result, negative breedingadvise, no pedigree. The parent must be scanned at an age of 2 and a half, then te skal is fulgrown. Also the hart and patella must be checked. How is it in the US with the scanning for Chiari Malformation an Syringomeylia, for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Like? (0)

View more articles in: Chiari Malformation / Syringomyelia

Great Dane walks again after paralyzing disease

Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia - Management

Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia - Treatment

Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia - Symptoms

Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia - Overview

Comments on this Article

I would have to agree with you both Ingrid and Karen. A breed stop would undoubtedly push the breed in the black market breeder. If there's a chance to turn the CKCS gene pool around to the healthy side of the scale, then strict pedigree rules that all CKCS breeders follow, paired with some type of worldwide breed database and an enforcement/reporting system for those that break the rules, would seem to me the best way to go. Then I would say CKCS in their current form have a chance to survive.

But alternatively it may have to be recognized that the pedigree needs to be opened up to a wider gene pool and unfortunately mixed with another breed in order to survive. Not optimal for sure, but it may be the only way to change their skull shapes so that brain and skull fit together. This in turn may minimize the impact of CM, COMS and SM. I can't say it would make the disease vanish as there may be a much more complicated genetic history behind it. Such a shame that so many of the breed are affected by such a crippling neurological disease.

No breed stop but stop the overbreeding of Cavaliers with stick accordance to the new guidelines set up by Clare Rusbridge. My dog was treated at Long Island Veterinary Services and they have a study dedicated to this condition. They offer a discount to breeders to MRI their dogs in hopes to curb the growing population of affected dogs. These dogs live a life of pain and it is so heartbreaking.

Hi Tamara, There are now very strickt rules for breeding pedigree CKCS. First the hartdoppler, patella, and the MRI for CM and SM. and I'm very happy with that. Only animal society's want to push it over die edge, and want to go to the judge to try to get a hole breedingstop for the CKCS. Wich I think is a very bad Idea considering, black breeding without pedigree. That's the end of the cavalier.

Hi Ingrid, I had not realized that worldwide estimates for CM and SM were so severe for CKCS. I hope the breeding standards for CKCS get the reforms and intervention they needs so desperately. How do the breeder associations in the Netherlands plan to prevent (and enforce) people from breeding the dogs? Are they also considering the option of creating a strict genetic screening policy for breeders, and a reward system for breeders that adhere to the guidelines? Such a complex issue. I hope to read more from you and others on it.

» View all comments