New plan for SM screening in Cavaliers
18 Sep 2008 08:12
CAVALIER Clubs, the Kennel Club and the Animal Health Trust are hoping to develop programmes to screen for syringomyelia (SM) and mitral valve disease.
To speed up work already being done, the KC, said the objective now was also to design ‘sensible, practical and successful breeding strategies’ which would 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,’ a tool which has been developed by scientists and has proved successful in the breeding of livestock,” a KC spokesman said.
“Another way of speeding up such work is for more Cavaliers to be MRI scanned for syringomyelia, and we, 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 the heart condition mitral valve disease.”
Following the programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed and fears about the health of Cavaliers, the KC said it wanted 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,” the spokesman said.
Positive action
“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,” the spokesman said.
“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 which also affects some Cavaliers.
“The science surrounding these problems is not simple but work is in hand which hopefully will enable breeders to solve the problems 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 ultimately be resolved.”
Lesley Jupp, chairman of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, said: “The 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 estimated breeding value 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 club visit www.doggenetichealth.org.
• The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club is holding a special general meeting in Derbyshire on Oct 5 in a bid to expel one of its members, Margaret Carter, who appeared in the programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed.