As with all pure bred dogs, Cavaliers are not
without their health concerns. It is fair to note that all genetics, good and bad, were compounded when the breed was re-created
in 1927, at which time 6 foundation dogs became the groundwork from which all purebred Cavaliers today can be traced. This
fact alone emphasizes how small the gene pool is for the breed. Some problems in the breed are of more proportionate concern
than others, and more challenging for breeders to manage. However, as a whole, cavaliers are a hardy, healthy little spaniel.
Reputable breeders will have a good knowledge of pedigree traits and attempt to breed from stock that are free of major
health problems.
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Mitral Valve Disease (MVD)
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Caused by endocardiosis, polysaccharide deposits in the valve leaflets which distorts the valve and
allow it to leak. Although common in most toy dogs, it seems to present earlier in the cavalier. Cardiologist statistics
world wide, indicate that about 50% of cavaliers will develop at least a mild heart murmur by the age of five, 70% by age
7 and over 98% by the age of ten. Cavaliers can still lead perfectly normal lives for years after developing a murmur, many
never slowing down a bit from the disease. If affected with symptoms, it is usually very late in life and can be treated
with medication.
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Syringomyelia (SM)
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A condition that has always been in the breed, as well as other breeds- both large and small, is
syringomyelia. Its symptoms vary drastically, thus a diagnosis was not made until recently. It is thought the condition is
similar to Arnold-Chiari malformation, in humans. Based on current theory, of which many holes exist, the bottom half of
the skull develops in a way that crowds the cerebellum of the brain, impeding the path of cerebrospinal fluid movement around
the brain and spinal cord. The increased pressure and pooling of cerebrospinal fluid may cause irritation and damage to
the spinal cord, resulting in symptoms of neck scratching, headache, and in extreme cases, paralysis. Dogs suffering life
effecting symptoms of SM are rare.
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Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) and Syringomyelia (SM)
prove much more challenging problems to the breed and breeders. Although early onset and severe cases are minimal in responsible
breeding programs, both conditions can show up later in life and there is no test or gene isolation available today to
predict if or when a dog will encounter onset. Both these conditions have been the main focus of resource allocation
of funds to genetic research, by breed clubs Health Foundations and Charitable Trusts funds, donated to by dedicated breeders.
The actual mode of inheritance, genetic and environmental factors that influence these conditions are still unknown.
All cavaliers are carriers of both conditions, regardless of the blood lines. Responsible breeders do a good job minimizing
the number of cases of effected dogs.
"Dog's Lives are short,
too short, but you know that going in.
You know the pain is coming, you're going to lose a friend, and there's
going to be anguish. So you live fully in the moment with her, never fail to share her joy or delight in her innocence ,
because you can't support
the illusion that a dog can be your lifelong companion.
There's such beauty in
the hard honesty of that, in accepting and giving love while always aware it comes with an unbearable price."
~
Dean Koontz "Darkest Evening of the Year"
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Patellar Luxation (loose/slipped knees)
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The disorder is believed to affect as many as 20% of cavaliers. The patella is
the dog's knee cap. It should be located in its groove in the center of the stifle (knee joint) of the femur (upper
leg bone). A luxating patella is a knee cap that moves out of its groove. Genetic conditions which cause patellar luxation
are a shallow groove, weak ligaments, and misalignment of the muscles and ligaments between the femur, patella, and tibia
(lower leg bone).
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Eye Issues
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Eye, hip, and patella problems do exist in all toy breeds, including Cavaliers,
however they are conditions that can be tested for before a dog is ever incorporated into a breeding program. Responsible
breeders will test & clear their breeding stock and will have very few incidences of these conditions. Still, recessive
genes exist and can crop up when least expected.
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