Weekday: 8:30am to 6:00pm | Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed
Weekday: 8:30am to 6:00pm (open until 8pm Tuesday & Thursday) | Saturday: 9am to 2pm | Sunday: 9am to 12pm
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) represents 19,000 vets in the UK. It has run canine health schemes with the Kennel Club (KC) for years. All dog breeders should know about hip and elbow scores and the eye tests that have been used to inform decisions over breeding. The hope is to reduce the severity of osteoarthritis and blindness. The results of these screening tests are recorded on the dog’s pedigree certificate. This indicates suitability for breeding (or not) with the aim of producing healthier puppies. These schemes are open to all dogs, not just pedigree animals. So, we would encourage anybody who plans to have puppies to have the tests done on both dam and sire.
There are other screening tests for dogs that are available through the various breed societies. For example, the detection of heart defects in Boxers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels using ultrasound (echocardiography) and DNA testing. The KC and the various breed societies have detailed information for potential breeders on their websites. So, I would really encourage a look at these before breeding. Of course, many dogs are now a mixture of breeds. Although this may dilute “bad genes” it could also introduce unexpected health problems. Inherited conditions of any pure breed can be found in their crosses, so even more homework is needed. We all want to see happy, healthy puppies. After generations of genetic selection, we must now use the new technologies of DNA testing and advanced imaging to detect and then reverse some of the undesirable results of this process.
Recently a new scheme has been launched by the BVA and KC. It’s aimed at an under-recognised complaint with a tricky name: Chiari Malformation/Syringomyelia (CM/SM). All sounds a bit Greek (which is a coincidence). I am writing this overlooking a magnificent Greek seascape on the island of Kalymnos!
CM/SM is a brain and spinal cord disorder. CM is characterised by a mismatch in size between the brain (too big) and the skull (too small). A potential consequence of this is a partial obstruction of the opening at the back of the skull. This is where the spinal cord starts (the foramen magnum…” the big hole”). This in turn prevents the normal drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) out to the spinal cord. It results in the development of fluid-filled cavities within the cord, which is called syringomyelia (see-ringo-my-eelia). CM/SM is an inherited condition although the exact mechanism of the inheritance is not yet fully understood.
So, how does this new scheme work? An MRI is taken of the brain and upper neck to look at the detailed anatomy of the area. A scoring system grades the severity of any signs of CM/SM along with the dog’s age. Once a dog is skeletally mature (after a year old) the CM score will not change but the SM score might. This is because SM is progressive as it results from the anatomical abnormality of CM. So, it will get worse over time, depending on the severity of the CM.
What breeds are affected?
All this sounds a bit theoretical but in fact, CM/SM can cause intense pain. Usually, this is around the head, neck and shoulders and strangely, the sternum. Severe cases may display attempts to scratch at the neck and ears but not actually make contact (“air-scratch”). These are neurological signs of incoordination and weakness. Dogs with mild CM/SM may seem completely normal and so their abnormality may be hidden. Sadly, this allows them to be used for breeding, perpetuating the problem in the next generation. In fact, at the present time, nearly all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have evidence of CM to some degree. This alone highlights the need for action.
The whole point of a health scheme is to guide breeding. The aim is that the condition under investigation is reduced or eliminated in the population. Breeding dogs who have been scored under the CM/SM scheme will be included in the KC’s Mate Select programme. This is an online tool that could revolutionise the choice of mate for each dog. It maximises genetic diversity and hence healthier puppies. People buying puppies from CM/SM screened parents (and other schemes) can therefore be reassured that the breeder is performing all the recommended tests to control inherited diseases and is using the suggested breeding protocols.
For more information, visit www.bva.co.uk/chs and click on Canine Health Schemes. For more details on SM and its management, go to www.veterinary-neurologist.co.uk and follow the link to syringomyelia.
