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DNA testing schemes | Health control schemes | CKCS Club initiatives

CAVALIER CLUB ACTIVITIES EXPOSED...

By the nature of its advance publicity, I was expecting the BBC documentary ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ to be editorially biased, and this proved to be the case. But when I watched the programme, more than anything else, I was struck by the almost complete lack of credit given to the extensive work carried out by The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, and many other regional clubs, to address health issues and support research.

For the past 20 years or more, we have conducted numerous health clinics and health programmes across the country, all involving ophthalmologists and cardiologists. Ian Mason, an ophthalmologist, recently said that eye problems in the breed have been greatly reduced, due in large measure to this initiative. Ian was interviewed by the film crew during our last Championship show, but this achievement was apparently considered insufficiently newsworthy to warrant mention on the programme. Other breed societies have also organised health screening schemes, some of which have been very successful. Again none of these were mentioned.

Syringomyelia first came to light approximately five years ago. Since then, the Club has consistently endeavoured to educate and inform its members on the condition. Numerous research schemes have been established and assisted funding provided for MRI scans. Many seminars have been held, including the first International conference on SM, held at the Royal Veterinary College in 2006. None of this was mentioned on the programme.

The Kennel Club Charitable Trust has supported many club research projects. £24,000 was raised jointly by cavalier clubs, to fund MVD research at Edinburgh University. The Kennel Club matched this funding and the research is now in its fourth year. Again, this initiative was not mentioned during the programme.

I genuinely believe that no club could reasonably have done more than the work carried out by the CKCSC. Our efforts were not inspired by the CAWC meeting earlier this year, but have been in progress for at least 25 years! Sadly, health research is a slow process. There can be no quick miracle cures for historic conditions in the breed. It should also be noted that only a minority of cavaliers registered are bred by members of cavalier breed clubs.

The club has no mandatory powers to impose breeding regulations on its members, only the capacity to influence, educate and persuade. This we have done to the best of our ability. This was not, however, reflected in the programme, even though its producers were aware of our efforts. As I watched the programme, it became very apparent that this did not coincide with the image they wished to promote.

Finally, some reasons to be positive:
Most cavaliers lead happy, normal lives and some Vets say they do not encounter SM. Eye problems are being eradicated. Brendan Corcoran, at Edinburgh University, is conducting the first investigation of the mitral valve ‘structure’ and why it fails. Simon Swift, at Liverpool University, has conducted cardiology clinics at our club events for 18 years, following Peter Darke’s retirement. Simon is involved with the exciting LUPA project, which is funded by the EU (580,000 euros) to unravel the genetic background of specific canine diseases, one of which is MVD in the cavalier. The project has access to the top scientists in the field.
Sarah Bott at Animal Health Trust is conducting groundbreaking research to produce an internet-based breeding programme of Estimated Breeding Values. This is a science that has been used successfully for cattle and pigs. In the near future, cavalier breeders will be first to be given the opportunity to use this programme to breed healthier dogs. Sarah has received substantial sponsorship from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. Perhaps just as importantly, she also has the enthusiastic support of all cavalier breed clubs. This bodes well.

Additionally, breed clubs are currently in discussion with the AHT, on the appointment of a panel of neurologists and radiologists, for standardising the certification of MRI scans. Currently, scans are assessed by individual neurologists and this inevitably results in differing opinions. The new panel should resolve this problem and will provide for an ‘appeal’ system to be established. Initially, this will be a Cavalier Club scheme for which we have received financial and practical assistance from the Kennel Club.

Furthermore, we shall continue to hold health clinics, to promote heart testing, eye testing and blood sampling. We intend, in unison with other cavalier clubs, to promote the permanent identification of dogs and cheek swabs.

A summary of the health projects initiated by the Cavalier Club during the past 25 years is available on our website www.thecavalierclub.co.uk

May I repeat: In my view, the club could not reasonably have been expected to do more.

Lesley Jupp
Chairman, The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club.

Summary of health initiatives by The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club

  1. The Club introduced eye testing clinics in the late 1970s, prior to the introduction of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) / Kennel Club scheme.
     
  2. The Club began heart testing clinics in the late 1980s.
     
  3. The Club MVD hearts research database and certificated scheme was initiated in 1991, supported by The Kennel Club and the BVA,

    Assistance was given by Dr Darke(Cardiologist), Dr Cattanach (Geneticist) and Dr Luis Fuentes (Cardiologist). The Club was also advised by the KC Scientific Committee on data gathering methods.

    During the early years, data was collected. Analysis began in 1994.
    During this time general advice was circulated to members on relevant breeding guidelines for reducing the incidence of MVD. Members were encouraged to obtain hear certificates for their dogs and submit these for analysis.
     
  4. October 1995:
    CKCSC applied to The Kennel Club for IT assistance. This request was approved and The Kennel Club agreed to provide over £5000 for the development of a specialised database for the hearts research programme. The new software was devised to work in conjunction with the KC registration database. KC provided an extract from its registration database, regularly updated thereafter.
     
  5. 1996
    CKCSC first published its annual list of dogs over 5 years old and free from MVD.
     
  6. June 1998
    The first detailed analysis of the hearts research database was provided by the Epidemiology Unit at Animal Health trust.
     
  7. 1999
    A CKCSC member, Mrs Bridgett Evans, offered an annual prize for the oldest dog/bitch with a clear heart certificate.
     
  8. 1996 and 2000
    The CKCSC held two major seminars on cardio vascular problems in the cavalier, sponsored by Intervet, a pharmaceutical company.
     
  9. CKCSC has actively supported research into ‘curly coat/dry eye syndrome’. This was financially supported by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust. This research was carried out at AHT. 
     
  10. August 2003
    Syringomyelia was causing concern amongst members and Cavalier owners. In response to this concern, the Club agreed to actively support research conducted by Clare Rusbridge.
     
  11. 2003
    CKCSC set up the LUB-DUB fund to raise funds for heart research.
     
  12. January 2004
    Research jointly funded by CKCSC and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
    A 3 year research project on mitral valve disease at the University of Edinburgh. Total funds raised by all breed clubs was £24,000, and the Kennel Club provided a further £23,950. This research is now currently funded by the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club Charitable Trust.
     
  13. 2004
    Healthy Heart Partnership formed with pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim. With this financial support, the Club established a research project to collect and store blood samples. It also enabled the Club to hold many additional health-check clinics and seminars.
     
  14. August 2005
    Research into Dry Eye/Curly Coat Syndrome.
    Dr Keith Barnett obtained grant aid from the Kennel Club Charitable Trust towards his research. CKCSC gave practical assistance in identifying affected cases of the syndrome within our breed.
     
  15. 2005
    Three low cost MRI scanning centres were established to encourage breeders to scan their dogs.
     
  16. 2006
    CKCSC sponsored research into episodic falling down syndrome.
     
  17. 2006
    Club sponsored 24 free MRI scans, to aid research into the positing of MRI scanning equipment.
     
  18. November 2006
    Syringomyelia International Conference held at The Royal Veterinary College.
    Sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim and CKCSC Research Fund.

    Speakers were eminent specialist veterinary scientists and researchers from America, Netherlands, France and the UK. Each had a particular expertise relating to the SM condition. Seven academics have been selected and invited by Dr Cappello of the RVC. Dr Jeff Sampson of the KC also attended as an observer.
     
  19. September 2007:
    Three Syringomyelia research projects funded by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust and CKCSC Research carried out by Cambridge University, Stone Lion Veterinary Centre and The Royal Veterinary College.
     
  20. October 2007
    CKCSC transferred its hearts research database to Liverpool University Veterinary Hospital, for continuing research development.
     
  21. 2007
    A scheme was initiated to collect cell tissue from 10 deceased cavalier dogs, to assist research into MVD and SM.
     
  22. March 2008
    Scheme to subsidize the cost of MRI scanning to members.
     
  23. June 2008
    The LUPA project: An EU funded project aimed at unravelling the genetic background of specific canine disease using a genetic method. One of the projects in this application is mitral valve disease in Cavaliers. The CKCSC database will be used and the Club is involved in blood sampling.

General:

In addition to the above, countless health clinics have been held at shows and elsewhere, throughout the country, both by the CKCSC and other cavalier breed clubs. Additionally, seminars, talks on health issues, blood sampling clinics and DNA collection have taken place.

All of these initiatives have separately required continuous fund raising, both by clubs and their individual members.

 
DNA testing schemes | Health control schemes | CKCS Club initiatives