MVD: leading cause
of CKCS deaths

Heart mitral valve disease (MVD) is a terminal illness which may afflict over half of all cavalier King Charles spaniels by the age of 5 years and nearly all Cavaliers by age 10 years. It is CKCSs' leading cause of death.



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Chiari-like malformation & syringomyelia can cause severe pain in cavaliers

Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM) are reported to be "very widespread" in the cavalier King Charles spaniel breed. CM/SM is a combined disorder of the brain and spinal cord, which may cause severe head and neck pain and possible paralysis.


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Hip dysplasia afflicts
up to 1 out of 4 CKCSs

Hip dysplasia reportedly afflicts up to one out of every four cavalier King Charles spaniels. It is a genetic disease which can cause the dogs pain and debilitation.


Low blood platelet counts are
not a problem for cavaliers

Low blood platelet counts in cavaliers usually are not a health problem. Many veterinarians are misled by low platelet counts to wrongly diagnose anemia or other serious disorders.


Brachycephalic Airway
Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)

The size and shape of its head can cause serious breathing problems for the cavalier King Charles spaniel. Elongated soft palates, stenotic nares, everted laryngeal saccules, and laryngeal collapse are inherited developmental defects in the breed.


CKCSs are pre-disposed
to cerebellar strokes

Cavalier King Charles spaniels appear predisposed to develop cerebellar infarcts, or strokes.


Deafness is a double whammy for cavalier King Charles spaniels

Cavaliers are predisposed to a form of congenital deafness, which is present at birth, and also to a progressive hereditary hearing loss, which usually begins during puppyhood and worsens, or progresses, until the dog is completely deaf, usually between the ages of three and five years.


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Breeding policy would
end early-onset MVD

Veterinary specialists have designed breeding guidelines to eliminate early-onset mitral valve disease in cavalier King Charles spaniels.




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