Health
It is important to be aware of the health issues that are common in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed. Although health screening dam and sires significantly reduces the chances of your puppy contracting these health issues early in life, some Cavaliers are still eventually affected by one or more of these health problems, later in life.
Heart mitral valve disease (MVD) - is the leading cause of death of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. MVD is a condition that leads to degeneration of the heart valves. Research shows that over half of all cavaliers will contract the disease by age 5 and nearly all Cavaliers by age 10. MVD has been found to be 20 times more prevalent in Cavaliers than in other dog breeds.
Eyes - Eye problems are common in the CKCS breed, affecting nearly 30% of Cavaliers. The most common being Dry Eye, Cataracts, Geographical Retinal Dysplasia, and Etropian.
Hip displaysia and Patellar Luxation - Hip dysplasia occurs when the ball and socket joint of the hip fails to form properly. It can affect one or both hips.
Patellar Luxation involves the knee (stifle) joint. It is most commonly diagnosed in small breed dogs, but can be seen in any breed.
Syringomyelia and Chiari Malformation (SM / CM) -
CM is when there is an abnormal growth of bone that develops in the back of the skull, making the skull too small for the brain. This causes pressure on the cerebellum, which affects the flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain. This change in flow and pressure may result in or Syringomyelia (SM), a fluid-filled pocket that forms in the spinal cord. Most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have CM to a degree, and about 50% have SM.
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