Mitral Valve Disease
Mitral
Valve Disease (MVD) is a heart disorder that commonly affects Cavalier
King Charles Spaniels. As Cavalier King Charles Spaniels age, a
degenerative thickening and
progressive deformity can develop that causes the mitral valve (located
in the heart between the left atrium and left ventricle) to leak. Over
time, the leak can result in blood pooling behind the heart, causing
fluids to accumulate in the lungs and sometimes leading to congestive
heart failure.
Unfortunately,
there is no prevention and no know cure today for MVD. In mild cases,
your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may have no obvious symptoms of
mitral valve disease. In
more advanced cases, a CavalierKing Charles might exhibit heavy
breathing, coughing
and reluctance to exercise. On rare occasions, the mitral valve can
tear, causing fever and respiratory illness.
Veterinarians
may initially detect mitral valve disease as a heart murmur. A chest
x-ray can help evaluate whether the heart has enlarged, but an
echocardiogram is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Moderate cases
are generally not treated at this stage. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
with advanced mitral
valve disease or congestive heart failure may be treated with diuretics
(to increase urine to eliminate excess fluids) and vasodilators (to
dilate blood vessels) to provide relief and extend the dog’s life.
Surgical valve repair or replacement may be an option for some Cavalier
Spaniel dogs.
The
American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club warns that mitral valve
disease is a particular problem for this breed. Reports have been made
of nearly 50 percent of all Cavaliers developing a valve murmur by the
age of 4 or 5, and nearly all Cavaliers showing a murmur by 10 years of
age.
If
you wish to make a tax-deductible donation to the American King Charles
Spaniel Club’s Charitable Trust to help finance veterinary research
into diseases known to affect Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, you can
download a donation
form here with mailing instructions.
Syringomyelia
Another
hereditary condition affecting Cavalier King Charles Spaniels as well
as a number of other
breeds is called Syringomyelia. In certain animals, a section of the
skull is too small, which crowds the brain and blocks the hole at the
bottom of the skull. Cerebrospinal fluid is prevented from flowing
through the hole and instead enters the spinal cord, creating a cavity
called Syringomyelia.
If
Syringomyelia is present, canine health symptoms will typically appear
between 6
months and 3 years of age, although this condition can develop at any
age. This condition is painful to the dog, causing sensitivity
around the head, neck and shoulders. It is sometimes detected by owners
who observe their pets crying and scratching their shoulders. In mild
cases, animals can be treated with painkillers. In more serious cases,
a veterinarian can surgically remove a portion of the skull to open up
the blocked area. This surgical intervention is most successful in
animals that were diagnosed early, before permanent neurological damage
occurs. If left untreated, the disease can worsen to the point where
euthanasia is the only humane option.
A
vet will a require magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test to make a
definitive diagnosis. Unfortunately there is currently no DNA screening
test that can detect the condition.
Patellar Luxation
Often
seen in smaller dog breeds including the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,
patellar luxation
refers to a slipped kneecap. A genetic deformity of the femur (thigh
bone) causes the patella, or kneecap, to shift out of place (luxate)
and become misaligned. In small dog breeds, the patella typically
shifts toward the inside of the rear leg, called medial luxation. In
larger breeds, the patella tends to slip towards the outside of the
rear leg, referred to as lateral luxation.
This
congenital condition is most often observed when a puppy is 4 to 6
months old. Affected dogs may appear to have occasional lameness.
Or the dog may “skip” about until the kneecap pops back into place.
If
you believe this condition may be present in your Cavalie King Charles
Spaniel puppy, your vet can
conduct a physical examination and take x-rays. In mild cases, where
the patella slips only occasionally, treatment may be unnecessary. In
more serious cases, surgery may be indicated.
Hip Dysplasia
Hip dysplasia occurs
when the hip socket (which is
rounded in a healthy animal) flattens out, therefore making it
difficult for the ball at the top of the femur (thigh bone) to rotate
easily in the hip socket.
Dogs
with hip dysplasia frequently have trouble getting up and changing
positions. They may sit with their weight on their front legs to take
the pressure off the hip joint, and may appear to “hop” on their back
legs when running.
In
mild cases, your vet can treat the condition with anti-inflammatory and
pain relief drugs. Surgery may be an option for animals with serious
hip dysplasia.
Although
the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals estimates that 11% of Cavalier
King Charles Spaniels are afflicted with hip dysplasia, it is far more
common in larger
dog breeds.
Retinal Dysplasia
The
retina is the smooth surface that rounds the interior of the eye. In
retinal dysplasia, the retina is wrinkled or folded. It’s not possible
to tell how your Cavalier King Charels Spaniels eyesight may be
affected by retinal
dysplasia, but many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels appear to have no
discomfort or
difficulty. However, in other breeds, cases of retinal dysplasia
have been observed where the animal’s retinas became detached, causing
blindness. For the most part, retinal dysplasia is of primary concern
to Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeders who work to avoid promoting
this hereditary condition.
Epilepsy, Fly Catching
& Episodic Weakness
Hereditary
epilepsy is not a common problem for the Cavalier Spaniel breed, though
it does
occasionally happen. If present, seizures can present themselves
unexpectedly and most often in a dog between 6 and 12 months of age. If
affected, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can generally be
successfully treated by drug
therapy.
A
related condition is often called “fly catching behavior” where a dog
seems to be snapping at nonexistent flies. This condition is frequently
left untreated as the dog is rarely harmed by this bizarre behavior.
Another
unexplained behavior that appears to be similar to epilepsy and “fly
catching” is sometimes referred to as episodic weakness. This presents
itself as a dog that suddenly stiffens, lowers its head and may tremble
or even fall over. Generally the behavior subsides within a few minutes
with no apparent harm to the animal. The cause of this behavior is not
yet known and there is no recommended course of treatment.
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