MRI SCANS - Syringomyelia

As we were rapidly running out of website space, I have removed the images of the MRI scans, but if there's one you particularly want to see, you only have to ask and I'll e-mail it to you.

Like everyone else, we have had good and bad news.

Particularly good were Charlotte and her sister Trudie, and Connie who are all over 2.5. Frankie, Johnny, Lucy and Emmylou came out well too but were not 2.5 years at the time of scanning and will be done again later.

We did more scans with Midland Cavalier Club on 14th April 2009.

We would like you to understand that these scans do not actually tell breeders much with regard to planning matings and that following the recommendations and mating an A graded dog to an A graded bitch is no guarantee that the puppies will be clear. Because of this, many of my fellow breeders will not scan, preferring to wait for more accurate knowledge and diagnosis.

My opinion is that research cannot be done without material for the experts to examine, and it is for this reason I am happy to have the tests done.

Also, the tests are simply a snapshot in time, and do not mean changes will not take place in the future. Age 2.5 years has been chosen as the time by which most (though by no means all) animals will have developed signs of the condition if they are going to, and is also the optimum age for heart testing.

Doctors Sarah Blott and Tom Lewis are undertaking ground-breaking research at the Animal Health Trust, to provide Estimated Breeding Values (EBV's) for all CKCS in UK, and we plan in future to make use of this system of selecting stud dogs and brood bitches for best health results.

There's lots of information to be had about Syringomyelia - the health pages of the Cavalier Club Web Site are a good place to start (see Links).

STOP - PRESS

THREE MORE OF OUR YOUNGSTERS ARE BEING TESTED AT STONE LION VETERINARY CENTRE ON THURSDAY

28TH JANUARY

I elected to check early,to save the heartbreak of getting fond of a dog who subsequently has to be removed from the breeding programme on health grounds. All animals with acceptable results will be tested again at or after the recommended 2.5 years of age.

Result: One good, one not-so-good, and one not done due to scanner overheating!