Cavalier Health

Much is written about the health issues of Cavaliers and I don't intend to rewrite it here. I would like to say though, that, as with all breeds, Cavaliers have some serious health concerns. When you are searching for a puppy, ask the breeder about the health status of both parents and know that you are within your rights to ask to see copies of the clearances. Some breeders will provide you with copies without asking, others may feel you are being too "picky". You are paying a lot of money for one of these dogs, you have the right to be picky and to deal with someone who is honest with you about their dog's health.

Mitral Valve Disease & Syringomyelia are two serious issues facing breeders today. All Cavalier breeders should be aware of Syringomyelia, even if they don't have any firsthand knowledge of it. They should at least know about it and if you are reading this, then you should check out the UK website and read what Dr. Clare Rusbridge is doing with regards to her research into this dreadful condition. Although the researchers are not able to tell us who to breed to or who to stay away from, hopefully, in time, we'll have the answers to this problem and a DNA test to help us in our breeding efforts. Until then, any puppy you purchase, from any breeder, could be at risk for SM. You need to be aware of this and be prepared to deal with it.

As for MVD, ask pertinent questions of the breeder as to whether the mother and father of the litter has been checked by a cardiologist or by a regular vet. Not everyone is able to take their breeding dogs to a cardiologist (there are less than 6 in all of Canada!) so you might have to be willing to compromise on this issue. Some Cavaliers die young with MVD, others live until 12, 13 or older with it. If you want a Cavalier, MVD is a very real issue you will have to face one day.

These are the two BIG ONES. In general, Cavaliers are a relatively healthy breed and if you are careful about who you buy a puppy from, you should have a happy, healthy puppy for many years.

Read the health information on other breeder's sites, the Canadian, the US and the UK websites and make your decision based on what you can live with.

A couple of other good sites offering lots of health information is AboutCavalierHealth.com and Syringomyelia

If you have any questions about the health status of any of the Burbrook Cavaliers, please email me.