Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Breeding rules cut heart valve disease in Cavalier King Charles
By Birkegård, A C et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2016·Department of Veterinary Disease Biology·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Breeding Restrictions Decrease the Prevalence of Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels over an 8- to 10-Year Period.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) are known to be at risk for a heart condition called myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), which can lead to serious health issues. A study looked at nearly 1,000 CKCS over an 8- to 10-year period to see if a special breeding program that included heart checks could help reduce this risk. The results showed that dogs bred under this program had a 73% lower chance of developing heart murmurs related to MMVD compared to those not in the program. This suggests that responsible breeding practices can significantly improve heart health in CKCS.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel heart disease · CKCS breeding program · myxomatous mitral valve disease prevention
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) are predisposed to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Studies have indicated a strong genetic background. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a breeding scheme involving auscultation and echocardiography. ANIMALS: In the Danish Kennel Club mandatory breeding scheme, 997 purebred CKCS were examined during the period 2002-2011. Each dog was evaluated 1-4 times with a total of 1,380 examinations. METHODS: Auscultation and echocardiography were performed to evaluate mitral regurgitation murmur severity and degree of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The odds of having mitral regurgitation murmur or MVP > grade 1 in 2010-2011 compared to 2002-2003 were estimated using logistic regression analysis including age and sex as covariates. Odds were estimated for dogs that were products of the breeding scheme (defined as dogs with both parents approved by the breeding scheme before breeding) and non-products of the breeding scheme (defined as dogs with at least 1 parent with unknown cardiac status). RESULTS: In 2010-2011, the odds of having mitral regurgitation murmur were 0.27 if dogs were a product of the breeding scheme compared with dogs in 2002-2003, reflecting a 73% decreased risk (P < .0001). If non-products of the breeding scheme examined in 2010-2011 were compared with dogs in 2002-2003, no difference in odds was found (P = .49). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: A mandatory breeding scheme based on auscultation and echocardiography findings significantly decreased the prevalence of MMVD over the 8- to 10-year period. Such a breeding scheme therefore is recommended for CKCS.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26578464/