Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Inheritance of Chiari type I malformation in Cavalier King Charles
By Rusbridge, Clare & Knowler, Susan P·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2004·Stone Lion Veterinary Centre, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Inheritance of occipital bone hypoplasia (Chiari type I malformation) in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) suffer from a condition called occipital bone hypoplasia, which can lead to serious issues like syringomyelia (a fluid-filled cavity in the spinal cord). This condition is inherited and is more common in dogs that come from closely related parents. The research traced the family trees of over 5,500 CKCSs and discovered that most affected dogs had ancestors that were closely related, suggesting that inbreeding increases the risk. To help reduce these health issues, it's important for breeders to consider genetic diversity when selecting dogs for breeding.
People also search for: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Chiari malformation · CKCS syringomyelia symptoms · inbreeding effects on dog health
Abstract
Occipital bone hypoplasia with foramen magnum obstruction and secondary syringomyelia (SM) is a common condition in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) that is similar to human Chiari type I malformation. A worldwide family tree of more than 5,500 CKCSs spanning a maximum of 24 generations was established by obtaining pedigree information from 120 dogs diagnosed with SM secondary to occipital bone hypoplasia. The ongoing study showed 6 of 8 great grandparents of all affected dogs could be traced back to 2 female ancestors so that all 8 were descended from one or the other or both. The disease appears to be more severe and have an earlier onset with increased inbreeding, especially when breeding from affected dogs. The family tree of idiopathic epilepsy (IE) appears to be a different subset of the CKCS population, although some overlap was observed. Idiopathic epilepsy is more frequent in lines originating from whole-color dogs. Selection for coat color is believed to have influenced the development of both occipital hypoplasia with secondary SM and IE. In addition, breeding guidelines to reduce the incidence of mitral valve disease have placed further pressures on the gene pool.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15515584/